{"title":"Lifeboat Books","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"23072242","title":"Lifeboat 12, by Susan Hood","description":"\u003cp\u003e(Paperback, 336 pages, first published in 2018)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II.” —Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“An edge-of-your seat survival tale.” —School Library Journal (starred review) \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis poignant novel in verse based on true events tells the story of a boy’s harrowing experience on a lifeboat after surviving a torpedo attack during World War II.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith Nazis bombing London every night, it’s time for thirteen-year-old Ken to escape. He suspects his stepmother is glad to see him go, but his dad says he’s one of the lucky ones—one of ninety boys and girls to ship out aboard the \u003cem\u003eSS City of Benares\u003c\/em\u003e to safety in Canada.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLife aboard the luxury ship is grand—nine-course meals, new friends, and a life far from the bombs, rations, and his stepmum’s glare. And after five days at sea, the ship’s officers announce that they’re out of danger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey’re wrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLate that night, an explosion hurls Ken from his bunk. They’ve been hit. Torpedoed! The \u003cem\u003eBenares\u003c\/em\u003e is sinking fast. Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. Will they get away? Will they survive?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAward-winning author Susan Hood brings this little-known World War II story to life in a riveting novel of courage, hope, and compassion. Based on true events and real people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCautions: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis book contains some references to luck and coincidences occurring around the number thirteen, one exclamation of the Lord's name, and one scene where a crewmate goes crazy (from drinking saltwater on the lifeboat) and jumps off the boat to his accidental death. The protagonist does not appear to be religious, but he reflects on the prayers and actions of mostly nameless Catholic and Muslim crewmates on his lifeboat; a kind, named Catholic priest plays an important and positive role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAges:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9-13\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Storyglory","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46740918862146,"sku":"FHOOD_SU____LIFEBOAT12REPRINT___9781481468848","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0752\/3457\/4658\/products\/Lifeboat_12.jpg?v=1694713502"},{"product_id":"9781665943253","title":"Lifeboat 5, by Susan Hood","description":"\u003cp\u003e(Paperback, 288 pages, first published in 2024)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A captivating…thrilling adventure story that shows the power of friendship, hope, and forgiveness.” —Lauren Tarshis, author of the \u003cem\u003eI Survived \u003c\/em\u003eseries\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the wake of \u003cem\u003eLifeboat 12\u003c\/em\u003e comes a “gripping, harrowing” (\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e) World War II novel-in-verse by acclaimed author Susan Hood about two very real girls who clung together for dear life when their evacuee ship was torpedoed, their lifeboat capsized, and they spent nineteen hours in the Atlantic Ocean, waiting for rescue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Nazi bombs begin to destroy Bess Walder’s hometown of East London, Bess convinces her parents to evacuate her and her younger brother, Louis, to Canada aboard the SS City of Benares. On the journey, she meets another evacuee, Beth Cummings. Bess and Beth have a lot in common—both strong and athletic, both named for Queen Elizabeth, both among the older kids on the ship, and both excited about life in Canada.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the fifth day at sea, everyone starts to relax, but trouble is right behind them. That night, a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the Benares. As their luxury liner starts to sink, Bess and Beth rush to abandon ship aboard their assigned lifeboat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on true events and real people, \u003cem\u003eLifeboat 5\u003c\/em\u003e is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStoryglory Cautions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Includes significant wartime tragedy and loss, including the deaths of many children and adults aboard the lifeboat. Themes of intense survival at sea make this story sadder than Lifeboat 12. Mild language.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Age: \u003c\/strong\u003e12+\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Storyglory","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51226042630466,"sku":"FHOOD_SU____LIFEBOAT5REPRINT____9781665943253","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0752\/3457\/4658\/files\/Lifeboat_5_9781665943253_a0d567fd-1323-4a1c-9dd4-add6644f5fb7.jpg?v=1757072136"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.storyglorykids.org\/collections\/lifeboat-books.oembed","provider":"Storyglory Kids Inc","version":"1.0","type":"link"}