A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2018
When 14-year-old Florence Kelly and 11-year-old Russell Park left their
hometowns for summer vacations in Europe in 1939, they considered
themselves awfully lucky. Many of their friends' families were
struggling during the Great Depression and couldn't afford fancy trips.
But the young pair would soon face life-threatening troubles of their
own as it became clear German dictator Adolf Hitler was intent on
invading neighboring countries.
With tensions high, Florence, Russell, and their families cut their
holidays short as many Americans scrambled to book passage back to the
States. Safely aboard the luxurious passenger liner the S.S. Athenia,
travelers settled in and breathed a sigh of relief. Surely, it was
believed, the sleek, menacing German U-boats lurking in the Atlantic
Ocean would never attack a passenger ship . . . would they?
Torpedoed! vividly re-creates the events surrounding the attack on the
Athenia, the first ship lost in the battle of the Atlantic. Through
firsthand accounts, interviews with survivors, and powerful photos,
award-winning author Cheryl Mullenbach brings to life the prewar
environment in America and Europe, the anxious days leading up to the
surprise attack, the frantic rush to escape the sinking ship, and the
long, terrifying night that Russell, Florence, and others spent in
churning lifeboats battling the elements and imagining the worst.
At once a gripping adventure story and a rich resource for history
lovers, Torpedoed! provides page-turning thrills and inspiring
real-life examples of courage and resourcefulness in the toughest of
circumstances.
