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Description
Malta lies under siege. Its capture would wreck the Allied North African campaign in WW2. Part fact, part fiction, LAST CONVOY tries to capture what it was like to be a gunner on board the fortified merchant ship "Ohio".
Quick Summary
If your kid is into World War II history or stories about real-life bravery at sea, this one's a hidden gem. Last Convoy drops you right onto a heavily fortified merchant ship the Ohio during a terrifying mission to break through to Malta while it's under siege, and the tension never really lets up. It's got just enough action and close calls to keep middle graders turning pages, but it's also surprisingly educational about what it was actually like for young sailors and gunners during the war. Kids who like warship documentaries or books like The War That Saved My Life will probably gravitate toward this one. There's a good bit of fear mixed with camaraderie and quiet heroism, so it hits that sweet spot of being exciting without being overly dark. Parents can feel good about the historical accuracy woven in, and at around 23,000 words it's a solid choice for readers ready to move beyond easy chapter books but not quite ready for doorstop novels.