A heartbreaking novel based on the true story of a World War II voyage.
In May of 1939, the SS St. Francis sets sail from Germ... read full description
In May of 1939, the SS St. Francis sets sail from Germ... read full description
reviews
Jun 05, 2011
Karen
rated it: 
In 1939, Germany was controlled by the Nazis. On May 13, the passenger cruise ship MS St. Louis left Hamburg, Germany with over 900 passengers, most of whom were Jewish people escaping Nazi persecution. Their destination was the island of Cuba. This historical fiction novel is based upon the events of that voyage. Thomas is just 15, and traveling alone on the MS St. Francis to go live with his stepbrother in Cuba. His Jewish father was sent to a concentration camp, and his non-Jewish mother
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Jul 25, 2010
Kathy
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 16, 2010
Sarai
rated it:
I would have preferred to give this a 3.5 rating.
The story was a bit slow at times, in the descriptions of chess games and such. The history part was interesting to me as I had not heard of this ship and incident before.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8–Based on the story of the MS St. Louis in 1939, the journey of the fictional Nazi luxury liner MS St. Francis from Germany to Cuba and the United States creates the dramatic underpinning for this story. Focusing o More...
The story was a bit slow at times, in the descriptions of chess games and such. The history part was interesting to me as I had not heard of this ship and incident before.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8–Based on the story of the MS St. Louis in 1939, the journey of the fictional Nazi luxury liner MS St. Francis from Germany to Cuba and the United States creates the dramatic underpinning for this story. Focusing o More...
May 31, 2010
Annie
rated it: 
Wow. That’s what I was thinking as I finished reading this book.
This book was incredible. It tells the story of a young boy named Thomas who boarded the St. Francis ship by himself, with his mother still in Germany, to hopefully find freedom in Cuba since he was a Jew during the time Nazis were out to kill them. Thomas was depressed while entering this ship. He was leaving behind his mother…he was leaving behind his father… and there was no guarantee that there would be a better More...
This book was incredible. It tells the story of a young boy named Thomas who boarded the St. Francis ship by himself, with his mother still in Germany, to hopefully find freedom in Cuba since he was a Jew during the time Nazis were out to kill them. Thomas was depressed while entering this ship. He was leaving behind his mother…he was leaving behind his father… and there was no guarantee that there would be a better More...
Jan 31, 2010
Anne
rated it:
This middle-grade historical fiction is based on the real-life voyage of the M.S. St. Louis, a luxury liner that took Jews away from Nazi Germany only to be turned away from Cuba, the USA and Canada. (All 947 passengers were returned to various countries in Europe, and many died in concentration camps.) Whitney tells the story through the eyes of 15-year-old Thomas, a prickly youth who carries guilt over his father going to Dachau and leaving his mother behind. I found Thomas hard to identify wi
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Mar 28, 2010
Sandra
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This book is a must on every school shelf. I had never heard of the MS St. Louis before reading this book. I could not imagine being in Thomas’ shoes and being the only one from my family on a ship that was to take me to safety. Thomas’ father was taken to a concentration camp because he was a Jew and his mother, being a Christian had only enough money to buy the safe passage for her son. On board he meets Priska and becomes her friend. She reminded me of Anne Frank with her positive outlook, be
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Jul 17, 2011
Elizabeth
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 02, 2009
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
It's 1939, and things have steadily grown worse for the Jews of Germany.
Fifteen-year-old Thomas Werkmann has witnessed firsthand just how cruel the Nazis can be, and his mother has scraped together the money to send him to Cuba on the tourist boat, the MS Francis, along with over 900 other Jews hoping to escape persecution. Upon their leaving in Hamburg, Thomas is unwillingly befriended by the two daughters of a German lite More...
It's 1939, and things have steadily grown worse for the Jews of Germany.
Fifteen-year-old Thomas Werkmann has witnessed firsthand just how cruel the Nazis can be, and his mother has scraped together the money to send him to Cuba on the tourist boat, the MS Francis, along with over 900 other Jews hoping to escape persecution. Upon their leaving in Hamburg, Thomas is unwillingly befriended by the two daughters of a German lite More...
Apr 28, 2010
Tanya
rated it:
This book was not only good because of the historical fiction , but because the way the author used chess to symbolize the Thomas journey. Although, I am not a fan of chess, this book caught my attention. I'd never seen chess in the eyes of a fanatic and i can honestly say that it convinced me. The author is brillant and i am awaiting for her work. My only critisism is that it was a bit easy for me.
Totally recommend this book to EVERYONE, but mostly to geeks like myself.
:)
Totally recommend this book to EVERYONE, but mostly to geeks like myself.
:)
Feb 04, 2012
Emily
rated it:
Id never even heard of the ship before. i liked that the book showed another side of WWII that id never seen before, one where the US wasn't always ready to help.
i play chess but ive never been good at it, and this book showed me ill probably never be since i dont think ahead...oh well. :) besides a crushed dream...
i really liked the ending, not really caring (*spoiler*) that it wasnt happy. wonderful book!!
i play chess but ive never been good at it, and this book showed me ill probably never be since i dont think ahead...oh well. :) besides a crushed dream...
i really liked the ending, not really caring (*spoiler*) that it wasnt happy. wonderful book!!
Feb 08, 2011
Heidi
rated it:
The story of 15-year-old Thomas' journey on a luxury ship carrying Jews from early WWII Europe to freedom in Cuba. A fictitious account of the real-life journey of the MS St. Louis. More information about this little-known voyage can be found at the back of the book and at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum website, including teaching resources. A good addition to historical fiction collections.
Feb 22, 2011
Marie
rated it:
I really loved this story and stayed up late to finish it. Was totally with fifteen-year-old Thomas througout his journey on the ship, M.S. St. Francis just prior to World War II- Priska and her family also--all trying to get out of Nazi Germany and away from persecution. Emotionally gripping and really well told. Highly recommend this.
Sep 03, 2009
Emily
rated it:
This was a good story, and it was very engrossing. I think Holocaust stories are very important, and this one centered around specific events I was not aware of. However, not a whole lot set it apart for me. And I do not like when I don't understand why a book has a certain title, and that was the case for me here.
Jun 22, 2009
Meri
rated it: 
This one was okay. There was nothing to make it stand out from other holocaust literature. It was lacking some of the soul searching and horror of other novels in the genre. Perhaps it's a good way to tell younger children about the holocaust without a lot of bloodshed, though it's no Number the Stars.
Sep 22, 2009
Lindsey
rated it:
I loved this story about Jews who tried to escape Germany prior to WWII...The story is told from the perspective of 15 year old Thomas, who is traveling alone and falls in love with a girl on the ship. It is a really cute story, especially for grades 4-9. But even as an adult I enjoyed it.
Jan 24, 2010
MMatchak
rated it:
Historical fiction - shocked that I liked this one based on genre. Story of Jews aboard a ship meant to take them out of Germany right at the beginning of WWII. Cuba, America, & Canada refused entrance to the passengers, turning the ship around.
Dec 01, 2009
Cherry
rated it:
If half-stars were possible, I'd probably give this three and a half. It is an interesting take on a part of history of which I was ignorant.
Jan 05, 2010
Mary
rated it:
Having to leave one country and enter a new unseen country would be a frightening situation. Having to leave home, family, community because of your race is staggering to consider. Fearing every day that you may not make it to safety is thought-provoking because we live where we feel safe. As we ponder these issues while reading, the characters in this book grow too with the same questions.
Apr 08, 2010
Laurenhallal
rated it:
Written by Alex Ablon's sister a juvy lit historical fiction based on teh true story of the MS St. Louis.
Feb 02, 2012
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