Title: Peril At Pier Nine
Author: Penny Draper
Publisher: Coteau Books
Age Range: Children (9+)
Time Period: 1949
Location: Toronto Islands, ON
“Everyone on Ward’s Island likes 14-year-old Jack Gordon. Her’s the best sailor in all the Toronto Islands, and he always has the most fun. He also gets into the most trouble, because he doesn’t think before he acts. This recklessness may destroy his dream to pilot one of the “lakers”, the splendid Great Lakes cruise ships.
Then late one night Jake makes a terrifying discovery. The Noronic – the greatest laker of them all – is moored at Pier Nine in Toronto Harbour with over 500 passengers. And she’s in awful trouble!
Jack can’t make any more mistakes. What can he do to help all those people?”
The third book in the Disaster Strikes! series of books that feature Canadian disasters through the eyes of youth, Peril at Pier Nine features a vivacious and charismatic Jack Gordon – a young man who is determined to one day become a Laker Captain. Brash and passionate, Jack loves being on the water, is a natural leader, and often in trouble for jumping in before thinking. He’s an easy character to enjoy and fun to read.
This story gives us a glimpse of what life was like on the Toronto Islands in 40s’ – a group of cottagers who enjoyed life and community – and during the era of cruises that ran through the Great Lakes.
One of the newest and biggest cruise ships was the Noronic, which unfortunately, and unexpectedly, bursts into flames while docked in Toronto’s Pier Nine. Being the middle of the night, many of the passengers are asleep and 118 people die. Jack shows his true colours as he leaps into action to help, and we get a chance to witness the passionate support of a small community and the town of Toronto as they help the survivors.
A very interesting, quick read that is perfect in action for the youthful reader. The chapters are short and easy to finish – leaving you eager to move onto the next section.
Although this publisher is no longer in business, you could look for their books at your library or second hand.
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