A Storm Too Soon: A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80 Foot Seas

by Michael J. Tougias

Overview

A spellbinding tale of maritime disaster, survival, and an absolutely daring rescue from Michael J. Tougias, the author of The Finest Hours, which is now a major motion picture.

When a forty-seven-foot sailboat disappears in the Gulf Stream during a disastrous storm, it leaves behind three weary sailors struggling to stay alive on a life raft in the throes of violent waves eighty feet tall. This middle-grade adaptation of an adult nonfiction book tells the story of the four intrepid Coast Guardsmen who braved the sea and this ruthless storm, hoping to rescue the stranded sailors.

A Storm Too Soon tells a riveting true story that will delight young readers.

"The dramatic narrative is engaging and won’t disappoint students who enjoy adventure or rescue stories" —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250115379
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	05/23/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	55,297
Product dimensions:	5.21(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.71(d)
Age Range:	9 - 13 Years

About the Author

Michael J. Tougias is the author of many true rescue stories, including A Storm Too Soon, Overboard!, Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster at Sea, Derek's Gift: A True Story of Love, Courage and Lesson's Learned, The Cringe Chronicles: Mortifying Misadventures With My Dad (co-written by Kristin Tougias), and Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do, which ALA named an Editor's Choice and Booklist praised "as the best story of peril at sea since The Perfect Storm." A frequent lecturer at schools, Tougias lives in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Sailors and Rescuers xi

Part I

1 Florida-Countdown to the Crossing 1

2 Jean Pierre 7

3 Riding the Gulf Stream 17

4 Spirits Are High 23

5 The Gathering Storm 30

6 Help Is Greatly Needed 39

Part II

7 Multiple Maydays-The SAR Command Center 51

8 The Wave 60

9 The Life Raft 68

10 Desperation 74

11 The Cutter Tampa and the C-130 83

12 Tumbling in Chaos 89

13 Convulsions 96

Part III

14 Need Max Gas 105

15 Tether Ourselves Together 118

16 "Mark, Mark, Mark!" 132

17 Tike a Hockey Puck on Ice 141

18 Deploying the Swimmer 148

19 "He Needs to Go First…" 156

20 As If Shot from a Cannon 164

21 They're Not Coming for Us 173

22 He's Going to Drown 183

23 Cherry Point Naval Hospital 191

24 Heading Home 200

Epilogue 209

Author's Note and Acknowledgments 215

About the Author 221

Editorial Reviews

An NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection

“Tougias' third-person narrative, condensed and more tightly focused than the adult version, brings to life the struggles and heroism of the sailors and rescuers alike, highlighting life lessons learned. . . A sure-fire hit with young readers who are always ready for a good disaster tale.” —Kirkus Reviews

"The dramatic narrative is engaging and won’t disappoint students who enjoy adventure or rescue stories" —School Library Journal

"This true story . . . reads like a thriller, with one thing after another going wrong and each challenge seemingly impossible to overcome. The courage displayed by the team may inspire readers to learn more about their exciting (if life-threatening) careers."-Booklist

From the Publisher