Torpedoed!: A World War II Story of a Sinking Passenger Ship and Two Children's Survival at Sea

A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2018

A gripping adventure story and a rich resource for history lovers

When 14-year-old Florence Kelly and 11-year-old Russell Park left their hometowns for summer vacations in Europe in 1939, they considered themselves awfully lucky. Many of their friends' families were struggling during the Great Depression and couldn't afford fancy trips. But the young pair would soon face life-threatening troubles of their own as it became clear German dictator Adolf Hitler was intent on invading neighboring countries.
With tensions high, Florence, Russell, and their families cut their holidays short as many Americans scrambled to book passage back to the States. Safely aboard the luxurious passenger liner the S.S. Athenia, travelers settled in and breathed a sigh of relief. Surely, it was believed, the sleek, menacing German U-boats lurking in the Atlantic Ocean would never attack a passenger ship . . . would they?
Torpedoed vividly re-creates the events surrounding the attack on the Athenia, the first ship lost in the battle of the Atlantic. Through firsthand accounts, interviews with survivors, and powerful photos, award-winning author Cheryl Mullenbach brings to life the prewar environment in America and Europe, the anxious days leading up to the surprise attack, the frantic rush to escape the sinking ship, and the long, terrifying night that Russell, Florence, and others spent in churning lifeboats battling the elements and imagining the worst.

Torpedoed provides page-turning thrills and inspiring real-life examples of courage and resourcefulness in the toughest of circumstances.

Author: Cheryl Mullenbach
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 12/07/2021
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.39lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781641605724
Audience: Ages 9-12

About the Author
Cheryl Mullenbach is the award-winning author of Double Victory, The Great Depression for Kids, The Industrial Revolution for Kids, and Women in Blue. She is a former history teacher, librarian, public television project manager, and social studies consultant. She lives in Panora, Iowa.