A Closer Look
The Story Behind the Story
Lifeboat 12 is based on a little-known, true WWII story that follows six young boys (ages 9—13) who survived a major naval disaster in September 1940.
I discovered this amazing story in the childhood letters of my British mother-in-law who was herself an evacuee during the Blitz. Thankfully for me and my entire family, she was successfully evacuated to Canada on a different ship and wrote home about this subsequent disaster.
I was blessed again when I found Ken Sparks, the hero of the story, the “boy” who spotted the plane that saved everyone aboard the lifeboat. Ken was 88-years-old, living a few hours outside of London. When I called and asked if I could interview him, he said, “Come on over anytime, Lovie!” Couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that! So my husband and I traveled to England, stayed with relatives, and spent two weeks interviewing Ken and doing research at the National Archives, the British Library, the Imperial War Museum, and the National Maritime Museum.
Ken had a huge chest of memorabilia that he shared with me, including photos of his family and the silver watch his community gave him upon his safe return.
I came home with stacks of research and had to face the hard part—writing. Although I’ve written many, many picture books and beginning readers, this was my very first book for middle graders. With picture books, an author’s job is to pare down the words and step aside so the illustrator can tell half the story. Now I had to do both jobs. I was not at all used to elaborating!
I think that’s one reason I turned to poetry, why I chose to write a novel in verse. As with picture books, the words are spare, but evocative; they focus on imagery and word play; movement and music. I could use tools that I had —alliteration, assonance, internal rhyme. Even so, I was often “at sea” writing this book and have to thank my editors, my writers’ group, and SCBWI for their help.
Three years and many drafts later, the book was awarded the SCBWI Golden Kite Award in a ceremony before 1000 people, with a keynote delivered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It was a night I’ll never forget.
I dedicated the book to Ken Sparks and wish he were alive today. Sadly, he died two months after I spoke with him. But I’m glad that his story—the true tale a courageous 13-year-old who really was a World War II hero—survives.
Make it stand out
e all the difference.
LIFEBOAT 12 is the WINNER of the Arkansas Charlie May Simon Award, the Connecticut Book Award, and the Oklahoma Sequoyah Award. It is a runner-up in the Massachusetts Children’s Book Awards, the Mississippi Magnolia Book Awards, and the Rhode Island Middle School Book Awards. All my thanks to the librarians who nominated the book and to all the kids who voted!