Lifeboat 5, Susan Hood
Lifeboat 5, Susan Hood
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Lifeboat 5

Author: Susan Hood

Narrator: Billie Fulford-Brown

Unabridged: 2 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/08/2024


Synopsis

“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.

About Susan Hood

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.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lauren on November 20, 2024

The writing style threw me for a loop but it was a good story. 3.9 ⭐️......more

Goodreads review by Diana on September 22, 2024

A companion novel to Lifeboat 12, Hood's verse novel Lifeboat 5 tells the story of two girls named Elizabeth (nicknamed Bess and Beth) who survive because of the bond of their friendship formed on their evacuee ship during the dark days of World War II. When the Nazis torpedo their boat, it is the s......more

Goodreads review by Becky on December 19, 2024

Bess Walder is tired of the Blitz, and tired of the girls who tease her about her size and looks. She thought she would get away from them with school closing, but they also go to the same air raid shelter. When she hears about the government offering evacuations to Canada for children (for which sh......more

Goodreads review by Heather on July 11, 2024

This is a great addition to Susan Hood’s growing catalog of WWII stories told in verse. I appreciate the variety of poetry used in this book on particular. I can see much potential in using this and her other books for reading groups in a poetry unit. Well done!......more

Goodreads review by Laura on November 23, 2024

Another installment/aspect of the fascinating and harrowing Benares sinking. The fortitude of these people still astounds me. This is a great rec for those shy to read.......more