It is 1915 and twelve-year-old Penny and her brother Charles are embarking on a trip to England aboard the RMS Lusitania. But war is brewing overseas and there are rumors that Germany will torpedo any ship that comes into the area--even a ship full of civilian passengers. Shy and nervous Penny is worried but those worries fade when she makes her first real friend a bold girl Named Mary. With Mary Penny begins to find her voice for the first time. Then as they approach Ireland their worst fear comes true The Lusitania is struck by a torpedo. In the chaos of a sinking ship Penny becomes separated from Charles and Mary and she must gather all her courage to stay alive and face an uncertain future. This fast-paced Girls Survive historical fiction--with nonfiction backmatter including an author's note discussion questions and more--will captivate readers as they learn the devastating story of the sinking of the Lusitania.