37 Days at Sea

PJ Library guest review

A book review by Rachel Saks

Ruthie Arons is a 12-year-old girl who boards the M.S. St. Louis in hopes of getting away from the Nazis and moving to the United States with her parents. After a problem on their stop to Cuba, they had to, unfortunately, go back to Europe. Everyone on the ship had to go back to where Hitler was destroying their homes. Ruthie and her best friend, Wolfie, had to go through separation from family, the Nazis and being aboard a ship for 37 days.

I would encourage kids to read this nonviolent book because it teaches children about being brave, caring about others and doing the right thing. Ruthie was brave when her father had to be on the ship’s committee, when she saw a Nazi spy on board and, finally, she had to be brave when she couldn’t get into Cuba.

Rachel Saks, 8th grade student at Community School of Naples

I liked this book because it talks about teenagers stuck on a ship trying to get away from the troubles that Hitler and the Nazis were causing. Ruthie and Wolfie ended up being separated when Ruthie went to England and Wolfie went to France.

This book is fun to read with others, and a great courage builder. No matter how young, you can always do the right thing.