Torpedoed

 

A. Bibliographic Data

  Heiligman, Deborah. 2023. TORPEDOED. Square Fish. ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250865778

B. Summary

From award-winning author Deborah Heiligman comes Torpedoed, a true account of the attack and sinking of the passenger ship SS City of Benares, which was evacuating children from England during WWII.

Amid the constant rain of German bombs and the escalating violence of World War II, British parents by the thousands chose to send their children out of the country: the wealthy, independently; the poor, through a government relocation program called CORB. In September 1940, passenger liner SS City of Benares set sail for Canada with one hundred children on board.

When the warships escorting the Benares departed, a German submarine torpedoed what became known as the Children's Ship. Out of tragedy, ordinary people became heroes. This is their story.

C. Critical Analysis 

 If you have followed me you would know that I love reading WW2 stories and this is one I actually not heard of which makes it even more exciting to read for me. The book keeps you intrigued all the way through and you can see that Heiligman did amazing research. The book allows for a great introduction to the time, and the story of families who made the hard decision to send their children away to the safety of Canada and the U.S. This ship alone is a fascinating experience for children, and the story of the journey, the U-boat in the territory and how the ship is being torpedoed. I don’t want to give the book away, but it is full of intriguing facts, and I love that it has actual photos of surviving children and more. It’s a very enjoyable read, especially for those interested in this period.

D.  Book Review

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award finalist
Golden Kite Award winner
Hornbook Fanfare selection
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year

"An exceptionally well-researched and impressively crafted tale of desperation, tragedy, and survival." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"
"Extensively documented accounts tell of harrowing escapes, incredible heroism, tragic accidents, eventual rescues, and the gruesome aftermath . . . the real-time unfolding of events is compelling, and young audiences will relate to these stories about students their own age." ―Booklist, starred review, on Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"

"Heiligman tells a story of bravery, courage, and despair . . . a must-read for all, and a beautiful memorial for those who perished in this tragic event."―School Library Journal, starred review, on Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"

"Nonfiction maestro Heiligman here tells a riveting wartime story. . . . Heiligman builds and maintains suspense while remaining scrupulously faithful to the historical record." ―Horn Book, starred review, on Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"

"[A] harrowing yet inspiring look at a little-covered historical event" ―Publishers Weekly on Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"

E. Connections

·         Nicole Woulfe shares her educator guide

·         Author’s website for author study and great place to look at photos of real items from the ship

·         Study of Torpedos