Distant Waves

Distant Waves is a historical fiction novel by Suzanne Weyn published in 2009 which uses the RMS Titanic as much of its setting.

A girl named Jane Taylor lives with her mother and four other sisters (Mimi, Amelie, Emma, and Blythe).

They soon take a train to New York city when, suddenly, the ground starts splitting apart and shaking.

But a man named Nikola Tesla rescues them, and they watch him smash a small device.

Tesla becomes Jane's ultimate role model, and she collects newspaper clippings about him over the years.

Maude moves them to Spirit Vale, where they are going to stay at the inn for a bit.

As the years pass many more things are added to her sign outside the home they share.

Mimi gets a job as a companion to a wealthy woman, Ninette, and she goes to travel with her to Europe.

After Mimi has been gone for a while, she finally contacts her family while they are in London, England for a spiritual convention for mediums, psychics, etc.

Jane, Amelie, and Emma are convinced the ship won't sink, so they stay on.

Mrs. Brown's life boat spots them and they pulled Emma and Amelie on board.

She sees a picture on a newspaper of two people that survived the sinking of the Titanic in the water all these years.

Jane, Thad, and Mimi ride back home together, where the book ends.

Publishers Weekly wrote that the "interplay of science, spirituality, history and romance will satisfy.

"[1] Kirkus Reviews wrote that the "well-researched story relies heavily on dialogue to impart rich historical detail, resulting in stiff, unnatural exchanges.

"[2] Elizabeth Bush of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books wrote: "Titanic addicts may simply be happy to find a fresh title to add to the canon, but speculative-fiction fans are unlikely to wade through to the big finish, and historical-fiction enthusiasts will probably cry foul at the abrupt genre abandonment.