by Michael J Tougias (Author)
A riveting true account of a rescue at sea from Michael J. Tougias, the author of the New York Times bestseller The Finest Hours.
In the midst of the Blizzard of 1978, the tanker Global Hope floundered on the shoals in Salem Sound off the Massachusetts coast. When the Coast Guard heard the Mayday calls, they immediately dispatched a patrol rescue boat. But within an hour, the Coast Guard rescue boat was in as much trouble as the tanker--both paralyzed in unrelenting seas. Enter Captain Frank Quirk who was compelled to act. Gathering his crew of four, Quirk plunged his forty-nine-foot steel boat, the Can Do, into the blizzard.
Perfect for fans of the I Survived series ready for a longer form account, this middle-grade adaptation of an adult nonfiction book chronicles the harrowing journey between Captain Quirk and the Coast Guard as they struggled in the holds of a radical storm. It's an epic tale of heroism and bravery at sea.
Christy Ottaviano Books
New York Times bestselling author Michael J. Tougias adapts his histories of real life stories for young readers in his True Rescue Series, capturing the heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions during maritime disasters.
Illustrated Chapter Books for ages 6-9:
Young Readers Adaptations, for ages 9-14:
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Gr 5-8--Adapted for young readers from Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do, the most recent entry in the "True Rescue" series focuses on the ill-fated Can Do. In February 1978, a freak blizzard surprised the East Coast, pounding coastal Massachusetts and the Gloucester Harbor. A distress call from Global Hope, an oil tanker, spurred the Coast Guard and a local pilot ship, the Can Do, into braving the storm. As the storm progressed, the Can Do and Coast Guard vessels found themselves in jeopardy. Quotes from eyewitnesses involved with the rescue attempts, friends, and transcripts of radio transmissions tell the story of what was ultimately a deadly rescue mission. The bravery of Frank Quirk, the captain of the Can Do, along with that of crew member Charlie Bucko, takes center stage through stories from friends and families; other members of the doomed ship and the Coast Guard vessels are not as fleshed out. Pacing in the adaptation drags and gets caught up in some lengthy side stories of people and events tangentially involved, which may not hold the interest of reluctant readers. A small collection of photographs and a glossary are included. VERDICT Purchase where Tougias's other books are popular or where other maritime adventure stories are in demand.--Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, WA
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Michael J. Tougias is the author of many award-winning true rescue stories, including the New York Times bestseller The Finest Hours, A Storm Too Soon, Into the Blizzard, and Attacked at Sea, as well as the young reader's adaptation of In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton. A frequent lecturer, Tougias splits his time between Massachusetts and Florida.
Alison O'Leary is an award-winning journalist based in New England. She is a former correspondent for the Boston Globe and the co-author with Michael Tougias of Attacked at Sea.