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Monday, March 9, 2020

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday #MMGM Book Review: Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood

The Nazis have started dropping bombs every night in London. Thirteen-year-old Ken Sparks is scared when he goes to the bomb shelter with his father, stepmother, and little sister. But he knows he’ll be leaving soon. He’s going to be traveling to Canada on a large ship because he was one of the ninety kids between ages five and fifteen whose number was selected during the random lottery. Although Ken is sad to leave his little sister and father, he’s sure his stepmom is happy to have him gone. Ken doesn’t know how long he’ll be away from his family, but he tries to think of it like an adventure in one of the stories he loves to read. Ken has never experienced anything similar to the boat before. Between the seven course meals, the new toys for the kids to play with, and all the fine details, he feels like he’s in a dream. Then, one night the unexpected happens and a torpedo hits the ship. After he has to run back for a forgotten item, Ken ends up in Lifeboat 12 instead of the boat he was assigned.  Now he and the other members of Lifeboat 12 will need to try to survive until help comes along. But will they be able to ration the food and water in the boat? Where are the other lifeboats? Is anyone coming to save them? You’ll have to read this historical fiction book to find out.

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood was a fast and interesting read. When the author came to visit my school and talked about the research she did for this book, I knew I had to read it. She interviewed someone who had firsthand knowledge about the events! How cool is that? I enjoyed this book and it was told in verse, which I think made the story flow. Ken was a great character and one that was easy to relate to because he cared about his family, but he also liked to goof off and have fun. Reading about Ken’s experiences in England, on the boat to Canada, and in the lifeboat help get a glimpse of life during this time period. Susan Hood has written many books, but this is her first middle grade book, and it's fabulous! I highly recommend it to kids and adults in third grade and up who love to dive into history and find scenes that will surprise them.

Has anyone else read Lifeboat 12? Or have you read another book by Susan Hood? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~ L

60 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good book, and good that kids today learn what it was like to live back in war-times. Hugs, Valerie

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    1. Valerie- It is a great book and so important to learn what life was like in different times! :) ~L

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  2. Good to see that part of history isn't being forgotten, either.

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  3. This sounds like a fantastic story. Most stories of this era are about people and kids surviving in Europe not on a boat trying to escape. I'll have to see if my library has this. Thanks.

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    1. Natalie- I like that this is a unique story too. I loved reading about something I didn't know anything about! :) ~L

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  4. I love historical middle grade books. I also love how they open doors for authors to visit schools.

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    1. L. Diane Wolfe- I love HF MG too! It is exciting to have authors visit kids and tell them about their books and their research process. Very inspiring! :) ~L

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  5. Hmm! I would not have thought that this being written in verse would have worked. That it obviously does is great.
    What sounds like a fantastic tale, that these events are often overlooked when it comes to books of this genre all to the good.

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    1. Felicity Grace- The verse really does work well for this story. If you get a chance to read it, I think you will like it. It's such an interesting story and I loved learning about the kids trying to flee to Canada and what happened to them. Amazing! :) ~L

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  6. I found this to be a very interesting book. I had explored the torpedoing of this book at one time and found it book to be so spot on.

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    1. Randomly Reading- I love that you read this one too and enjoyed it. Also- awesome to know that you researched the torpedoing and it was spot on. Yay! :) ~L

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  7. Sounds like a very interesting book. I read a lot from this time period. I will have to look this one up.

    Betty

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    1. Betty- I have read a lot from this time period too. This one was different from the others and I really enjoyed learning about the kids and adults that had to try to survive on a lifeboat! :) ~L

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  8. How I love reading books about historical events (I am rapidly becoming a history nerdette). Thanks for the heads up on this one.

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    1. EC- I love reading HF too! So many great time periods to read about. :) ~L

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  9. In verse and learning. A win win.

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  10. Fascinating! My parents grew up in Scotland during WWII and spent a lot of time in those air raid shelters. Sounds like a great read!

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    1. Jemi- It really is a great read. I highly recommend it! Air raid shelters sound very scary. :) ~L

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  11. I enjoy historical stories, and this sounds like a good one. Thanks for telling us about it.

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    1. Beverly- You are welcome! I think you will really like Lifeboat 12. :) ~L

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  12. This sounds like something I'd very much like to read! Thanks for sharing...

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  13. Wow! Quite the gripping story. The plot, setting, and time period has me putting this one high on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing on MMGM.

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    1. Greg- You won't be disappointed! Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you get to it. :) ~L

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  14. This is a very different WW II story. I didn't know about kids being sent to Canada. I love the research involved. It sounds like a very exciting read! Thanks for telling me about the story!

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    1. Patricia- I didn't know about kids being sent to Canada either. It was so interesting to learn about it in this book. A great read for people of all ages! :) ~L

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  15. This sounds gripping. The premise reminds me of a book for adults I read about people stuck on a lifeboat. I think my sons would love this. And I didn't know about kids being sent to Canada--fascinating!

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    1. Jenni- Glad to introduce you to this story. I bets your sons would enjoy it. Reading about history and survival made for a fast read! :) ~L

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  16. This sounds like a must-read for a history buff like me. Thank you for sharing this intriguing book with us for MMGM.

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    1. June- You are welcome! I am always excited to be part of MMGM! Enjoy! :) ~L

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  17. I love historical fiction and I love books in verse. This one is now on my TBR list. Thanks for telling me about it.

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    1. Rosi- I love books in verse too. This one will be a treat for you to read. Enjoy! :) ~L

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  18. Funnily enough I'm currently reading a book set just after the first world war.

    This sounds a very good book indeed.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan- HF is so interesting. I hope you are enjoying your book. :) ~L

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  19. Sounds like quite a harrowing adventure. And based on a true story? Wow!

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    1. The Armchair Squid- It really is an amazing story! :) ~L

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  20. I love historical page-turners. Definitely putting this on my list to read.

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    1. Sue- I hope you like this one too. HF is so intriguing. :) ~L

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  21. No, I did not read it yet, I wish I will read it.

    Interesting story by reading your summary... thank you for sharing.

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    1. Tanza- Glad you enjoyed the summary and that the story sounds good to you. :) ~L

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  22. I haven't read it but it sounds good.

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  23. This sounds really interesting and I love learning a bit about the author's process. What a harrowing situation to be in and read about!

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    1. Meradeth- I really enjoyed learning about the author's process too. So interesting to read about, but a terrifying time to live through. ~F

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  24. Lifeboat 12 sounds great. I love that cover too.

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  25. This sounds riveting.

    Enjoy your weekend:)

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    1. Sandra- I really loved it. A page turner for sure! :) ~L

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  26. Sounds like a great, thrilling read

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  27. I haven't read this, but it sounds really good. I didn't know that such a thing happened in England during the war. Thanks for telling us about it.

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    1. Janet- I was surprised to learn about the kids from England being sent to Canada too! I hope you get a chance to read it. :) ~L

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  28. I love books that take place in this time period. That's so cool the author was able to interview someone with firsthand knowledge.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Lauren- I know! What an amazing interview to conduct. She got to look through his pictures and articles and hear firsthand accounts of the situation! Wow! :) ~L

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