title: The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition): The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue (True Storm Rescues)
author: Michael J. Tougias
description: Gr 6 UpThis "young readers" adaptation of The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue (Scribner, 2009) tells the story of the 1952 rescue of 70 men (and the deaths of 14 more) aboard two oil tankers that were heavily damaged 20 miles apart during a fierce winter storm off Cape Cod. At times it reads as a character-driven narrative, with short, biographical sketches of many of the men; at other times, it speeds up with the pulse-pounding pace of a thriller. The authors ably capture the drama of the situation: seas at times reaching well over 50 feet, the "shudder and earsplitting crash" of a ship tossed on the waves, the pain screaming through the body of a man waiting to scramble out of the frigid water. On occasion, readers may get lost in some of the geographical details or names of crewmen that do not have a starring role. There are several pages of resources in the back matter, and a handful of them are available online. An inset containing 20 photographs is included. This poignant history should be an easy sell to readers of adventure, seafaring, or rescue stories. A Disney film is in development.Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA
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  Rescued By the Captain  
  
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  Copyright © 2017 by Laura A. Barnes
  
  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or
  used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the
  publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly
  journal.
  
  First Printing: 2017
  
  ISBN 978-1-365-60650-2
  
  Laura A. Barnes  
  www.lauraabarnes.com
  
  Cover Art by Cheeky Covers
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  To: William-for being my inspiration.
  
  To: Ashley, Nicholas, & Joshua
  
  Thank you for all your love and support in helping make my dream come true.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 1
  
  Somewhere in the North Sea
  
  April 1810
  
  Thorn stood at the bow of his ship ‘My Hedera’ starring out into the dark
  night, lost in his deep thoughts. The brigantine dipped and swayed into the
  huge waves that rocked the sea. Dark storm clouds stretched across the skies
  blending into the black sea. None of the stars lighted the sky tonight;
  bec