John F. Kennedy and PT-109

About this book

From the bestselling author of Guadalcanal Diary: The thrilling true story of the future president's astonishing act of heroism during World War II. In the early morning hours of August 2, 1943, US Navy motor torpedo boat PT-109 patrolled the still, black waters of Blackett Strait in the Solomon Islands. Suddenly, the Japanese destroyer Amagiri loomed out of the darkness, bearing directly down on the smaller ship. There was no time to get out of the way—the destroyer crashed into PT-109, slicing the mosquito boat in two and setting the shark-infested waters aflame with burning gasoline. Ten surviving crewmembers and their young skipper clung to the wreckage, their odds of survival growing slimmer by the instant. Lt. John F. Kennedy's first command was an unqualified disaster. Yet over the

Similar grade-level books

• 
  To Kill a Mockingbird
  Harper Lee · 870L
• 
  The Giver
  Lois Lowry · 760L
• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
  Anne Frank · 1080L

See all books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA)

  • recommended·4th gradesource: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 1965 Winner
  • recommended·5th gradesource: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 1965 Winner
  • recommended·6th gradesource: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 1965 Winner
  • recommended·7th gradesource: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 1965 Winner

Common questions

What grade level is John F. Kennedy and PT-109?

John F. Kennedy and PT-109 is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read John F. Kennedy and PT-109?

It takes about 1h 55m to read John F. Kennedy and PT-109 (103 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 115 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign John F. Kennedy and PT-109?

John F. Kennedy and PT-109 appears on reading lists for Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is John F. Kennedy and PT-109 banned in schools?

John F. Kennedy and PT-109 does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.