Lifeboat 12

By Susan Hood

Book #1 in the Lifeboat series

A torpedo attack leaves a boy stranded on a lifeboat. Can he survive?

4.2/5 Goodreads · 5,536 ratings

326 pages· 26,260 words· Est. 3 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Thirteen-year-old Ken escapes war-torn London aboard the SS City of Benares, bound for safety in Canada. Life on the ship is luxurious until a torpedo strikes, plunging Ken into a desperate fight for survival on Lifeboat 12. With only five other boys, he must navigate the treacherous sea, facing fear and uncertainty. Will they find rescue, or will the ocean claim them? This gripping tale of courage and hope, based on true events, explores the power of unity in the face of adversity. Can Ken and his companions hold on long enough to see another day?

From the publisher

In the tradition of The War That Saved My Life and Stella By Starlight, this poignant novel in verse based on true events tells the story of a boy’s harrowing experience on a lifeboat after surviving a torpedo attack during World War II. With Nazis bombing London every night, it’s time for thirteen-year-old Ken to escape. He suspects his stepmother is glad to see him go, but his dad says he’s one of the lucky ones—one of ninety boys and girls to ship out aboard the SS City of Benares to safety in Canada. Life aboard the luxury ship is grand—nine-course meals, new friends, and a life far from the bombs, rations, and his stepmum’s glare. And after five days at sea, the ship’s officers announce that they’re out of danger. They’re wrong. Late that night, an explosion hurls Ken from his bunk. They’ve been hit. Torpedoed! The Benares is sinking fast. Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. Will they get away? Will they survive? Award-winning author Susan Hood brings this little-known World War II story to life in a riveting novel of courage, hope, and compassion. Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 12 is about believing in one another, knowing that only by banding together will we have any chance to survive.