NEW-Sink Or Swim: A Novel Of WW-II

by Steve Watkins

Brand New Deliver In 6-18 Working Days

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, World War II, Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, War

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2017

About the author

Steve Watkins is the author of the young adult novels Stolen by Night, On Blood Road, Juvie, What Comes After, and Great Falls, as well as the middle-grade novels Down Sand Mountain, Sink or Swim, and the Ghosts of War series, including The Secret of Midway, Lost at Khe Sanh, AWOL in North Africa, and Fallen in Fredericksburg.

A former professor of journalism, creative writing, and Vietnam War literature, Steve is the cofounder and editor of Pie & Chai, a monthly magazine that you can find and read online at pieandchaimagazine.com.

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was interesting because it is about the youngest person who has ever served the US Navy. I also learned about the Navy.

[Cooper Deschamps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sink or Swim
Sink or Swim is a very good book by Steve Watkins about WWII. First off there's a kid named Colton. he is an average person on a small island call ocracoke. He is a son of a fisherman who died a few years from the time in the book. When him and his brother, Danny, are out fishing, a german u-boat capsizes Danny’s boat. Colton tries to save his brother and soon finds him out in the freezing water. Colton helps his brother into the boat. When Colton gets to shore, his mother rushes Danny to the hospital. Then Colton takes Danny’s military papers and signs himself up for the military. Is he up for this challenge?
I like this book because it is fun to read. I also like it because you don’t want to stop reading it. One thing that I liked the most was that it has a lot of details in it but not to much. Another thing is that the main character is faced with these hard challenges and he struggles to get better. Also, I liked it when Colton showed the grown men how to tie these simple knots and everyone complained about having to do them. It was funny when at the end Danny and Colton were riding beach ponies and Danny named them Woody and Straub, some of Coltons friends in the navy.
Last of all the book was fun and I liked it a lot. The book to me is about courage and the ability to do things that you are scared to do. There is also a little bit of sadness near the end but otherwise the book is happy.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one kept me on the edge of my seat, reading “just one more chapter”, until I finished it!
A thrilling novel, written for a middle-grade audience, based on the true story of the youngest person to ever enlist and engage in combat during WW2. This 13-year-old managed to pass himself off to Navy recruiters as being seventeen, fought in some fierce battles in the Pacific, was awarded some prestigious medals, and wounded in action before his family found out and brought him home. Whew!
And, as the author’s notes state, this boy was one of many underage children who fought for their country; he just happened to be the youngest one!
A book guaranteed to ignite interest in history!

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 17 year-old Danny Graham joins the navy. But before he leaves for boot camp, he and his brother Colton, 12, are out fishing one day when a German U-boot suddenly surfaces, injuring Danny and putting him in a coma.

Angry at the Germans for what happened to his brother, and feeling like there is nothing he can do, Colton decides to take Danny's enlistment papers and take his brother's place in the Navy. Tall for his age, Colton doesn't really look 17, but the country was desperate for fighting men and didn't look that closely at him, although different people do question his age.

Colton, now called Danny, gets through boot camp, and even manages to impress his company commander with his knowledge of knot tying. Along the way, Colton makes two good friends, Josef Straub, legally in the Navy, and Woody, a 15 year old who also lied about his age in order to enlist. After graduating from boot camp, he is sent to Miami for subchaser training along with Straub and Woody. Subchasing was the job he requested in order to pay the Germans back for what they did to the real Danny.

The three friends are eventually deployed on a patrol craft, whose job is to escort convoys of merchant ships up and down the eastern seaboard, looking for U-boats and wolf packs (groups of submarines), and attacking them before they could attack the convoy. Later, Colton's patrol craft is assigned to escort a convoy in the North Atlantic during the Battle for the Atlantic. Conditions in the North Atlantic are terrible, mostly because of the freezing weather and rough seas, but eventually a wolf pack attacks, and Colton's ship is sunk. A handful of survivors find themselves in the North Atlantic in a lifeboat surrounded by sharks for a number of weeks. Finally, they are rescued along with some captured Germans, and Colton finds himself in a New York City hospital, recovering from a serious leg wound. And then his mother, who has had no idea where her son was or what he had done, shows up...

Sink or Swim is definitely not a character driven story. It is, however, a real action-packed novel that gives detailed realistic descriptions about everything Colton experiences in the Navy. And while this may sound like the exciting Navy adventures of a 12 year-old, there is enough truth in Colton's story to show the other side of war - death, destruction, fighting, and the fact that the Germans they run into are just young teenage boys, too.

I did think that Watkins did a great job of maintaining a certain innocence in Colton. He is, really, just a seventh grader when he joins up. Feeling a tinge of guilt that his mom doesn't know where he is and what he's doing, he dutifully sends home his pay each month, sans $1.00 for himself. Compare that to his friend Woody, who spends it as quickly as he gets it.

Although this isn't a character driven novel, I did like the cast of characters that Watkins put Colton in touch with. Sometimes they could be a bit nasty to him until he proved himself, but for the most part they were a pretty nice bunch of men. It was refreshing to read about men who didn't need to feed their manly egos in war for a change. And I think that helps make this a much more appealing story for middle grade readers.

Watkins includes a nice glossary of Navy terms and of different events, like the Battle for the Atlantic, that might not be familiar to all readers. He clearly did a good deal of research for Colton's story, and has woven in lots of historically accurate facts that make this book so interesting to read. And readers may be surprised to learn in the Author's Note that Colton's story is based on the true-life story of a boy named Calvin Graham. Watkins includes a number of books and articles he read while writing Sink or Swim, including two about Calvin. One of them, "The Boy Who Became a World War II Veteran at 13 Years Old" can be read online.

Sink or Swim is an exciting story that should appeal to WWII buffs, history buffs, and the fast pacing makes it particularly appealing for reluctant readers.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an ARC sent to me by the publisher, Scholastic Press

[Drew E · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Sink or Swim by Steve Watkins is so great that I want to read it 100 more times! The word choice in the book is not the highest level of words though. The strengths and weaknesses are that there is so much detail and it tells you a lot about one thing, but the book talks a lot about the not most important things. I would definitely recommend this book to my classmates because it is a really good/sad book and I bet a lot of kids want to read something based on a true story. If this book was in series I would by far happily read the other books in the series.

[Tyler Niemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Sink or Swim started off with life on Danny and Colton’s island. Danny and Colton are brothers who live with their mom. But one day they were fishing and a german U-boat rammed into Danny’s fishing boat. Struggling to help, Colton plunged into the water and saved his brother. By the time they got back to the island Danny had a head injury, hypothermia,and was unconscious. Later after that Danny went into a coma. This left Colton in a rage. He decided to join the navy to fight the germans who nearly killed his brother. Read the book to see if Colton makes it out alive.Since the book Sink Or Swim is a realistic fiction book about world war two. Readers who like books about war or realistic fiction would like this book. Readers may not be in to that but they will find this action packed survival story appealing. Readers will come to understand that the book Sink Or Swim is about occasionally being brave to save the ones you love.

[Rebekah Adey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by Steve Watkins and I really enjoyed reading it. There is one problem with this book though, it talks a little bit about Newfoundland and it says Newfoundland is in Canada. Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949. This book takes place during ww2 which ends in 1945 so Newfoundland is not actually in Canada, it’s next Canada. So this book has a bit of misinformation in it. But otherwise it was a great book

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although clearly written for children this World War II story was engaging from the get go. It is fiction inspired by the story of a 13 year old boy from Texas who enlisted while his mother though the was staying with relatives and a number of U-boat attacks off the Eastern Coast of the United States.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging and often exciting children's historical fiction. Tons of details and information about World War II focused on US involvement in the Battle of the Atlantic. Colton, the protagonist, is a likable, well-rounded character. Giving it three stars rather than four because the relationships between the characters did not seem as fully realized as I have come to expect from Watkins.

[bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it in all but it is sad that Woody does
I like it in all but it is sad that Woody does
I like it in all but it is sad that Woody dies.

[Razan ☯︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
maybe history class wasn’t a waste of time and since i understood most of the history it made me excitedd and that’s why it’s a 4star

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story of a boy determined to help.

[Cole Thompson]

good book

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Sink or Swim by Steve Watkins. This is a novel set in 1942 about Colton, a 12-year-old boy who, after his brother Danny is nearly killed by a U-boat, joins the Navy under a false name and age. Colton’s time fighting in the war leads to personal growth and lessons about the real nature of war, that was has a more human face, and is not just about the conflict, but the people involved.
After a near death experience at the hands of the Nazis, Colton Graham, a 12-year-old boy, uses his brother’s enlistment papers to take his place in the Navy. The book is set in various war-time locations such as in boot camp, on a ship, a lifeboat and in the hospital. During the several weeks of boot camp, Colton makes friends with two other recruits, Woody and Straub, who end up on his ship. After several sea battles with German U-boats, Colton’s ship gets sunk by a U-boat. During the battle, one of his friends, Woody, is killed. This hits Colton hard. The remaining crew are then thrown into a fight for survival, along with their German captives. This historical fiction book is one that is very enjoyable, and gives background information about 1942, and World War II. In general, I very much enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, suspenseful, and based on a true story. I also learned a lot about the naval combat in World War II. However, this book wouldn’t have been as good as it was if the main character, Colton wasn’t believable. He was very believable and human. For example, early on in the novel on page 17, Colton wants to enlist to retaliate for his brother’s injuries at the hands of the Germans. He says, “...wished I had done something, anything, when I had the chance. Maybe I could have started the motor and attacked them. Got close enough to throw my knife at them. Rammed their U-boat with the dinghy and done some kind of damage.” At this point, all Colton wants is revenge. However, later in the story, after months of fighting, Colton loses one of his best friends in battle. While his other friend, Straub, is enraged, and wants to shoot unarmed prisoners, Colton interviens, stopping the attack. Colton has now seen first hand that the enemy are still human beings. Now, he has a deeper understanding of the real cost of war; human lives. “ ‘I don’t care,’ Straub said, ‘I don’t care about anything’ He swayed, staggered as a wave rocked the boat, then righted himself. He kept his aim the whole time. ‘Straub.’ it was me speaking , but the sound of my own voice surprised me. ‘Straub it’s me’ I said. ‘You know Woody was my friend, too. I miss him, too. I miss all the guys, same as you. We all do. But this isn’t the way to fix things.’ ” This quote shows how he has realised through his time on the boat that war has a different face than he thought. He thought it was about fighting and revenge, but in reality it was still about humans and their feelings.

Overall, I found Sink or Swim to be both extremely entertaining, and educational. It was fascinating to see a front-line experience through the eyes of a boy my age.
I would strongly recommend this to others in my grade, because of how easy it is to relate to the main character.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a terrible book! It was so graphic that it made me sick to my stomach! It is a war book, why middle school kids need to know the graphic details about war makes me question society and their morals.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I'd heard mention of the German U-boats that trolled the Atlantic during WWII, I haven't read many stories about them. Certainly, I haven't encountered a story quite like this one, featuring a plucky twelve-year-old protagonist. After his older brother, Danny Graham, is injured by a Nazi U-boat while the two boys are fishing, Colton decides to take his brother's enlistment papers and join the navy. With Danny in a coma and their father having died years before, the family's economic situation is tenuous at best. Trusting to fate and the kindness of strangers and hoping that the officials will be too busy or too desperate to pay much heed to his youthfulness, Colton leaves the North Carolina coast behind. Boot camp is just as tough as Colton has heard it would be, but he makes friends there and proves his mettle. Eventually, he is assigned to a subchaser crew with his friends Woody and Straub. There's quite a lot of action, and Colton is hard to resist even though some of his escapades seem a bit exaggerated. Once his ship is destroyed and he is wounded, word is sent to his mother, and the gig is up for this brave but foolhardy young man. This account of a young sailor was inspired by the true story of another young man who was the youngest person to serve during the war. The author does a good job of capturing the innocence and thoughtlessness of Colton as well as his determination to make a difference through his service. There were some parts that strained my belief, though, including his brief encounter with Patrick Hemingway, the son of the great writer, in Key West, and the author's six-toed cats. While that certainly could have happened, it just made the story more unlikely, at least in my eyes. Still, this title will appeal to many intermediate readers who are intrigued by military service and submarines. Because everything doesn't work out the way Colton might have liked as his adventure and mission to kill those Nazis turns into tragedy for some of the crew and since he realizes that many of the Germans are just like him, fearful, hopeful, and capable of compassion as well as being mortal. This is much more than a wild adventure tale as it shows just how deep hatred and bigotry can go while also highlighting the best of humanity.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a U Boat sinks his big brother's fishing boat off North Carolina, leaving him in a coma, a 12 year old boy takes his brother's enlistment papers and joins the Navy. He gets the assignment he wanted, patrolling the Atlantic looking for U boats. All parts of his service come to life-the physical hardships of basic training, the boredom, punctuated by heart stopping action, of life at sea. There's a moving death, and war in general is not glamorized. What I liked best about the book is that a the young men, and boys, that made up this crew weren't caricatures of manly toughness; they were allowed to cry, and have introspective moments, and be true friends. What some young readers will probably like better-surviving on an overcrowded lifeboat with circling sharks!

[Richard L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Sink or Swim not knowing what was to happen. I already knew about Hitler and his war, so coming into this book I thought i would learn more about that. Boy was I wrong you see a background of a boy who took his older brother’s sign up form for the army. This book is like My Brother Sam is Dead, because the kid wants to help his land, his home, but is too headstrong against the British in this case Hitler. Colton is the youngest to serve in the army in WWII. In his mind he sounds like a hero in reality he is a hero that is only 12 years of age. He just needs to keep that a secret. It is a great book with history of one of our greatest wars. Fascinating.

[Kim McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colton feels horrible about what happened to his older brother now fighting for his life in a hospital bed so he tries to make things better by enlisting in his brother's place. Suddenly he goes from a quiet island off North Carolina to the Navy at war and searching for German U-boats off the coast.
He is in over his head but despite his young age acts bravely and rescues a shipmate. This is based on a true story and is a must read for kids that enjoy historical fiction with a healthy dose of adventure.

[Brienne Diebolt-Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nine year old read this after going to the Science & Technology museum in Chicago and walked through the U-Boat exhibit. It's a great introduction to World War II, the fact that U-Boats coasted on the Eastern Seaboard (specifically near the Outer Banks) and that 200,000 underage children enlisted in the military to serve their country.

[Kennedy F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I was having trouble decide whether to put this as 3.5 or 4, but I decided on 4 because of the feelings that this book gave me. I was crying, screaming, and at one point I threw my book across the room (it was fine, don’t worry). I recommend this book to anyone who liked I survived when they were younger.

[Ann Dague · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictionalization of a true story about a very young man who enlisted in the Navy during WWII. Hard to believe that this could happen, but it really did!

Kids who love history, war stories, Naval battles, or survival stories will really enjoy this one.

Quick read.
Recommend for grades 4 and up.

[Caleb S8A19]

Sink or swim is the best book about world war 2 I'v ever read. This book shows the strenkths and weekneses of the charecters I feel like you can realy understand the characters. There are some hardships in this book but it is great for teens!

[Mrs. Ehlers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historical fiction inspired by the true story of the youngest boy to serve in World War II. Twelve-year-old Colton steals his older brothers identify and enlists in the navy. A story filled with adventure, danger, and thoughts of what it was like to live during the wars.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for professional publication.

[Owen Eli]

very goood

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, Sink or swim was a gripping read. I cheered along with Colten, who took his brother's identity to serve in the navy in his place. The bravery of this boy was incredible.

[Donna]

Based on a true story, this is a great historical fiction depicting the life of a sailor during World War II and great for all intermediate elementary World War II buffs.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. What a brave young man.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book but i could be sad at some parts