1
of
1
Attacked at Sea
A True World War II Story of a Family's Fight for Survival
Series: True Rescue Series
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
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
Attacked at Sea
$1999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
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.
Latest News
The Hunger Games: Why it is one of the greatest YA series of all time
I absolutely LOVE ‘The Hunger Games’, and with ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ arriving in New...
New Hero Alert! Meet Renee, Our New Warehouse Sidekick!
Meet Renee, one of the newest members of our Book Hero warehouse team! A keen...
The Story to Screen Report - 6/11/2026
It's another exciting week in the world of book-to-screen adaptations! From major casting announcements and...
The Lord of the Rings at Book Hero: There and Back Again… And Again
Our very first sale was an illustrated copy of The Hobbit, and our Tolkien collection...
A Little Bit of Magic: Building the Rolife Magic Fantasy Corner
There's nothing quite like spending an evening building a little bit of magic! Last weekend,...
See moreA 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 ensued—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
View all-
Rescue of the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)
Paperback$2000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips 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$2200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips 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$1999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips 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 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
View all-
Rescue of the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)
Paperback$2000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips 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$2200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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...Hardback$7200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks
More from Children's Books
View all-
New ReleaseGruffalo Granny
The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...Hardback$2499Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseA Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
In the newest saga, our anti-hero, Grandpa, alters the fabric of time and space. Is his evil the necessary soil for Dog Man and friends to grow and bloom? Can we all step up to be the change? It's the saga of the century—Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time!Hardback$2399Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Fight or Flight: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (21)
When the going gets tough, what’s a wimpy kid to do? In Fight or Flight, Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully. Luckily for Greg, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, takes karate, so at least Greg’s got someone in his corner. But an unexpected twist makes Greg realize he’s facing an uphill...Paperback$1699Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseDetective Beans Colouring Club
Help Detective Beans solve the case of the missing colours! Join the Colouring Club now! Join the Detective Beans Colouring Club! Inside you'll find 40 removable colouring pages featuring scenes from all over Cat Town. Filled with all the characters you know and love from the Detective Beans graphic novels like Biscuits, Beans' mum, Mr Brickle, Bear, Detective Baby Bird...Paperback$1799Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseThe Sixth Faction
Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives. She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind. But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her...Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseThe Naturals: Dangerous Impulses Book 5
The Naturals are BACK! No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals Series. Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion‐reader Michael, lie‐detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial...Paperback$2199Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseAll of Us
A new heart-wrenching, well-researched historical novel for middle-grade readers. 'The weirdest thing,' continues Tove, 'is that I don't feel any different to the rest of you.' 'That's because you're not!' snaps Birgitte. 'You're Danish.' 'So why do the Nazis hate me and not you?' When twelve-year-old Viggo and his friends Finn, Tove, Birgitte and Konrad start writing rude letters to...Hardback$2599Elsewhere:$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseThe Star Path
A young whale searches for the whale rider's heir and a teenager takes an epic voyage to Antarctica with a fleet of waka hourua to claim his lost inheritance, in this breathtaking return to the world of global hit The Whale Rider, over thirty years on. From the internationally acclaimed author of The Whale Rider comes a novel about the...Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseWahine
From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....Hardback$3199Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseLottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...Paperback$1799Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseMatihe! Achoo!
What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...Paperback$1899Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseThe Sweet As Looky Book
Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...Hardback$2299Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 190,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Children's Books lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Lizzy's Favourite Kiwi Pukapuka!
Here a huge bunch of incredible books for Kiwi kids of all ages, by amazing Kiwi authors! Including picture books and chapter...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Books for Helping Kids with Emotions!
Books are a great way to help children learn about emotions - giving them the language to name and recognize how they...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Chapter Books for the Classroom
Looking for some fresh inspiration when it comes to reading to your class? Lizzy has you covered with her chapter book recommendations!View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Travel Books for Tamariki
Going on a trip with your children? There are some amazing pukapuka (books) that are perfect for young travelers! Check out this...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Lizzy's Favourite Picture Books
A collection of my favourite picture books to read aloud with my child and keep on the bookshelf as a reminder of...View the list
