The story’s protagonist, Hazel, is 12 but “far older in [her] mind” when she stows away on the Titanic (3). She comes from a large family, and her mother struggles to keep up since Hazel’s father died in a fishing accident. Hazel is going to the US to work in a garment factory and earn money to send home, but she hopes that she can do more than that if she’s able to write a great story about the Titanic. Her primary values reflect the theme of Sacrifice, Hope, and Living for Others, and she’s willing to give up her dream if it means a better life for her and her family. Throughout her life, Hazel has “learned that doing [i]s more important than wishing” (44), and she immediately gets to work on her story, finding out as much as she can about the ship. Hazel is well aware of her place in society as someone who comes from poverty and knows that she’ll have to work harder than most to achieve her dream.

Hazel is bold and outspoken, and she’s unafraid to ask the captain and officers about the ship’s safety. In addition, she finds herself solving a crime mystery as she investigates the Mollisons and their intentions.