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Compelling historical novel of WWII - Germany has begun intense bombing of London in 1940. Parents are scurrying to get their 5 to 15 year olds to safety. Ken Sparks is bound for relatives in Canada on the SS City of Benares, but it is sunk by torpedoes. What follows is a harrowing adventure: thirst, trench foot, hunger, dehydration…

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“I went back to get my coat,” I say,
“That‘s how I ended up on Lifeboat 13.”

There were no survivors from Lifeboat 8… True story [historical fic] that I had no idea about. Great story!

Love a book in verse! One day read for me!

Read for Children's Lit. Compelling middle-grade novel based on real events. Due to the London Blitz, Ken's parents send him to Canada. Unfortunately, the ship transporting him is hit by a torpedo, and Ken spends 13 days in a lifeboat before being rescued. I appreciated Hood's meticulous research, especially to learn the names of the Lascar crew members.

#pop21: a genre hybrid - don't think I've read any nonfiction novels in verse before!

An awesome upper elementary/ middle school read.

This is the second book in a row I‘ve read about children leaving (or attempting to leave) Europe in the wake of WWII. This historical fiction is based on the stories of survivors of a ship carrying English children that was sunk by a German U-Boat. It is written in verse and clearly conveys the experiences of one of those boys while on a lifeboat in the Atlantic. At the end there‘s also a section of photos.

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As an adult, I love finding literary references like this one to The Sword in the Stone (or The Once and Future King King), but it also always makes me wonder how many I have missed and am still missing when I read.

#3 Lifeboat 12 is about a boy named Ken who‘s parents sent him away too Canada with a bunch of other kids from 5-15 years old, because of the nazi bombings. On his way today to the boat with the others, he has to stay hidden so the bombers can‘t find them and also on his way to the ship he meets some new friends and recognizes some old friends but will he make it to Canada or will their ship get bombed while on the way to Canada.

It‘s time for thirteen year old Ken to escape London and the battle of WWII. He boards a ship sailing for Canada and thinks all is well until one night the ship is torpedoed by the Nazi‘s. Ken had been assigned to lifeboat eight but when he goes looking for it, it‘s gone. Ken has to get onto lifeboat twelve with five other boys. Will they survive or has the worst yet to come. Continues in comments.

Not very far in yet, but so far, 13 year old Ken Sparks was lucky enough to have his name picked from a lottery. This would get him a ticket away from the bombings in London, and get to safety in Canada. He would board a ship, along with other British children. Yet he‘s not sure if this is just a way for his step-mom to get rid of him, therefor he has mixed emotions about going.

This book was a super cool read. It was exciting and in the end, pretty sad😞I don‘t know about you people, but I really novels in verse if you can‘t tell, and I‘m looking for more so if you have a suggestion, please tell me!!!

In the home stretch!!!!!

Just reading with my smarties😂😍

Just got into this book, sounds pretty good and is pretty good so far! And it‘s also another novel in. Verse😂

And now .... onto this one! I love April for a lot of reasons....novels-in-verse is right at the top!

A riveting survival story of an (unknown to me) event from WW2. I appreciated the facts and photos at the end. Written in verse, it‘s a quick read. Perfect for middle-grade readers.