LIFEBOAT 5 BY SUSAN HOOD
In Lifeboat 5, author Susan Hood takes readers on a harrowing journey through World War II, blending historical fact with the emotional resilience of youth. The story follows 15-year-old Bess Walder, who, during the chaos of Nazi bombings in East London, persuades her parents to evacuate her and her younger brother, Louis, to Canada.
On board the ship promised to deliver them to safety, Bess meets Beth Cummings, another evacuee, whose friendship becomes crucial as their journey takes a devastating turn. On the fifth day at sea, disaster strikes when a German U-boat torpedoes their ship. Bess and Beth are separated from Louis and find themselves clinging to life in a capsized lifeboat, enduring the unimaginable hardship in the Atlantic Ocean.
The choice to narrate in verse adds a unique depth to Bess’s experiences, using short lines that echo the urgency and turmoil of war. Readers will find themselves immersed in the story, feeling the weight of her journey as she searches for her brother.
Inspired by real events and individuals, Lifeboat 5 illuminates the harrowing realities of while celebrating themes of perseverance and courage. It is a story not just of survival but also a reminder of the bonds that sustain us in our darkest hours, so although it is written for middle level readers others can surely relate to it as well.