Review by Booklist Review
On September 2, 1939, hours after Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain declared Great Britain was at war with Germany, a German submarine torpedoed and sank a British passenger ship bound for Canada. Among the many Americans on board were 11-year-old Russell Park and 13-year-old Florence Kelly, who were traveling home with their parents after visiting relatives. Writing in a clear, direct style, Mullenbach tells their stories before, during, and after the disaster and then explains why the ship was attacked, a piece of the historical record that was revealed only after the war ended. This well-researched volume makes effective use of quotes, including many taken from interviews and the passengers' memoirs, and vividly describes their experiences on the damaged Athenia, in the lifeboats, and aboard rescue ships. Archival photos illustrate the book, offering views of the individuals profiled as well as the ships and other elements in the story. Titanic may be the most famous shipwreck in history, but this account of the Athenia's last voyage makes its story just as memorable.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
On September 3, 1939, just hours after Great Britain declared war on Germany, the British luxury liner Athenia became the first casualty of WWII's Battle of the Atlantic when it was torpedoed by a German submarine. Mullenbach's account of the tragedy, which claimed 112 lives, focuses on two survivors: 14-year-old Florence Kelly and 11-year-old Russell Park, who were returning to the U.S. after family holidays in England. Initial recountings of their families' initial sea crossings bog down in descriptions of the ships' décor and amenities, making for a sluggish lead-in to the book's central event. Rundowns of the international economic and political conditions, such as the rise of European dictators that fueled the buildup to war, provide valuable context, and extensive closing notes delineate Mullenbach's thorough sourcing. Though the writing can be clunky in places (both Florence and Russell "were confident kids who were comfortable spending time with adults and who looked forward to new ventures to unfamiliar places"), Mullenbach's descriptions of the torpedo strike and subsequent rescue efforts, laced with survivors' first-person accounts, are immediate and chilling. Maps and archival b&w photos are included. Ages 10-up. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
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 © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In September 1939, the S.S. Athenia, a passenger ship en route to Canada from England, was torpedoed by a German submarine. The ship sank and survivors spent harrowing hours in life boats. Mullenbach's well-researched and exciting recreation of events before, during, and after the attack centers on the experiences of real children, eleven-year-old Russell Park and fourteen-year-old Florence Kelly; black-and-white-photos included. Timeline. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The ocean liner Athenia was the first ship sunk by a U-boat after Great Britain declared war on Germany on Sept. 3, 1939, and this true story recounts the incident through the experiences of two children who survived the attack. Eleven-year-old Russell Park and 14-year-old Florence Kelly, both white Americans, were sailing home from summer holidays when a torpedo from U-30 struck the trans-Atlantic ocean liner in the boiler and engine areas. Mullenbach ably describes the prewar environment in both Europe and the United States and the tense days leading to the outbreak of war. She discusses the threats of fascism and militarism in Europe and Japan but does not explain the contexts for their ascendancy. The narrative is most effective in its vivid account of the chaos and confusion aboard the Athenia immediately following the attack and the harrowing efforts to rescue survivors. Mullenbach makes extensive use of firsthand accounts and other primary sources, but details of Park's and Kelly's experiences are limited. Of the 1,418 passengers and crew aboard, 128 lost their lives, a sobering fact Mullenbach handles with sensitivity. An engaging, sometimes-harrowing account of the first casualty in what became known as the Battle of the Atlantic. (maps, photos, timeline, source notes, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
