Courageous by Yona Zeldis McDonough
Published by Scholastic Press on November 27th 2018
ISBN: 1338226851
Pages: 192
Goodreads

The story begins with Aiden having a nightmare about drowning. Aiden has lost a brother in the war whose ship was sunk by a German U-Boat. His surviving brother is in France, part of the British troops that need to be evacuated because they are surrounded by Nazi forces. Aiden and his friend Sally want to take part in the dangerous attempt to rescue British troops. All available boats are needed to cross the channel from England to France and bring home the soldiers. This includes small fishing boats that families rely on to make a living. Aiden’s mother and father forbid him from taking part in the rescue operation, though Aiden is determined to save his brother. Having a family who has lost one son and has another serving in the military brings a personal approach to the story. This fast paced historical novel will appeal to younger readers and older reluctant readers. It is well written and informative. The author includes as glossary, brief history of WWII, timeline of the evacuation of Dunkirk, and bibliography. Recommended for grades 4-10.

Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish