©2025 Fable Group Inc.
3.5 

Torpedoed

By Deborah Heiligman
Torpedoed by Deborah Heiligman digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

A riveting true story of World War II, Torpedoed chronicles the attack and sinking of the passenger ship SS City of Benares, which evacuated children from England. Don't miss this YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist from critically acclaimed author Deborah Heiligman.

Amid the constant rain of German bombs and the escalating violence of World War II, British parents by the thousands chose to send their children out of the country: the wealthy, independently; the poor, through a government relocation program called CORB. In September 1940, passenger liner SS City of Benares set sail for Canada with one hundred children on board.

When the war ships escorting the Benares departed, a German submarine torpedoed what became known as the Children's Ship. Out of tragedy, ordinary people became heroes. This is their story.

More Awards and Praise for Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship":
Golden Kite Award Winner
A Hornbook Fanfare Selection
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

★ "A must-read for all."—School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Exceptionally well-researched and impressively crafted." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Nonfiction maestro Heiligman here tells a riveting wartime story." —Horn Book, starred review

★ "Extensively documented accounts tell of harrowing escapes, incredible heroism, tragic accidents, eventual rescues, and the gruesome aftermath." —Booklist, starred review

Download the free Fable app

app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities
app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

About Deborah Heiligman

Deborah Heiligman has written many books for children, including Printz Honor, YALSA Nonfiction Award Winner, and Boston Globe - Horn Book Award Winner Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers, National Book Award Finalist Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith, and The Boy Who Loved Math. She lives with her family in New York City.

Start a Book Club

Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!

FAQ

Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?

Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?

How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?

Do you sell physical books too?

Are book clubs free to join on Fable?

How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?

Error Icon
Save to a list
0
/
30
0
/
100
Private List
Private lists are not visible to other Fable users on your public profile.
Notification Icon
©2025 Fable Group Inc.
Fable uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB