Booktalks Quick and Simple

	Hood, Susan. LIFEBOAT 12 New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018 IL 5-8, RL 4.8 ISBN 978-1-48146-883-1 6 booktalks
Click on the book to read Amazon reviews	Booktalk #1 The year is 1940 and the Germans have started bombing England. The Germans are now in France and it is just a short trip across the English Channel between Britain and invasion. To keep their children safe, parents have agreed to have them sent to Canada to escape the bombing. Ken's parents have applied to the Children's Overseas Reception Board to get him transport to safety. Ken doesn't know how he feels about this. At first he believes that it is just his stepmother's way to get rid of him. She doesn't seem to like him very much. But then he realizes that it could be a great adventure. Sailing across the Atlantic with the Royal Navy guarding them. Maybe he'll just stay in Canada and never come back. The ship is amazing and the food is something the kids had never experienced before. Some children have trouble adjusting to life at sea but seem to be settling in. On day four, they are miles away from the U-boats and bombers that can hurt them so they can now begin to enjoy their life aboard a luxury liner. But then the torpedo shatters the night and the ship begins to sink. Ken gets separated from his friends and his lifeboat launches without him. But does get on the last lifeboat before the ship sinks. And now they are alone in the ocean with no one around, very little water, and getting sicker by the day. This story is based on a real life event that happened in World War II. Booktalk #2 It’s 1940, and England is embroiled in the nightmare of World War II. In an effort to evacuate some of the children from the worst of the bombings, they are loaded onto luxury ocean liners that will set sail to safer shores, where the they can wait out the war in safety. Thirteen-year-old Kenneth is one of the lucky ones chosen to leave England on the beautiful ship City of Benares, and indeed, life onboard seems like a dream come true---with warm, soft beds and delicious food. Kenneth is making new friends and having the time of his life… All that changes when, 3 days out on their journey to Canada, they are attacked by a German submarine, and the City of Benares sinks beneath the waves, victim to exploding torpedoes. Scrambling into a lifeboat with 5 other boys, Kenneth is now in a fight for his life---are the Germans hunting for survivors? How long can 5 city boys with no boating experience manage to stay alive on the ocean with little food or water, and no shelter? Read this exciting story, based on real characters and events, to find out. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Book Award nominee, 2020) Booktalk #3 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-but they couldn’t be more 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. (Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award 2019 - 2020) Booktalk #4 Ken’s dad sends him away on a luxury ship to Canada to keep him safe during World War II. The Nazis have been bombing his hometown of London. His dad thinks he is lucky to get out of London. After five days at sea, the ship’s officers feel safe, but they are wrong. Will Ken survive being lost at sea? (Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Awards, 2020) Booktalk #5 Based on an actual event, Lifeboat 12 takes place in 1940 during World War II. Thirteen-year-old Ken lives in London with his father and step-mother. London is being bombed nightly by the Nazis. In an effort to keep Ken safe, his father signs him up to be one of ninety children who will travel to Canada aboard a fancy ship. Once the ship sails, all appears to be safe. The children are enjoying life on the ship and meeting new friends on the voyage to Canada. The ship’s captain even gives the all clear that the ship is out of danger. But is it? During the night, the ship is hit with a torpedo! Ken and five other boys make their way aboard Lifeboat 12. Will they survive? (Prepared by:Pam Moore, Walhalla Middle School, pmoore@g.oconee.k12.sc.us) (South Carolina Book Awards, 2020-2021) Booktalk #6 It's 1940, the beginning of the Blitz, and 13-year-old Kenneth Sparks is selected to go to Canada as part of a program to send ninety British children to the safety of the U.K.'s overseas dominions. Life aboard the luxury ship is grand-- rich food, new toys, soft beds, and new friends distract them from the constant reminder that war is happening all around them. When his ship is torpedoed, Kenneth, five other boys from the program, and about 40 adults make it aboard Lifeboat 12, one of the only lifeboats remaining after the evening's gale-force winds. Will they run out of supplies? Will they survive long enough to be found? (Sunshine State Young Readers Award Books 2020-2021)
	SUBJECTS: Lifeboats -- Fiction. Novels in verse. Ocean liners -- Fiction. Ocean travel -- Fiction. Survival -- Fiction. World War, 1939-1945 -- Children -- Fiction. World War, 1939-1945 -- Evacuation of civilians -- Great Britain -- Fiction.

Hood, Susan.
LIFEBOAT 12
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 4.8
ISBN 978-1-48146-883-1

6 booktalks

Click on the book to read Amazon reviews

Booktalk #1

The year is 1940 and the Germans have started bombing England. The Germans are now in France and it is just a short trip across the English Channel between Britain and invasion. To keep their children safe, parents have agreed to have them sent to Canada to escape the bombing. Ken's parents have applied to the Children's Overseas Reception Board to get him transport to safety. Ken doesn't know how he feels about this. At first he believes that it is just his stepmother's way to get rid of him. She doesn't seem to like him very much. But then he realizes that it could be a great adventure. Sailing across the Atlantic with the Royal Navy guarding them. Maybe he'll just stay in Canada and never come back. The ship is amazing and the food is something the kids had never experienced before. Some children have trouble adjusting to life at sea but seem to be settling in. On day four, they are miles away from the U-boats and bombers that can hurt them so they can now begin to enjoy their life aboard a luxury liner. But then the torpedo shatters the night and the ship begins to sink. Ken gets separated from his friends and his lifeboat launches without him. But does get on the last lifeboat before the ship sinks. And now they are alone in the ocean with no one around, very little water, and getting sicker by the day. This story is based on a real life event that happened in World War II.

Booktalk #2

It’s 1940, and England is embroiled in the nightmare of World War II. In an effort to evacuate some of the children from the worst of the bombings, they are loaded onto luxury ocean liners that will set sail to safer shores, where the they can wait out the war in safety. Thirteen-year-old Kenneth is one of the lucky ones chosen to leave England on the beautiful ship City of Benares, and indeed, life onboard seems like a dream come true---with warm, soft beds and delicious food. Kenneth is making new friends and having the time of his life…

All that changes when, 3 days out on their journey to Canada, they are attacked by a German submarine, and the City of Benares sinks beneath the waves, victim to exploding torpedoes. Scrambling into a lifeboat with 5 other boys, Kenneth is now in a fight for his life---are the Germans hunting for survivors? How long can 5 city boys with no boating experience manage to stay alive on the ocean with little food or water, and no shelter?

Read this exciting story, based on real characters and events, to find out. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Book Award nominee, 2020)

Booktalk #3

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-but they couldn’t be more 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. (Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award 2019 - 2020)

Booktalk #4

Ken’s dad sends him away on a luxury ship to Canada to keep him safe during World War II. The Nazis have been bombing his hometown of London. His dad thinks he is lucky to get out of London. After five days at sea, the ship’s officers feel safe, but they are wrong. Will Ken survive being lost at sea? (Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Awards, 2020)

Booktalk #5

Based on an actual event, Lifeboat 12 takes place in 1940 during World War II. Thirteen-year-old Ken lives in London with his father and step-mother. London is being bombed nightly by the Nazis. In an effort to keep Ken safe, his father signs him up to be one of ninety children who will travel to Canada aboard a fancy ship. Once the ship sails, all appears to be safe. The children are enjoying life on the ship and meeting new friends on the voyage to Canada. The ship’s captain even gives the all clear that the ship is out of danger. But is it? During the night, the ship is hit with a torpedo! Ken and five other boys make their way aboard Lifeboat 12. Will they survive? (Prepared by:Pam Moore, Walhalla Middle School, pmoore@g.oconee.k12.sc.us) (South Carolina Book Awards, 2020-2021)

Booktalk #6

It's 1940, the beginning of the Blitz, and 13-year-old Kenneth Sparks is selected to go to Canada as part of a program to send ninety British children to the safety of the U.K.'s overseas dominions. Life aboard the luxury ship is grand-- rich food, new toys, soft beds, and new friends distract them from the constant reminder that war is happening all around them. When his ship is torpedoed, Kenneth, five other boys from the program, and about 40 adults make it aboard Lifeboat 12, one of the only lifeboats remaining after the evening's gale-force winds. Will they run out of supplies? Will they survive long enough to be found? (Sunshine State Young Readers Award Books 2020-2021)

SUBJECTS:    Lifeboats -- Fiction.
                        Novels in verse.
                        Ocean liners -- Fiction.
                        Ocean travel -- Fiction.
                        Survival -- Fiction.
                        World War, 1939-1945 -- Children -- Fiction.
                        World War, 1939-1945 -- Evacuation of civilians -- Great Britain -- Fiction.