Abandon Ship!
The True World War II Story About the Sinking of the Laconia
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A remarkable World War II account of a maritime attack off the West African coast, for fans of Steven Sheinkin and Deborah Heiligman.
At the height of World War II, the RMS Laconia was torpedoed by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. The attack triggered a series of unprecedented events involving allies and enemies from both sides, and left survivors adrift at sea in shark infested oceans, fighting to stay alive with little food or water.
Suspenseful and informative, and featuring historic photographs, this incredible true account is a testament to the idea that compassion can rule over conflict—even during the cruelties of war.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
"This epic story races along, unspooling like a movie before our eyes—artfully, dramatically, revealing a little known part of WWII history. An intriguing book."―Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way
"The authors do an excellent job of conveying the chaos and loss of this grisly historical incident without pushing young readers too deeply into the horror. Many of those who lived through the Laconia catastrophe endured weeks at sea, parched and sunburned and starving in conditions that literally drove men mad. Archival photos add immediacy to this sensational true-life story." ―Wall Street Journal
"An amazing account of a World War II event that is almost entirely unknown…. This story chronicles the courage, compassion, and perseverance of the few survivors of the incident, showcasing war at its worst and humanity at its best…. School librarians will want to add this to their collection." ―Booklist
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Tougias and O'Leary (Attacked at Sea) recount the 1942 sinking of the Laconia in this pulse-pounding work. Divided into five rapidly paced chronological parts described in cinematic detail, the creators outline the ship's origins, its destruction, and the fates of the shipwrecked passengers. Chapter one, "The Voyage," briefly explains how the British ship had been a luxury ocean liner that transported people from Liverpool to New York City, until it was commandeered as a war vessel at the start of WWII, during which it was integral in ferrying civilians and troops on and off battlefields. In 1942, the ship set sail for England loaded with passengers fleeing war-torn Cairo. A few weeks into this voyage, the creators note in a chapter titled "Torpedoes in the Night," the Laconia was attacked by a German U-boat. After learning that the ship had women, children, and Italian POWs on board, the U-boat commander embarked on an unprecedented rescue attempt. Through viscerally told accountings, including stories of passengers spending several days awaiting rescue aboard lifeboats, the authors deliver a fascinating tale of human perseverance and morality that explores the "most unusual actions in all of World War II," as stated by the creators in an introduction. Ages 9–14. ■
