Lifeboat 5

Written by Susan Hood

Book #2 in the Lifeboat series

Two girls fight for survival after their ship is torpedoed during WWII.

4.2 Goodreads · 442 ratings

259 pages· 16,773 words· Est. 2 hour read· ~680L

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Bess and Beth, two evacuees escaping war-torn London, find themselves in a desperate struggle for survival when their ship is torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat. Clinging to an overturned lifeboat in the icy Atlantic, they must rely on each other to endure the harrowing nineteen-hour ordeal. As they face the vast ocean's dangers, their courage and friendship are tested. Will they find the strength to survive and forgive in the face of overwhelming odds? Based on true events, this gripping tale explores the resilience of the human spirit during one of history's darkest times.

From the publisher

“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 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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