Alison O'Leary

A remarkable World War II account of a maritime attack off the West African coast, for fans of Steven Sheinkin and Deborah Heiligman. At the height of World War II, the RMS Laconia was torpedoed by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. The attack triggered a series of unprecedented events involving allies and enemies from both sides, and left survivors adrift at sea in shark infested oceans, fighting to stay alive with little food or water. Suspenseful and informative, and featuring historic photographs, this incredible true account is a testament to the idea that compassion can rule over conflict-even during the cruelties of war. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection "This epic story races along, unspooling like a movie before our eyes-artfully, dramatically, revealing a little known part of WWII history. An intriguing book."-Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times bestselling author of In Harm's Way"The authors do an excellent job of conveying the chaos and loss of this grisly historical incident without pushing young readers too deeply into the horror. Many of those who lived through the Laconia catastrophe endured weeks at sea, parched and sunburned and starving in conditions that literally drove men mad. Archival photos add immediacy to this sensational true-life story." -Wall Street Journal "An amazing account of a World War II event that is almost entirely unknown.... This story chronicles the courage, compassion, and perseverance of the few survivors of the incident, showcasing war at its worst and humanity at its best.... School librarians will want to add this to their collection." -Booklist

An attack on a retired journalist brings new attention to an old case, in this clever mystery with a cat's-eye view . . . Jeremy Goodman has been taking a class in local history taught by Margaret, a retired journalist. She's just dug up some intriguing new information in a forty-year-old unsolved triple homicide known as the Golf Course Murders-and now she's been attacked and left for dead. Jeremy is teaming up with an ex-cop classmate to look into Margaret's assault-and their fellow students, as well. Could one of them have a connection to the cold case? There's a lot of investigating that needs to be done-and his cats, Aubrey and Vincent, just might sniff out a key piece of evidence . . . Praise for Alison O'Leary's Street Cat Blues"Vastly entertaining . . . cunningly crafted." -Books & Bindings"Hilarious." -The Book Decoder

On September 12, 1942, the RMS Laconia was attacked by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. What the Germans didn't know was that they had just attacked their allies: locked below decks on the British ship were nearly 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. When the Germans realized their mistake, they made the unprecedented decision to rescue all survivors regardless of their nationality, attempting to declare the waters a neutral zone. But when an American bomber flew over the humanitarian effort, he was ordered to drop bombs, contributing to the deaths of many Italian POWs and British civilians in the process. Some of those who remained alive endured weeks adrift at sea, fighting for survival with little water or food, and in shark infested oceans. Suspenseful and informative, this incredible true account, which includes historic photographs, is a testament to the idea that compassion can rule over conflict-even at the cruel heights of war.

On May 19, 1942, during WWII, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. The submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia. Most onboard were merchant seamen, but there were also civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina and their two children. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued - and each family member had to find their own path to survival. This inspiring historical narrative tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast. For fans of Refugee and Unbroken.

Eastern Massachusetts is home to the large urban area of Boston and its suburbs, but it is also home to many pockets of wilderness where you can walk in solitude. This new edition of AMC's Best Day Hikes Near Boston brings you to 60 of the best day hikes in the area, along with enriching essays about the area's natural and social history. Visitors and locals alike will find something to enjoy in this volume, with an at-a-glance trip planner that highlights the best hikes near public transportation, as well as those for kids, dogs, universal access, and winter snowshoeing and skiing. From the famed beaches of Cape Cod to the contemplative stillness of Walden Pond, to new hikes in Callahan State Park and the Sudbury Reservoir, this new edition provides an indispensable guide for exploring the eastern portion of Massachusetts in greater depth.

Attacked at Sea is a riveting account of survival at sea, book four in the True Rescue series from Michael J. Tougias, the author of the bestseller The Finest Hours. On May 19, 1942, during World War II, a German submarine, a U-boat, in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. The submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia. Most onboard were merchant seamen, but there were also civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina and their two children. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued--and each family member had to find their own path to survival. This inspiring historical narrative tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast.

A riveting adaptation for young readers of So Close to Home: A True Story of an American Family's Fight for Survival During World War II from Michael J. Tougias, the author of the New York Times bestseller The Finest Hours. A Bank Street Best Book of the Year On May 19, 1942, during WWII, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. The submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia. Most onboard were merchant seamen, but there were also civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina, and their two children. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued--and each family member had to find their own path to survival. This inspiring historical narrative tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, blinding oil, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast. 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. More Thrilling True Rescue Books: The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition)A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition)Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition)In Harm's Way (Young Readers Edition)Rescue on the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)