Review: Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 1940 Ken Sparks is a 13 year old boy living in London. Hitler has taken France and London is being bombed nightly. Parents have an option to send their children to Canada for the duration of the war where they will be safe. Ken is one of the lucky children chosen. He will be traveling on a passenger ship, SS City of Banares, to stay with his aunt in Edmonton. Initially everything seems ideal; plentiful food, toys, games, and warm beds. But there are also Nazi subs patrolling.

This is book is beautifully written in free verse. When a book is written in verse, word selection becomes so important and every word of this book has been chosen to move plot or character development along. Not a word has been wasted. This story would be interesting and engaging as fiction, but it's based on a true story, which adds a level of poignancy. The author has included references and photographs of many of the main characters.

This book is not to be missed!

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