Novel in Verse Read Aloud for Poetry Month || Lifeboat 12

Friday, April 7, 2023 - It’s April and that means it’s also National Poetry Month. To celebrate, I’ll be sharing a middle grade novel in verse each week! Up this week is Lifeboat 12 a historical fiction novel in verse based on true events from WWII. If you like survival stories, ships, or heroic adventures, you will love this book! Be sure to watch the whole video to learn the mystery quote sprinkled throughout the read aloud, one… word… at… a… time and also to hear an interview with the author, Susan Hood.
Book Blurb: In the tradition of The War That Saved My Life and Stella By Starlight, this poignant novel in verse based on true events tells the story of a boy’s harrowing experience on a lifeboat after surviving a torpedo attack during World War II.
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.
They’re 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.
A Junior Library Guild Selection
The 2019 Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner
A 2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Book
The 2019-2020 Lectio Book Award Winner
The 2020-2021 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award List
The 2020 Oklahoma Library Association’s Children’s Sequoyah Book Award Winner
The Connecticut Book Award Winner
Want to increase student engagement? Try these First Chapter Friday worksheets, with both generic response and novel specific sheets for each video in this playlist! Grab them here → www.teacherspa...
Get your copy of Lifeboat 12 at your school library, local indie bookstore or here → amzn.to/3Ubjxya
And visit Susan Hood’s website here → www.susanhoodb...
Take a look at all of the other First Chapter Friday videos in this playlist: • First Chapter Friday a... and more Novels in Verse right here: → • MG and YA Novels in Verse
Wanna say thanks and fuel future creations? Buy me a virtual cup of coffee for making this (and many other!) amazing free video resources for your classroom. Click here → ko-fi.com/aman...
Scoop up a FREE motivational quote poster set for your classroom here: www.amandazieba.com/teachersignup and then check out all of my educational resources in my virtual city WordNerdopolis’ school! www.amandazieba.com/school.
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** The videos in this First Chapter Friday Playlist were created in the spirit of: helping teachers and students find high quality and engaging books to read, promoting amazing authors and great books, and celebrating stories
Each video in this playlist features a book chosen by Amanda Zieba based on its literary merit, thematic/curriculum connection, or simply because she loves it and thinks you will too. All commentary and facts shared about the book and author were also researched/gathered by Amanda. Books were purchased by Amanda from Birdy’s Bookstore, Barnes and Noble or Amazon, unless otherwise stated. These videos are recorded and edited from Amanda’s home office in Wisconsin, USA. **
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