Lifeboat 5

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. (Oct.)

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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Bess BESS Inside Out It's not safe inside. It's not safe outside. I close my eyes and try to turn off the noise in my head. Stop! Shut it down, shut it down. But my brain keeps replaying all the reasons I had to leave. Targeted They were always there, around every corner, taking aim with pointing fingers and side-eyed smirks. Those girls. I'd brace myself for the rat-a-tat-tat of their cheeky attacks. "Just teasing," they'd say. I'd walk away, ears ringing, heart stinging. Then one day London shut down the schools. Shut 'em down. Shut 'em down. Goodbye to all that! Sideswiped Just when you've sidestepped one batch of bullies, a new bunch-- bigger, bolder-- takes aim. Dad said Paris had fallen, and the Nazi bombers were coming for London. One night air-raid sirens announced, They're here! "Hurry!" said Dad, racing us to the bomb shelter in the school's boiler room. Some of those girls from school were there. I raised a hand in greeting, but shoved it in my pocket when they didn't respond. They eyed me and my family but didn't say a word. We hunkered down, listening to the explosions. Boom! BOOM! BOOM! My throat felt dry. The bombs were getting louder. Closer. I glanced over and realized those girls were afraid too. I could see it in their eyes. Mum squeezed my hand and I leaned into her shoulder. After a few hours, it was over. Another signal sounded. All clear, all A-OK. I looked at the girls and attempted a smile. We survived, we're alive! And look! I wanted to say. We're all in this together-- all Londoners-- facing a bigger fight now. One girl saw my smiling face, stiffened, and whispered behind her hand to her friend. They squinted at me. Then they brushed by and burst out laughing. Stop! This was never going to end. Rewind. Replay. The bombers would be back. The bullies would be back. Outside and inside, I was under attack. Stop Stop Stop! Rewind. Replay. Get away, get away! Mum! Dad! There's a ship. I'll take Louis. I've got to get away! Excerpted from Lifeboat 5 by Susan Hood All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.