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Attacked at Sea

A True World War II Story of a Family's Fight for Survival
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
On May 19, 1942, the freighter Heredia was attacked by a German U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico during WWII. Among the crew and passengers was the Downs family, who found themselves fighting for survival after the ship exploded. Facing threats such as sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration, each family member had to navigate their own perilous journey in this gripping true story of endurance and courage off the American coast.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$1999

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This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for children and young readers interested in historical narratives, survival stories, and World War II history. Fans of titles like Refugee and Unbroken will find this book particularly compelling.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A riveting nonfiction WWII account of survival at sea - Book 4 in the True Rescue series from Michael J. Tougias, the author of the New York Times bestseller The Finest Hours.

A riveting middle grade nonfiction WWII account of survival at sea.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

On May 19, 1942, during WWII, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. The submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia. Most onboard were merchant seamen, but there were also civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina and their two children. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensuedโ€”and each family member had to find their own path to survival.

This inspiring historical narrative tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast.

For fans of Refugee and Unbroken.

Series: True Rescue Series

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  • Rescue of the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)
    Paperback
    $2000
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  • Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition)
    In the midst of the Blizzard of 1978, the tanker Global Hope floundered on the shoals in Salem Sound off the Massachusetts coast. When the Coast Guard heard the Mayday calls, they immediately dispatched a patrol rescue boat. But within an hour, the Coast Guard rescue boat was in as much trouble as the tanker-both paralyzed in unrelenting seas. Enter...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Attacked at Sea
    On May 19, 1942, during WWII, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. The submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia. Most onboard were merchant seamen, but there were also civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina and their two children. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Junior Library Guild Selection. School Library Journal praises it as an exciting and highly readable survival story suited for young history enthusiasts and fans of the "I Survived" series. Kirkus Reviews highlights its well-researched narrative with evocative letters and diaries portraying a lesser-known WWII event. The Bulletin commends the book's honest depiction of the harrowing experience and its lasting impact on the family.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250853219

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 November 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Illustration: photo insert

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 193g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Michael J. Tougias is the author of many true rescue stories, including Into the Blizzard, A Storm Too Soon, and The Finest Hours. A frequent lecturer on his work, Tougias lives in Plymouth, Massachusetts. michaeltougias.com Alison O'Leary is an award-winning journalist based in New England. She is a former correspondent for the Boston Globe and the author of So Close to Home and Inns and Adventures. alisonoleary.com

Also by Michael J. Tougias

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  • Rescue of the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)
    Paperback
    $2000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition)
    In the midst of the Blizzard of 1978, the tanker Global Hope floundered on the shoals in Salem Sound off the Massachusetts coast. When the Coast Guard heard the Mayday calls, they immediately dispatched a patrol rescue boat. But within an hour, the Coast Guard rescue boat was in as much trouble as the tanker-both paralyzed in unrelenting seas. Enter...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • In Deep Water
    Pre-order
    In Deep Water
    October, 8, 2022. Three friends are fishing for red snapper when their boat, tied to an oil rig, begins taking on water and sinks 15 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. Suddenly, the three men find themselves in a struggle for their lives. Their vessel succumbs to the building seas so quickly that the fishermen are unable to send...
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