A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2018 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.   At once a gripping adventure story and a rich resource for history lovers,  Torpedoed! provides page-turning thrills and inspiring real-life examples of courage and resourcefulness in the toughest of circumstances. Gr 4–6—Many people know about the sinking of the Lusitania, but few probably know of the sinking of the Athenia. Mistakenly torpedoed by a German U-boat in the very early days of World War II, the Athenia was a passenger ship traveling from Great Britain to Montreal, Canada, in September 1939. On board were 1,102 innocent passengers and 316 crew members fleeing newly at-war Europe. Over 100 never reached their destination. This brief history of the disaster uses the accounts of three survivors—ages one, 11, and 14—to relate the story. This framework allows the author to provide details of individuals as well as broad historical information about the incident and rescues. The author vividly describes the harrowing night survivors spent on the open sea—cold, wet, shocked, fearful, and alone. Six ships responded to the vessel's SOS call and by dawn, the survivors were being rescued and attended to. Some continued to Canada, but most were forced to return to Europe. After a long wait, some survivors nervously returned to the United States. This little-known slice of World War II history is particularly interesting for its portrayals of attitudes regarding refugees—so many were trying to flee Europe but not welcomed. Also noteworthy is the compassion shown to survivors; they were received and cared for by all they encountered. Another interesting point is the massive cover-up by the Germans, who eventually accepted responsibility at the Nuremberg Trials. VERDICT Loaded with personal details and stories, this true-life survival tale will increase interest in the Second World War.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI “A gripping tale of disaster at sea.” —Laura Woollett, author of Big Top Burning: The True Story of  an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and the Greatest Show on Earth “An engaging, sometimes-harrowing account of the first casualty in what became known as the Battle of the Atlantic.” — Kirkus Reviews "Mullenbach’s descriptions of the torpedo strike and subsequent rescue efforts, laced with survivors’ first-person accounts, are immediate and chilling.” — Publishers Weekly "Loaded with personal details and stories, this true-life survival tale will increase interest in the Second World War."— School Library Journal 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. Torpedoed! A World War II Story of a Sinking Passenger Ship and Two Children's Survival at Sea By Cheryl Mullenbach Chicago Review Press Incorporated Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Mullenbach All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-61373-824-5 Contents Prologue, 1 A Kid's World, 2 World at the Brink of War, 3 Great Value for Your Travel Dollar, 4 Frantic Escape, 5 Attack at Sea, 6 Night of Terror, 7 Incredible Rescue, 8 The Wait, 9 Welcome Home, 10 Uncovered Secrets, Epilogue, Acknowledgments, Time Line, Notes, Bibliography, CHAPTER 1 A KID'S WORLD The kids of Cleveland, Ohio, were abuzz with excitement in May 1939: A new comic strip starring a hero called Superman began appearing i