Reviews - The Last Lifeboat

225 reviews for:

The Last Lifeboat

Hazel Gaynor

4.2 AVERAGE

kcherry's review against another edition

4.5

hopeful informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

grammy1013's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

WWII historical fiction… based on real events.. heartbreaking; strength of character .. bombing of cross oceanic ships from Britain ..

bail_daye's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

heidirgorecki's review against another edition

5.0

Such an insane and tragic, based on a true story, event.
Well written and engaging story and characters.

I knew about Operation Pied Piper at the beginning of the war, evacuating British children, but did not know there was a 2nd wave sending kids to Canada, Australia, and NZ. So unbelievably devastating that so many kids died, yet incredible how the survivors of boat 12 survived that long after an oversight and then chance fly-over. I can’t fathom being a parent of one of those kids after warring with yourself about sending them at all.

Also, I love how the author’s note included how it spurred the change that eventually saved 4000 lives. If an event like that happens, as much as it doesn’t change how it affects the parents, I’d want something good to come of it if it was me.

victoriardh's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

jenmat1197's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is the story of two women- Alice King and Lily Nicols. During World War II these two women had to make a choice. Alice -a young woman who finds comfort among books and a quiet life decides to become an escort for Children leaving the country during the war. Lily - a widow who has two young children decides that the safest thing for them would be to put them on a boat to Canada until the war is over. When tragedy strikes on the children's passage to America, Lily and Alice work tirelessly to save as many children as they can - one from a life boat stranded in the Ocean and one at home trying to convince the people in power that there are indeed survivors of the ship. As time runs out to save those that remain, their harrowing efforts make all the difference.

This was a pretty good book. It is based on a true story and while the people in the book are all fictional, the situation was not. It is a heartbreaking tale because many children and adults lost their lives trying to get these children out of England to Canada. Even the people on the life boat - not all survived once they set out for help. The book is well written - chapters that go back and forth between Lily and Alice's story - filling in their lives before this situation. Has a good epilogue to wrap up the story as well.