Twelve-year-old Colton Graham admires his older brother, Danny. Danny has worked hard to provide for Colton and their mother ever since their father died. To bring in better income, Danny enlisted in the Navy soon after Pearl Harbor. But before Danny leaves for boot camp, he is seriously injured in a boating accident. With Danny in the hospital and their family desperately needing money, Colton takes Danny’s enlistment papers and his identity. Sink or Swim is a gripping novel loosely based on the true story of Calvin Graham. Twelve-year-old Calvin ran away to join the Navy and was injured while serving in the South Pacific. Thinking Calvin was living with relatives, his mother saw a newsreel showing Calvin after he rescued several of his shipmates. She contacted the Navy and, at thirteen, Calvin was sent home but not before receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for bravery. It is very apparent that Watkins did extensive research to authentically showcase what many WWII sailors experienced during that time. On this bed of fruitful research, Watkins can spend quality time developing Colton’s character and crafting a meaningful read. A fantastic historical-fiction story for ages 12 and up.
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