Lifeboat 5
“A captivating…thrilling adventure story that shows the power of friendship, hope, and forgiveness.” —Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived series

In the wake of Lifeboat 12 comes a “gripping, harrowing” (Publishers Weekly) 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.

When 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.

On 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.

Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 5 is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive.
1144787466
Lifeboat 5
“A captivating…thrilling adventure story that shows the power of friendship, hope, and forgiveness.” —Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived series

In the wake of Lifeboat 12 comes a “gripping, harrowing” (Publishers Weekly) 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.

When 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.

On 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.

Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 5 is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive.
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Lifeboat 5

Lifeboat 5

by Susan Hood
Lifeboat 5

Lifeboat 5

by Susan Hood

eBook

$10.99 

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Overview

“A captivating…thrilling adventure story that shows the power of friendship, hope, and forgiveness.” —Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived series

In the wake of Lifeboat 12 comes a “gripping, harrowing” (Publishers Weekly) 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.

When 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.

On 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.

Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 5 is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781665943260
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date: 10/08/2024
Sold by: SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format: eBook
Pages: 272
File size: 9 MB
Age Range: 8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Susan Hood is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Ada’s ViolinAlias AnnaHarboring HopeThe Last StrawLifeboat 12, and Shaking Things Up. Susan is the recipient of the E.B. White Honor Award, two Christopher Awards, the Américas Award, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award, and two Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Awards, given to “a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people.” In addition to winning many state reading awards, Susan’s books have been named a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, a NCTE Notable Poetry Book, a NSTA Best Stem Book of the Year, an Amazon Teachers’ Pick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Visit her at SusanHoodBooks.com.

Read an Excerpt

Bess


It’s not safe inside.

It’s not safe outside.

I close my eyes

and try to turn off the noise

in my head.

Stop!

Shut it down,

shut it down.

But my brain

keeps replaying

all the reasons

I had to leave.

They were always there,

around every corner,

taking aim

with pointing fingers

and side-eyed smirks.

Those girls.

I’d brace myself

for the rat-a-tat-tat

of their cheeky attacks.

“Just teasing,” they’d say.

I’d walk away,

ears ringing,

heart stinging.

Then one day

London shut down the schools.

Shut ’em down.

Shut ’em down.

Goodbye to all that!

Just when



you’ve sidestepped

one batch of bullies,

a new bunch—

bigger,

bolder—

takes aim.

Dad said Paris had fallen,

and the Nazi bombers

were coming for London.

One night

air-raid sirens announced,

They’re here!

“Hurry!” said Dad,

racing us

to the bomb shelter

in the school’s boiler room.

Some of those girls

from school were there.

I raised a hand in greeting,

but shoved it in my pocket

when they didn’t respond.

They eyed me and my family

but didn’t say a word.

We hunkered down,

listening to the explosions.

Boom!

BOOM!

BOOM!

My throat felt dry.

The bombs

were getting louder.

Closer.

I glanced over

and realized

those girls were afraid too.

I could see it in their eyes.

Mum squeezed my hand

and I leaned

into her shoulder.

After a few hours,

it was over.

Another signal sounded.

All clear,

all A-OK.

I looked at the girls

and attempted a smile.

We survived,

we’re alive!

And look!

I wanted to say.

We’re all in this together—

all Londoners—

facing a bigger fight now.

One girl

saw my smiling face,

stiffened,

and whispered

behind her hand

to her friend.

They squinted at me.

Then they brushed by

and burst out laughing.

Stop!

This was never going to end.

Rewind.

Replay.

The bombers

would be back.

The bullies

would be back.

Outside and inside,

I was under attack.

Stop

Stop

Stop!

Rewind.

Replay.

Get away,

get away!

Mum! Dad!

There’s a ship.

I’ll take Louis.

I’ve got to get away!

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