Publisher Description

This adaptation for young readers of The Finest Hours: The True Story of the US Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman tells the story of the shipwreck of two oil tankers and the harrowing Coast Guard rescue when four men in a tiny lifeboat overcame insurmountable odds and saved more than 30 stranded sailors. Now a major motion picture from Disney, starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. On the night of February 18, 1952, during one of the worst winter storms that New England has ever seen, two oil tankers just off the shore of Cape Cod were torn in half. With the storm in full force and waves up to 70 feet high, four coast guardsmen headed out to sea in a tiny lifeboat to come to the rescue. They were the only hope for the stranded sailors. Despite incredible obstacles, these brave men risked their lives, remembering the unofficial Coast Guard motto: You have to go out, but you do not have to come back. This is a fast-paced, uplifting story that puts young readers in the middle of the action. It's a gripping true tale of heroism and survival in the face of the elements. 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:
A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition)
Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition)
Attacked at Sea (Young Readers Edition)
In Harm's Way (Young Readers Edition)
Rescue on the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)

Author Biography

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. He also published a memoir, The Waters Between Us: A Boy, A Father, Outdoor Misadventures and the Healing Power of Nature. A frequent lecturer on his work, Tougias splits his time between Massachusetts and Florida. Casey Sherman is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of The Finest Hours, Bad Blood, Black Irish, and Black Dragon. He received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Journalistic Excellence as a member of the CBS Boston news team, and has been nominated for an Emmy Award. A featured guest on major television networks and news programs, Sherman has lectured at The National Press Club and the US Coast Guard Command Center in Washington, D.C. He lives in Marshfield, Massachusetts.

Review

"This poignant history should be an easy sell to readers of adventure, seafaring, or rescue stories. A Disney film is in development." --School Library Journal "The Finest Hours is a touching account, a sensitive rendering of what might be called four indescribably chaotic conditions. . . . Tougias and Sherman never sensationalize, never go beyond the facts, and yet capture all the pain, physical and emotional, of the survivors and their families." --Providence Journal "This book captures the wit, grit and sacrifice of Coasties and their boats." --Minneapolis Star Tribune "Tougias and Sherman reach their peak of tension in the sink-or-swim moments when mariners abandoned ship and chanced their lives on their rescuers' skill and bravery . . .excellent." --Booklist "Nearly 57 years later, it's a breathtaking story that still defies the imagination." --Cape Cod Chronicle "It's good to know that real heroes exist . . . incredible." --Concord Monitor "Gripping. . . . Tougias and Sherman ably narrate the desperate struggles of crew members on both the wrecks and the rescue boats . . . will make readers appreciate the bravery of the men who put their lives on the line . . . action-packed." --Publishers Weekly "A gripping tale of Coast Guard heroism . . . an action-packed account of rescue at sea." --Kirkus Reviews

Review Quote

Tougias and Sherman reach their peak of tension in the sink-or-swim moments when mariners abandoned ship and chanced their lives on their rescuers' skill and bravery . . .excellent.

Excerpt from Book

1

Details