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I Escaped
I Escaped The World's Deadliest Shark Attack
A young sailor is trapped in the ocean, surrounded by hundreds of man-eating sharks, during the deadliest attack the world has ever seen. Can he escape?
From multi-award-winning Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters.
16-year-old Josh is thrilled to be a crew member aboard the mighty USS Indianapolis. But when a Japanese torpedo strikes in the middle of the night, it tears the warship in half. Josh is thrown from the deck and plunged deep into the black ocean. In horror, he watches the massive vessel begin its death plunge, threatening to pull him down with it. Josh is no swimmer. He's a baseball player from San Antonio, Texas. He's way out of his element. Soon, hundreds of sharks begin to circle. He's living his worst nightmare, but for how long? Can he survive without a lifeboat, food or water in a sea of countless hungry sharks? Every hour is a fight because if he gives up, he'll never make it home. But does he have what it takes to survive? With no rescue team in sight, can Josh ever hope to escape?
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed at 15 minutes past midnight. It sank in 12 minutes. The survivors spent four days fighting off the deadliest shark attacks in history.
This is the 3rd children's book in the I Escaped Series about brave kids who face real-world challenges and find ways to escape. Sure to appeal to fans of books like I Survived by New York Times Bestseller Lauren Tarshis, stories about the Titanic, and readers of Alan Gratz.
A study guide is available at bit.ly/sharkescape
An adrenaline-charged tale of bravery and friendship during a terrible tragedy in American history.
From multi-award-winning Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters.
16-year-old Josh is thrilled to be a crew member aboard the mighty USS Indianapolis. But when a Japanese torpedo strikes in the middle of the night, it tears the warship in half. Josh is thrown from the deck and plunged deep into the black ocean. In horror, he watches the massive vessel begin its death plunge, threatening to pull him down with it. Josh is no swimmer. He's a baseball player from San Antonio, Texas. He's way out of his element. Soon, hundreds of sharks begin to circle. He's living his worst nightmare, but for how long? Can he survive without a lifeboat, food or water in a sea of countless hungry sharks? Every hour is a fight because if he gives up, he'll never make it home. But does he have what it takes to survive? With no rescue team in sight, can Josh ever hope to escape?
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed at 15 minutes past midnight. It sank in 12 minutes. The survivors spent four days fighting off the deadliest shark attacks in history.
This is the 3rd children's book in the I Escaped Series about brave kids who face real-world challenges and find ways to escape. Sure to appeal to fans of books like I Survived by New York Times Bestseller Lauren Tarshis, stories about the Titanic, and readers of Alan Gratz.
A study guide is available at bit.ly/sharkescape
An adrenaline-charged tale of bravery and friendship during a terrible tragedy in American history.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2019
406 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Crowe
65 books14 followersEllie Crowe loves to read and to write and is the author of Surfer of the Century, The Life of Duke Kahanamoku,(Lee and Low NY 2008), Hardcore Inventing, Invent, Protect, Promote and Profit (Skyhorse Publishing, NY 2009), Hawaii, A Pictorial Celebration, (Sterling Publishing NY), Exploring Lost Hawaii, Places of Power, History, Mystery and Magic, (Island Heritage, Hawaii 2003), content featured on the History Channel and the Travel Channel, and Hoku the Stargazer, The Exciting Pirate Adventure, (Island Heritage, Honolulu, Hawaii 2009), Gatorlands, Harold and the Poopy Little Puppy, The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, I Escaped North Korea, I Escaped the World's Deadliest Shark Attack, I Escaped Amazon River Pirates.
Awards: 2008 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, 2008 Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance Once Upon a World Award, Carter G. Woodson Award, Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2010/2011 selection, Bank Street College Books of the Year, The Bloomsbury Review Editors Favorite, Cleveland Public Library Distinguished Children’s Biography List, Texas Women’s University Librarians’ Choice 2008, Kiriyama Notable Books 2008, BookList Best Children’s Books 2007, Five awards for literary excellence in 2004 from the Hawaii Book publishers Association, The Kahili Award in Literary Arts in 2004, 2002 Hawaii Tourism Association Award for Excellence; Starred review from School Library Journal.
Awards: 2008 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, 2008 Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance Once Upon a World Award, Carter G. Woodson Award, Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2010/2011 selection, Bank Street College Books of the Year, The Bloomsbury Review Editors Favorite, Cleveland Public Library Distinguished Children’s Biography List, Texas Women’s University Librarians’ Choice 2008, Kiriyama Notable Books 2008, BookList Best Children’s Books 2007, Five awards for literary excellence in 2004 from the Hawaii Book publishers Association, The Kahili Award in Literary Arts in 2004, 2002 Hawaii Tourism Association Award for Excellence; Starred review from School Library Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 21, 2019
Ok - This book was not what I had expected when I started. It ended up being really good! I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the Indianapolis and everything from Josh’s point of view! This is a lovely book with so much history based off of it and as someone not from the USA, I actually found it very informative and compelling!
I think the whole shark thing reminded me of the Blake Lively movie - but don’t get me wrong if the Blake lovely movie was a book - Id read it (is it a book though?)
The only thing I wish was better was the cover and the title! I’d probably not pick the book up from a store or library if this was what I saw! Maybe next time the author could spend make the cover more attractive! But nonetheless - the book was very beautifully articulated - I would recommend this!
Oh - and I love the little pictures in the book! It made me get more involved and understand the warships!
I think the whole shark thing reminded me of the Blake Lively movie - but don’t get me wrong if the Blake lovely movie was a book - Id read it (is it a book though?)
The only thing I wish was better was the cover and the title! I’d probably not pick the book up from a store or library if this was what I saw! Maybe next time the author could spend make the cover more attractive! But nonetheless - the book was very beautifully articulated - I would recommend this!
Oh - and I love the little pictures in the book! It made me get more involved and understand the warships!
December 3, 2019
3.5 Stars
I Escaped is a fictionalised account of the real life sinking of the U.S.S Indianapolis and the subsequent fight for life by the surviving sailors as they battle fatigue, hunger, drowning and of course sharks!
In terms of positives, the scenes in the water stand out. Particularly, when the sailors struggle to maintain their sanity. It's get pretty ugly and the glimpses of madness make their ordeal doubly troubling. The facts at the end of the story were a nice touch and provided some context. The story also has a good pace and it rarely drags on too long in any scene. I also appreciate when stories are based somewhat on past events, it might encourage people to read about the events themselves and history in general.
As for problems, I found the dialogue clunky in parts which took away from their predicament. I found some of the protagonist's back story a little distracting. I understand the need for it; when you are faced with death, you will likely think about loved ones, past and present but I just think it could have been done differently. Maybe the memories and loved ones were a little too generic?
All that said, I think teenagers should find the story interesting and will get something from the battle these sailors endured to return home.
I Escaped is a fictionalised account of the real life sinking of the U.S.S Indianapolis and the subsequent fight for life by the surviving sailors as they battle fatigue, hunger, drowning and of course sharks!
In terms of positives, the scenes in the water stand out. Particularly, when the sailors struggle to maintain their sanity. It's get pretty ugly and the glimpses of madness make their ordeal doubly troubling. The facts at the end of the story were a nice touch and provided some context. The story also has a good pace and it rarely drags on too long in any scene. I also appreciate when stories are based somewhat on past events, it might encourage people to read about the events themselves and history in general.
As for problems, I found the dialogue clunky in parts which took away from their predicament. I found some of the protagonist's back story a little distracting. I understand the need for it; when you are faced with death, you will likely think about loved ones, past and present but I just think it could have been done differently. Maybe the memories and loved ones were a little too generic?
All that said, I think teenagers should find the story interesting and will get something from the battle these sailors endured to return home.
November 19, 2019
Young, bloodied, sleep deprived and starving, not to mention being surrounded by an army of hungry sharks! It seems almost unimaginable that a sixteen-year-old could experience such a harrowing ordeal and live to tell about it. The story of young Josh, a baseball loving kid from San Antonio, Texas, who forges his mothers signature in order to join the Navy, takes place in 1945 near the end of WWII aboard the USS Indianapolis. After being struck by a Japanese torpedo, the mighty Naval ship sinks, thrusting the survivors into an unforgiving ocean for five harrowing days. The story is fast-paced with lots of action without being overly graphic and is the perfect for middle-schoolers with a penchant for excitement!
There's also a great friendship angle which was really great to see especially since the boy Josh befriends (Lee) is of Japanese decent. At the time Josh bears a lot of resentment towards the Japanese since his father was killed when the Japanese bombed Pear Harbor so I think this offers an excellent 'teaching moment' for kids today.
The book is chock-full of numerous interesting facts about the USS Indianapolis which I hadn't known before reading the book. Of note, it states that the sinking of the USS Indianapolis resulted in the largest number of shark attacks on humans in history, which I think is a little known and very interesting fact! Well done!
There's also a great friendship angle which was really great to see especially since the boy Josh befriends (Lee) is of Japanese decent. At the time Josh bears a lot of resentment towards the Japanese since his father was killed when the Japanese bombed Pear Harbor so I think this offers an excellent 'teaching moment' for kids today.
The book is chock-full of numerous interesting facts about the USS Indianapolis which I hadn't known before reading the book. Of note, it states that the sinking of the USS Indianapolis resulted in the largest number of shark attacks on humans in history, which I think is a little known and very interesting fact! Well done!
July 19, 2022
A powerful story of a historical adventure narrated through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old survivor. Josh enlisted with forged papers to avenge the death of his father at Pearl Harbor. He is straight out of boot camp serving on the USS Indianapolis when the battleship is struck by a Japanese torpedo. He struggles to escape the burning ship, but that is just the beginning of his troubles. No help is in sight; sharks infest the waters, and the survivors begin to turn against each other.
This book is a powerful story filled with raw emotions, adventure, and history. The authors provide readers with an action-packed tale filled with interesting facts about sharks and military history. It contains actual photographs, maps, and hand-drawn illustrations.
The book is little more than one hundred pages. Reluctant readers can easily navigate the short chapters with graphics. Targeted for middle grades but just as appealing to young adult and adult
This book is a powerful story filled with raw emotions, adventure, and history. The authors provide readers with an action-packed tale filled with interesting facts about sharks and military history. It contains actual photographs, maps, and hand-drawn illustrations.
The book is little more than one hundred pages. Reluctant readers can easily navigate the short chapters with graphics. Targeted for middle grades but just as appealing to young adult and adult
April 23, 2025
3.5
Perhaps I am biased because I love the I Survived series so much, but this book, though obviously meant to emulate that series, didn't have the same draw for me. The historical event portrayed is deeply interesting and tragic, and I could see how these authors tried to implement many of the same story-telling strategies that Tarshis uses, but it didn't hit the same for me. The themes, while honorable, didn't have the strength to make them impaction. The illustrations were loosely related to the story, and we're often dark and sometimes unclear in what they meant to portray, though I did appreciate the photos of the survivors near the end, and the epilogue about the boy who exonerated the captain was great!
This isn't a bad book by any means; it just didn't work as well for me.
Perhaps I am biased because I love the I Survived series so much, but this book, though obviously meant to emulate that series, didn't have the same draw for me. The historical event portrayed is deeply interesting and tragic, and I could see how these authors tried to implement many of the same story-telling strategies that Tarshis uses, but it didn't hit the same for me. The themes, while honorable, didn't have the strength to make them impaction. The illustrations were loosely related to the story, and we're often dark and sometimes unclear in what they meant to portray, though I did appreciate the photos of the survivors near the end, and the epilogue about the boy who exonerated the captain was great!
This isn't a bad book by any means; it just didn't work as well for me.
October 31, 2022
Read it to ok for 9 year old
I heard about this series and wanted to see if it would be up her alley. I downloaded this book to read before bed and now it's the middle of the night. I ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ the book. I'm a woman in my 40's and it was a great read for me! I know my daughter will really enjoy it.
She struggles with her vocabulary so I've been selecting and pre-reading books and gathering words I know she will be challenged by. Then I make those her spelling words for the week and use the words in sentences 100k times until she knows them. Doing that has really improved her reading experience and helps her flow through the book easier and enjoy it far more.
Great book.
I heard about this series and wanted to see if it would be up her alley. I downloaded this book to read before bed and now it's the middle of the night. I ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ the book. I'm a woman in my 40's and it was a great read for me! I know my daughter will really enjoy it.
She struggles with her vocabulary so I've been selecting and pre-reading books and gathering words I know she will be challenged by. Then I make those her spelling words for the week and use the words in sentences 100k times until she knows them. Doing that has really improved her reading experience and helps her flow through the book easier and enjoy it far more.
Great book.
March 21, 2024
Very good fictionalized account of a young sailor (who lied about his age and forged his mother's signature) on the USS Indianapolis which was sunk by a Japanese torpedo. It's kind of an intense story since many of the survivors who ended up in the water were attacked by sharks and left to float for days because the Navy was unaware of the disaster. Quick, easy read however and on a level with middle-graders.
December 3, 2024
Warning: generous use of the word "bastard", which I was unprepared for when reading aloud with my 6 year old.
Great story to read with a kid now that we're through the I Survived series. It follows the same format... first chapter pulls you in with a description of the middle of the action, then we go back to beforehand to set it up. Main character has a bit of a tragic backstory and is male. A handful of illustrations. A chapter of facts at the end.
Great story to read with a kid now that we're through the I Survived series. It follows the same format... first chapter pulls you in with a description of the middle of the action, then we go back to beforehand to set it up. Main character has a bit of a tragic backstory and is male. A handful of illustrations. A chapter of facts at the end.
June 21, 2022
Freedom isnt free
This is an unbelievable story. Of course I had known of the USS Indianapolis and the shark attack, but never had I actually listened to a first hand account. How terrified these men had to have been. Its beyond comprehension really. The sacrifice, bravery and fortitude humbles me. Thank you to all who serve.
This is an unbelievable story. Of course I had known of the USS Indianapolis and the shark attack, but never had I actually listened to a first hand account. How terrified these men had to have been. Its beyond comprehension really. The sacrifice, bravery and fortitude humbles me. Thank you to all who serve.
September 15, 2020
What a tragedy these men went trough.
This is the second book in the sinking of the Use Indianapolis. Everyone should read these books about it, so people can insert what these men went through.
This is the second book in the sinking of the Use Indianapolis. Everyone should read these books about it, so people can insert what these men went through.
August 18, 2023
The story was good, but the text needed better editing.
Author places the dropping of the nuclear bombs as Aug 11 and 13, according to the date given of the last chapter. The bombs were dropped Aug 6 and 9, 1945.
The fun facts included inaccuracies as well.
Author places the dropping of the nuclear bombs as Aug 11 and 13, according to the date given of the last chapter. The bombs were dropped Aug 6 and 9, 1945.
The fun facts included inaccuracies as well.
January 31, 2021
I read this aloud to Ben, and it was a gripping and engaging story. However, the writing was lacking a bit of editing.
February 1, 2021
“It was sad and scary and fun and it made me want to invent something when I grow up to lower the number of shark attacks” L., age 8
“I like sharks” L., age 6
“I like sharks” L., age 6
March 29, 2021
A few too many curse words for a middle school book or it would have been 5 stars.
May 21, 2021
I Escaped The World's Deadliest Shark Attack is an adventure, action, historical, and educational short novella. My teenage kid found it fascinating, mainly because he loves sharks.
June 22, 2022
A story about the sinking of the Indianapolis during World War ll A tragic event. Both a historical and interesting read for the younger reader, it is a story for any age.
July 21, 2022
I originally downloaded this book for a quick read. It was quick, but it was also really good. I also liked all the info at the end. Overall, I’d recommend this book to others! 🙂
August 6, 2022
Gripping
Grabs you by the throat and drags you off on a fast paced ride. There’s a reason the books in this series are so popular. Definitely recommended.
Grabs you by the throat and drags you off on a fast paced ride. There’s a reason the books in this series are so popular. Definitely recommended.
January 19, 2023
Have always wanted to read more about this true account in history. Terrifying. Can't imagine going through this.
April 21, 2025
Great information and historical data in story form
May 12, 2025
Very interesting. Deserves more credit
November 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this book about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis by a Japanese submarine towards the end of World War II. The story is told through the eyes of a sixteen year old boy, Josh, who lied about his age on his enlistment application and forged his mother's signature. He was determined to do his bit for the American war effort and revenge the death of his father during the attack on Pearl Harbour.
When the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed, the survivors, about three quarters of the crew, were flung into the ocean without any survival equipment. Many of them did not even have life jackets and were burned by the fire that had broken out on board the ship or injured when they were swept overboard. The scent of urine and blood soon attracts sharks, lots of sharks, and the survivors fear that they have survived the sinking of the ship only to become food for these huge and vicious fish.
The story is short and sharp and I think middle school and young teenage boys will really enjoy it. The author shares some details of the attack and sinking of the ship, without making it to graphic and over whelming for younger readers. Boys, particularly, will relate to the action packed excitement of the attack and also to Josh's thoughts about his mother and younger brother back home. The terrible hardship of being in the ocean for a few days, without food or water, the temptation to drink sea water to alleviate the dreadful thirst and the savage behavior of some of the other survivors are all well told but not with so much detail that younger readers will become overwhelmed or bored.
Josh's relationship with another young survivor, Lee, who is of Japanese extraction is also most interesting and contains a good message of delving deeper into relationships and people that merely their heritage and looks.
When the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed, the survivors, about three quarters of the crew, were flung into the ocean without any survival equipment. Many of them did not even have life jackets and were burned by the fire that had broken out on board the ship or injured when they were swept overboard. The scent of urine and blood soon attracts sharks, lots of sharks, and the survivors fear that they have survived the sinking of the ship only to become food for these huge and vicious fish.
The story is short and sharp and I think middle school and young teenage boys will really enjoy it. The author shares some details of the attack and sinking of the ship, without making it to graphic and over whelming for younger readers. Boys, particularly, will relate to the action packed excitement of the attack and also to Josh's thoughts about his mother and younger brother back home. The terrible hardship of being in the ocean for a few days, without food or water, the temptation to drink sea water to alleviate the dreadful thirst and the savage behavior of some of the other survivors are all well told but not with so much detail that younger readers will become overwhelmed or bored.
Josh's relationship with another young survivor, Lee, who is of Japanese extraction is also most interesting and contains a good message of delving deeper into relationships and people that merely their heritage and looks.
January 18, 2020
Josh became a WW2 sailor to avenge his father's death at Pearl Harbour. But when a Japanese torpedo strikes the USS Indianapolis, he is left to fight for his life with hundreds of other seamen while they battle hunger, blazing sunshine, no fresh water and swarms of sharks.
This fictional account of a true WWII disaster is an action-packed, tense read from cover to cover. The horrific situation is brought to life through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old boy who questions his place in the war, his responsibilities at home and his difficult feelings about the cultural conflict. The story never lets up as Josh faces one terrifying situation after another and keeps readers engaged with an array of realistic characters and honest conversations -- both internal and external -- about complex topics.
I especially enjoyed the extensive back matter including a factual section about sharks, World War 2 facts tailored for young readers and information about the controversial handling of the USS Indianapolis wreck.
This fictional account of a true WWII disaster is an action-packed, tense read from cover to cover. The horrific situation is brought to life through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old boy who questions his place in the war, his responsibilities at home and his difficult feelings about the cultural conflict. The story never lets up as Josh faces one terrifying situation after another and keeps readers engaged with an array of realistic characters and honest conversations -- both internal and external -- about complex topics.
I especially enjoyed the extensive back matter including a factual section about sharks, World War 2 facts tailored for young readers and information about the controversial handling of the USS Indianapolis wreck.
October 5, 2019
Before reading this, I had never heard of the torpedoing and subsequent sinking of the USS Indianapolis by a Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea on July 30, 1945. The story of the brave survivors who endured 5 days of shark attacks, hunger, thirst, injuries and hopelessness is told in this well written book. Interspersed with Josh’s story are period photographs, which lend authenticity to an already authentic story. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
October 18, 2025
Wanted to read a first hand account of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis (referenced by the shark hunter Quint in Jaws). Amazing feat by a 16 year old!! How he survived when over a thousand men did not is a true miracle of will!
November 27, 2023
Would add to my classroom library!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews