Table of Contents
About The Book
“Brilliantly told in verse, readers will love Ken Sparks.” —Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor winner
“Lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Middle grade Titanic fans, here’s your next read.” —BCCB
“An edge-of-your seat survival tale.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
A Junior Library Guild Selection
The 2019 Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner
A 2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Book
The 2019–2020 Lectio Book Award Winner
The 2020–2021 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award List
The 2020 Oklahoma Library Association’s Children’s Sequoyah Book Award Winner
The Connecticut Book Award Winner
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.
With Nazis bombing London every night, it’s time for thirteen-year-old Ken to escape. 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.
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. And after five days at sea, the ship’s officers announce that they’re out of danger.
They’re wrong.
Late that night, an explosion hurls Ken from his bunk. They’ve been hit. Torpedoed! The Benares is sinking fast. Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. Will they get away? Will they survive?
Award-winning author Susan Hood brings this little-known World War II story to life in a riveting novel of courage, hope, and compassion. 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.
About The Author
Susan Hood is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Ada’s Violin, Alias Anna, Harboring Hope, The Last Straw, Lifeboat 12, and Shaking Things Up. Susan is the recipient of the E.B. White Honor Award, two Christopher Awards, the Américas Award, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award, and two Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Awards, given to “a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people.” In addition to winning many state reading awards, Susan’s books have been named a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, a NCTE Notable Poetry Book, a NSTA Best Stem Book of the Year, an Amazon Teachers’ Pick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Visit her at SusanHoodBooks.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 4, 2018)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781481468855
- Ages: 8 - 13
- Lexile ® 610L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
Raves and Reviews
"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
* "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."
– School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
"Brilliantly told in verse, readers will love Ken Sparks."
– Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor winner
"Told in verse, the story of LIFEBOAT 12 is lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II."
– Kirkus Reviews
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"Middle-grade Titanic fans, here’s your next read."
– BCCB
“A captivating tale of the triumph of the human spirit. I felt transported to the open ocean, and cold to my bones!”
– Leslie Connor, author of THE TRUTH AS TOLD BY MASON BUTTLE
A 2019 Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner
Awards and Honors
- ALA Notable Children's Books
- ILA Teachers' Choices
- CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List
- Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
- Young Hoosier Book Award (IN)
- Maine Student Book Award Reading List
- Great Stone Face Book Award Nominee (NH)
- Children's Sequoyah Book Award Master List (OK)
- Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List (VT)
- Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Nominee (AR)
- Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee (MD)
- Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (AR)
- Children's Sequoyah Book Award (OK)
- Truman Reader Award Final Nominee (MO)
- Bluestem Book Award Master List (IL)
- Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Selection Title
- NCTE Charlotte Huck Outstanding Fiction Recommended Title
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Grades 6-8 List (FL)
- Intermediate Sequoyah Book Award Master List (OK)
- Lectio Book Award (TX)
- Just One More Page Recommendation List
- Cartwheel Book Awards Nominee
- Junior Tome Society It List Nominee
- South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee
- Cartwheel Book Award
- Magnolia Book Award Runner Up
- Rhode Island Middle School Book Award Second Runner Up
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Lifeboat 12 eBook 9781481468855
- Author Photo (jpg): Susan Hood Photograph courtesy of the author(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
