Lifeboat 5

August 15, 2024
Nazi bombs are falling on London. Trapped in the shelter, 15-year-old Bess feels under attack from bombers on the outside and bullies on the inside. She convinces her parents to apply for a program that will evacuate children to Canada, and she and little brother Louis are accepted. They set off on the SSCity of Benares accompanied by a convoy of armed ships. Their escorts and the crew are kind, but the life jackets and lifeboat drills are reminders that danger is always lurking. Bess befriends fellow passenger Beth, and when a German torpedo strikes and the ship sinks, they help one another to safety but feel overwhelmed by stormy weather, loss, and despair. Is there any hope of finding Louis? Bess narrates her tale in free verse that uses short, staccato lines to describe the unfolding events in sharp detail. Hood intersperses verses narrated by the sea, and others that follow Louis' experiences. Bess' stream-of-consciousness style expresses all her doubts, fears, and hopes, bringing readers along on her torturous adventure. The girls are ultimately rescued by the HMSHurricane and find Louis, but only a few of the other children survive. This verse novel is inspired by unforgettable real events that will leave a lasting impression on readers. A hopeful story about devastating events written in clear, accessible verse. (author's note, Lifeboat 5 facts, poetry notes, sources, appendix, photographs)(Verse historical fiction. 10-14)

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August 19, 2024
When Nazis begin bombing 15-year-old Bess’s East London neighborhood,
she persuades her parents to apply for the opportunity for Bess and her younger brother Louis to escape on one of the children’s evacuations to Canada. Bess, Louis, and 88 other children ages five to 15 are cosseted by the kind crew of the SS City of Benares, where she befriends Beth, also 15 and from Liverpool. On their fifth day at sea, the ship is torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat; separated from Louis, Beth and Bess rush to their assigned lifeboat, which overturns upon hitting the water. For the next 19 hours, the white-cued girls clutch to the side of the vessel, holding hands and refusing to give up, on rescue or each other. Beth and Bess—who are based on real-life survivors of the same name, two of only 13 children who lived through the ordeal, as addressed in an author’s note—would forever credit their unshakable friendship for saving their lives. In this gripping, harrowing novel by the author of Lifeboat 12, Hood uses thrilling first-person verse to entrance young readers and deliver a tale of perseverance, fortitude, hope, and companionship. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group.

Starred review from October 18, 2024

Gr 4-8-Hood's latest is a companion story to Lifeboat 12 that highlights the powerful strength of friendship and family in the most perilous of events. Bess, 15, is desperate to escape the German airstrikes in London and the personal attacks made by school bullies. She convinces her parents to allow her and her 10-year-old brother, Louis, to apply to the evacuation lottery provided by the Children's Overseas Reception Board. When they win a spot on the SS City of Benares traveling to Canada, Bess is ready for the fresh start. Life on a luxury liner is exciting for the 90 children and their chaperones. Bess even finds a friend who finally understands and accepts her wholeheartedly. But when a German U-Boat torpedo strikes their ship, it becomes a race against time to evacuate and survive in the frigid water until help arrives. This novel-in-verse evokes the raw emotions of a teenager, her curious brother, and the relentless sea all struggling to find peace and safety in this lesser-known tragic World War II nautical event. Extensive research, notes, and photographs offer readers a closer look at understanding the sinking of the Benares and the effects it had on the war effort and survivors. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase for all libraries who cherished Lifeboat 12 and seek another inspiring true story of a young girl's extraordinary resilience.-Lindsey Morrison

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