Penny and the Tragic Voyage - (Girls Survive) by Julie Gilbert (Paperback)

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Penny sails aboard the RMS Lusitania, but the Great War rages in Europe, and the ship is hit by a torpedo. Penny, her brother, and her best friend must fight for survival in this riveting historical fiction.

Book Synopsis

It is 1915, and twelve-year-old Penny and her brother Charles are embarking on a trip to England aboard the RMS Lusitania. But war is brewing overseas, and there are rumors that Germany will torpedo any ship that comes into the area--even a ship full of civilian passengers. Shy and nervous Penny is worried, but those worries fade when she makes her first real friend, a bold girl named Mary. With Mary, Penny begins to find her voice for the first time. Then, as they approach Ireland, their worst fear comes true: The Lusitania is struck by a torpedo. In the chaos of a sinking ship, Penny becomes separated from Charles and Mary, and she must gather all her courage to stay alive and face an uncertain future. This fast-paced Girls Survive historical fiction--with nonfiction backmatter, including an author's note, discussion questions, and more--will captivate readers as they learn the devastating story of the sinking of the Lusitania.