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Abandon ship! : the true World War II story about the sinking of the Laconia / Michael J. Tougias & Alison O'Leary.

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextSeries: Tougias, Michael J., True survival series ; Publisher: New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2023Copyright date: ©2023Edition: First editionDescription: 254 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 20 cmContent type:
  • text
  • still image
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780316401371
  • 0316401374
Other title:
  • True WWII story about the sinking of the Laconia
  • True WW2 story about the sinking of the Laconia
  • True World War II story about the sinking of the Laconia
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Laconia before the torpedoes -- Laconai torpedoed -- American plan e bombing and aftermath -- Weeks in the lifeboats -- Post-Rescue.
Summary: "A remarkable true WWII account of the maritime attack on the RMS Laconia off the West African coast"-- Provided by publisher.Summary: "On September 12, 1942, the RMS Laconia was attacked by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. What the Germans didn't know was that they had just attacked their allies: locked below decks on the British ship were nearly 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. When the Germans realized their mistake, they made the unprecedented decision to rescue all survivors regardless of their nationality, attempting to declare the waters a neutral zone. But when an American bomber flew over the humanitarian effort, he was ordered to drop bombs, contributing to the deaths of many Italian POWs and British civilians in the process. Some of those who remained alive endured weeks adrift at sea, fighting for survival with little water or food, and in shark infested oceans." -- inside front jacket flap.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Children's Book Children's Book Dr. James Carlson Library Children's NonFiction 940.5429 T722 Available 33111011054679
Children's Book Children's Book Main Library Children's NonFiction 940.5429 T722 Available 33111010968887
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A remarkable World War II account of a maritime attack off the West African coast, for fans of Steven Sheinkin and Deborah Heiligman.



At the height of World War II, the RMS Laconia was torpedoed by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. The attack triggered a series of unprecedented events involving allies and enemies from both sides, and left survivors adrift at sea in shark infested oceans, fighting to stay alive with little food or water.



Suspenseful and informative, and featuring historic photographs, this incredible true account is a testament to the idea that compassion can rule over conflict--even during the cruelties of war.



A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection



"This epic story races along, unspooling like a movie before our eyes--artfully, dramatically, revealing a little known part of WWII history. An intriguing book."―Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times bestselling author of In Harm's Way



"The authors do an excellent job of conveying the chaos and loss of this grisly historical incident without pushing young readers too deeply into the horror. Many of those who lived through the Laconia catastrophe endured weeks at sea, parched and sunburned and starving in conditions that literally drove men mad. Archival photos add immediacy to this sensational true-life story." ― Wall Street Journal



"An amazing account of a World War II event that is almost entirely unknown.... This story chronicles the courage, compassion, and perseverance of the few survivors of the incident, showcasing war at its worst and humanity at its best.... School librarians will want to add this to their collection." ― Booklist

"Christy Ottaviano Books"

Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-251).

"A remarkable true WWII account of the maritime attack on the RMS Laconia off the West African coast"-- Provided by publisher.

"On September 12, 1942, the RMS Laconia was attacked by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. What the Germans didn't know was that they had just attacked their allies: locked below decks on the British ship were nearly 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. When the Germans realized their mistake, they made the unprecedented decision to rescue all survivors regardless of their nationality, attempting to declare the waters a neutral zone. But when an American bomber flew over the humanitarian effort, he was ordered to drop bombs, contributing to the deaths of many Italian POWs and British civilians in the process. Some of those who remained alive endured weeks adrift at sea, fighting for survival with little water or food, and in shark infested oceans." -- inside front jacket flap.

Ages 9-14 Little, Brown and Company.

Laconia before the torpedoes -- Laconai torpedoed -- American plan e bombing and aftermath -- Weeks in the lifeboats -- Post-Rescue.

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