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mat_tobin's review
4.0
This is my first Tom Palmer book and I thought it was excellent. A story set within a real historical event, the 1943 Arctic Convoy, it follows the journey of three men and their dangerous sailing through freezing seas and Nazi naval vessels.
Frank, Stephen and Joseph, who have grown up together in Plymouth, face perilous tasks and exhausting trials as they travel to and from Russia delivering stock. These journeys upon the seas are filled deftly by Palmer with tension from falling victim to either the natural elements or a torpedo of a German ship. Yet what Palmer does so well, and the thing that will draw me back to more of his work is that sense of humility of humanity of the three young men.
With welcome author notes and photos at the back, this is an excellent introduction to a lesser-known moment in WW2 history that feels real and honest.
Frank, Stephen and Joseph, who have grown up together in Plymouth, face perilous tasks and exhausting trials as they travel to and from Russia delivering stock. These journeys upon the seas are filled deftly by Palmer with tension from falling victim to either the natural elements or a torpedo of a German ship. Yet what Palmer does so well, and the thing that will draw me back to more of his work is that sense of humility of humanity of the three young men.
With welcome author notes and photos at the back, this is an excellent introduction to a lesser-known moment in WW2 history that feels real and honest.
georgiasharkey's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
backonthealex's review
4.0
I've read about convoys and their escorts crossing the Atlantic Ocean during WWII, but never about the ships that escorted convoys traveling parallel to Norway to a base in northern Russia through waters alive with German submarines loaded with torpedoes and Luftwaffe just waiting to take to the air and strike. But even more terrifying than U-Boat attacks and airplane strikes was Hitler's newest ship the Scharnhorst, "the most feared German vessel on the ocean" and rumor has it that she is on the move. Needless to say, this novel, based on a true story, is action packed.
It may only be October 1943, but teenager Frank, along with his childhood friends Stephen and Joseph, have bundled up to go out on the deck of the HMS Forgetmenot, a convoy escort, to chisel as much ice as possible off the deck of the ship. It's not easy task, given the rough sea, the high waves, and the rolling and tossing of the ship. Which is how Frank suddenly lost his balance and found himself falling into the sea. Sure he was a goner, Frank is surprised to wake up back on the ship.
Frank recovers, and eventually, the ship makes it to their destination in Russia, but on the way back to their home port, they are torpedoed, and once again Frank finds himself in the freezing Arctic waters as the HMS Forgetmenot sinks. Picked up by a rescue ship, Frank realizes his friend Joseph is dead, but Stephen, who was in the engine room, has miraculously survived.
Frank and Stephen are given a Survivor's Leave, returning home to Plymouth, England to see their families, and pay their respects to Joseph's father. While there, they receive their orders to report to the HMS Belfast, back on Arctic Convoy duty. And while the HMS Belfast is a larger ship that the HMS Forgetmenot, the trip north to Russia is still filled with fear, anxiety and danger.
The book ends with the Battle of North Cape, the real life battle between the Arctic Convoy and the dreaded Scharnhorst battleship. I said it is a nail-biter and it is right up to the end. Palmer's descriptions of the cold weather and icy waters of the Norwegian Sea, the ice that coated the ship and had to be constantly chiseled away to prevent the ships from getting top heavy and capsizing, were realistic enough to give me chills despite reading it during a heatwave.
But even more realistic than the elements were Frank's thoughts and fears. Frank is a sensitive, conscientious boy, and dealing with a dangerous mission should be enough for a anyone who is still a teen, but he must also deal with worry about his mother alone in Plymouth, grieve for a friend who died while the two friends were not on speaking terms, and his own fears of what could happen. The story is told from Frank's first point of view and I thought Palmer did a great job of giving readers a sense of what it was like to be Frank without overwhelming them with too much tension.
Arctic Star isn't a very long novel, but packs a powerful punch. The Arctic Convoys were such difficult and harrowing missions that an special award called The Arctic Star was created in 2012 for those men who served on what Winston Churchill called "the worst journey in the world." The book is not named for this award, but rather for the North Star that plays a small but important role in Frank's story.
Back matter includes an Author's Note and photographs of men who served on the Arctic Convoys, as well as additional information on the HMS Belfast.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library
It may only be October 1943, but teenager Frank, along with his childhood friends Stephen and Joseph, have bundled up to go out on the deck of the HMS Forgetmenot, a convoy escort, to chisel as much ice as possible off the deck of the ship. It's not easy task, given the rough sea, the high waves, and the rolling and tossing of the ship. Which is how Frank suddenly lost his balance and found himself falling into the sea. Sure he was a goner, Frank is surprised to wake up back on the ship.
Frank recovers, and eventually, the ship makes it to their destination in Russia, but on the way back to their home port, they are torpedoed, and once again Frank finds himself in the freezing Arctic waters as the HMS Forgetmenot sinks. Picked up by a rescue ship, Frank realizes his friend Joseph is dead, but Stephen, who was in the engine room, has miraculously survived.
Frank and Stephen are given a Survivor's Leave, returning home to Plymouth, England to see their families, and pay their respects to Joseph's father. While there, they receive their orders to report to the HMS Belfast, back on Arctic Convoy duty. And while the HMS Belfast is a larger ship that the HMS Forgetmenot, the trip north to Russia is still filled with fear, anxiety and danger.
The book ends with the Battle of North Cape, the real life battle between the Arctic Convoy and the dreaded Scharnhorst battleship. I said it is a nail-biter and it is right up to the end. Palmer's descriptions of the cold weather and icy waters of the Norwegian Sea, the ice that coated the ship and had to be constantly chiseled away to prevent the ships from getting top heavy and capsizing, were realistic enough to give me chills despite reading it during a heatwave.
But even more realistic than the elements were Frank's thoughts and fears. Frank is a sensitive, conscientious boy, and dealing with a dangerous mission should be enough for a anyone who is still a teen, but he must also deal with worry about his mother alone in Plymouth, grieve for a friend who died while the two friends were not on speaking terms, and his own fears of what could happen. The story is told from Frank's first point of view and I thought Palmer did a great job of giving readers a sense of what it was like to be Frank without overwhelming them with too much tension.
Arctic Star isn't a very long novel, but packs a powerful punch. The Arctic Convoys were such difficult and harrowing missions that an special award called The Arctic Star was created in 2012 for those men who served on what Winston Churchill called "the worst journey in the world." The book is not named for this award, but rather for the North Star that plays a small but important role in Frank's story.
Back matter includes an Author's Note and photographs of men who served on the Arctic Convoys, as well as additional information on the HMS Belfast.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library
bluewithstars's review
5.0
Another terrific triumph from Tom Palmer. Devoured in one sitting and it is definitely going into our WW2 topic as a focus text.
paraguaytea's review
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.75
This was a very emotional read for me because my dad was from Plymouth (as am I), served on the Arctic convoys, was on HMS Edinburgh when it sank in 1942, and was awarded the Arctic Star posthumously. So, it's almost as if this book were about him.
I met several of the survivors from the Edinburgh, sister ship of HMS Belfast, including a 'boy' seaman who, at the age of 15, had been locked into the magazine with the munitions when the first torpedo hit. His story moved me profoundly. We had a photo of the Edinburgh covered in ice, as described in the book. Dad also used to talk about the wonderful black bread he had in Murmansk.
This book, short though it is, really helps you understand what life at the time must have been like for people like my dad: the fear, the waiting for action, the camaraderie. It is also factually very accurate, and informative.
This book, short though it is, really helps you understand what life at the time must have been like for people like my dad: the fear, the waiting for action, the camaraderie. It is also factually very accurate, and informative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War
cathyp72's review
4.0
While I didn't enjoy this as much as After the War, it is another well researched and well written war story with great characters. Palmer manages to capture the sense of intense cold in the north Atlantic as well as the fear and danger experienced by those who took part in the Arctic convoys. One of the most powerful elements was in Russia, where one of the friends who has learned Russian and admires what he understands about their society faces the reality. Very accessible this is a really good read overall.
lostwithoutabook's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
alittlebutalot's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Tom Palmer is one of those authors who just GETS it. He hits the nail on the head again. This is an incredible book: a story of bravery, friendship and Naval arctic travel. This made me cry twice. The friendship between the boys, the sense of duty and the very real emotions of being a soldier. Just exceptional. I can not get enough of his WW2 fiction so if we could have more that'd be great!
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