"The theme of the story is never give up hope. There was a big welcome home celebration for all of the survivors. Auntie Mary always read books to the kids to give hope. Everyone was sure they would drown or die at sea. Copious research, including interviews with the real Ken Sparks, went into the making of this fictional recasting of a true story of survival. Hood makes effective use of line breaks and punctuation to wrap readers up in Ken's tale. It is from the point of view of a young boy named Ken Sparks, aged 13 who is one of the 90 children to be chosen to leave on the luxury cruise, SS City of Benares to reach the safety of Canada. Told in verse, the story of Lifeboat 12 is lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. It talks about how England was during the times of World War II. It started sinking and we had to get in lifeboats. Written By Keshav Mohta (Grade 8) Lifeboat 12 is a fantastic book by Susan Hood. He had friends, food, and was on a big fancy ship. Ken actually felt happy on his new journey. When he had to go to the new world his family bought him a wool coat that was his own. Ken read books so they could take him away on adventures. He felt his stepmom did not like him or want him around. Ken Sparks received a letter that he could sail to safety on a ship to Canada. I was delighted to find that the hero of the storyKen Sparkswas still alive and traveled to Britain to interview him. “A captivating tale of the triumph of the human spirit.Summer 1940-War was coming. My first middle grade novelLIFEBOAT 12is based on a true World War II story I discovered in the childhood letters of my British mother-in-law. verse War stories Historical fiction Juvenile works Biography Fiction Sparks, Ken - Juvenile fiction City of Benares. "Middle-grade Titanic fans, here’s your next read." A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II." "Told in verse, the story of LIFEBOAT 12 is lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor winner "Brilliantly told in verse, readers will love Ken Sparks." Goiti Yamauchi Top Bellator 284 Lineup in South Dakota on Aug. * "This stirring novel-in-verse based on a true story is an edge-of-your-seat survival tale, an extensively researched work of historical fiction, and an exemplar of the form." 5 Things You Might Not Know About Paige VanZant Having lost her previous two contests. "This page-turning true-life adventure is filled with rich and riveting details and a timeless understanding of the things that matter most.” 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. Will they get away? Will they survive?Īward-winning author Susan Hood brings this little-known World War II story to life in a riveting novel of courage, hope, and compassion. Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. Late that night, an explosion hurls Ken from his bunk. And after five days at sea, the ship’s officers announce that they’re out of danger. 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. 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. With Nazis bombing London every night, it’s time for thirteen-year-old Ken to escape. 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. The 2020 Oklahoma Library Association’s Children’s Sequoyah Book Award Winner The 2020–2021 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award List The 2019 Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner Its 1940, the beginning of the Blitz, and 13-year-old Kenneth Sparks is selected to. “An edge-of-your seat survival tale.” - School Library Journal (starred review) Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. “Middle grade Titanic fans, here’s your next read.” - BCCB A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II.” - Kirkus Reviews “Lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. “Brilliantly told in verse, readers will love Ken Sparks.” -Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor winner “This page-turning true-life adventure is filled with rich and riveting details and a timeless understanding of the things that matter most.”-Dashka Slater, author of The 57 Bus