Genre: historical fiction
Age: upper middle grade/younger YA
Series/Standalone: standalone
Content: The ship exploded so there was a lot of death as well as shark attacks. I was surprised by how detailed some of it was considering the age the book was written for.

Although it took a little while to get into, I couldn't put this book down and would recommend it to those in middle school or up.

Rating: 4/5 Stars ( )

A quick-read survival story set during the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in WWII. Patrick and his younger brother Teddy has already survived incredible trauma since being separated from their parents during WWII. They stow away on the USS Indianapolis with the help of a Marine named Teddy. When the ship is hit by a torpedo, the boys struggle to survive. They end up on a raft for days, fighting off shark attacks and other people from the ship. A harrowing story where many perished in the biggest Naval disaster in US history. ( )

This is historical fiction at its best, a compelling story based on an historic event. During WWII, two young boys are smuggled on board the USS Indianapolis, hoping to be reunited with their parents in the war torn Philippines. Their parents had sent them away to escape the impending arrival of the Japanese. The sinking of the "Indy" (a true event) is proclaimed, as the worst disaster, at sea, in US naval history, of the crew of 1,196, 900 abandoned ship and only 317 survived. This book vividly recreates the horror of the sinking, describing the injuries of the men and the vicious attacks by sharks in the struggle for survival. Although targeted for a younger audience, although I am an OA reader, I really enjoyed the story, the history and the great characters created by the author. ( )

This is historical fiction at its best, a compelling story based on an historic event. During WWII, two young boys are smuggled on board the USS Indianapolis, hoping to be reunited with their parents in the war torn Philippines. Their parents had sent them away to escape the impending arrival of the Japanese. The sinking of the "Indy" (a true event) is proclaimed, as the worst disaster, at sea, in US naval history, of the crew of 1,196, 900 abandoned ship and only 317 survived. This book vividly recreates the horror of the sinking, describing the injuries of the men and the vicious attacks by sharks in the struggle for survival. Although targeted for a younger audience, although I am an OA reader, I really enjoyed the story, the history and the great characters created by the author. ( )