The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor

THE LAST LIFEBOAT by Hazel Gaynor is an enthralling and poignant work of historical fiction based on true events. Most people know that during WWII English children were evacuated to the countryside for greater safety, but not so many know about the 1000’s of sea-evacuees who were transported to places like Canada and Australia. In this story, a widowed mother, Lily Nicholls, makes the difficult choice to send her young daughter (Georgie) and son (Arthur) through a program run by Children's Overseas Reception Board (CORB). They travel with roughly ninety other children and several chaperones – in the story, Alice King has decided to take a risk and offered her services.  

I read the entire novel in less than 24 hours and am still curious to learn more about the actual tragedy that occurred when (like the fictional SS Carlisle in the story) a passenger ship (SS City of Benares) was torpedoed in the Atlantic and a stray lifeboat drifted for several days with dimming hopes of rescue. The Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Imperial War Museum have made some relevant photos and documents available online. Gaynor weaves much of this into her writing and does an excellent job of conveying the time at sea. In addition, she probes the feelings of mothers who stayed behind and the “different experience for men responding to the call to do their bit.” A historical note with more details, suggested discussion questions, and Gaynor’s book suggestions accompany this fascinating text. THE LAST LIFEBOAT is highly recommended, especially for readers who have enjoyed other WWII survival adventures like Ruth Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea or works by Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity; Rose Under Fire).

Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

STATELESS is another excellent piece of historical fiction written by Elizabeth Wein; some of her other titles include Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, and Black Dove White Raven. She sets her latest novel in August 1937 where a dozen young adults are promoting peace by participating in an air race with separate legs between a variety of European cities like Salisbury, Brussels, Hamburg, Venice, and Paris. Initially, all of those characters (and their planes) need an introduction, but Wein swiftly concentrates the action around Stella North, who represents the UK, Tony Roberts, who represents France, and Sebastian Rainer, a Luftwaffe pilot flying for Germany. They have to learn to trust each other when another competitor disappears (possibly murdered) and it seems that someone involved with the race is now targeting them. The race itself moves the story along, of course, but there is much more exciting action and danger in this historically accurate mystery. Be sure to read the author’s note where Wein not only explains the title and some of her sources, but also draws parallels to today’s issues, especially the situation in Ukraine. STATELESS is highly recommended and received a starred review from School Library Journal.