Jack Pepper and his friends are researching the fascinating history of his great grandfather, John Nelson Pepper in 1915 who after a series of adventures found himself on the Lusitania.

The book is fiction but based on historical fact and describes how nearly 1,200 passengers were lost and only 764 saved. The story of the courageous work of seamen and fishermen is told as the youngsters research the many rescue attempts made. They also discover what happened to the U boat and its crew. The children learn a great deal about themselves by seeing how their ancestors faced their problems, enduring unbelievable hardship in their lifelong search for companionship, happiness and love.