Name: The Boys in the Boat
Rating: 4.407216494845361 (97 reviews)
ISBN: 9781611761696

Daniel James Brown

Edward Herrmann

Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

The Boys in the Boat

This is an edition adapted for middle grade and teen readers.

The true story of an American team's epic journey to win gold at the 1936 Olympics

Never thought I’d be so captivated by a story centered around rowing but here we are

Lilah Welch

Daniel Brown

Cast aside by his family at an early age, abandoned and left to fend for himself in the woods of Washington State, young Joe Rantz turns to rowing as a way of escaping his past. What follows is an extraordinary journey, as Joe and eight other working-class boys exchange the sweat and dust of life in 1930s America for the promise of glory at the heart of Hitler's Berlin. Stroke by stroke, a remarkable young man strives to regain his shattered self-regard, to dare again to trust in others - and to find his way back home. Told against the backdrop of the Great Depression, The Boys in the Boat is narrative non-fiction of the first order; a personal story full of lyricism and unexpected beauty that rises above the grand sweep of history, and captures instead the purest essence of what it means to be alive. 'The Boys in the Boat is not only a great and inspiring true story; it is a fascinating work of history' Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea 'I really can't rave enough about this book . . . I read the last fifty pages with white knuckles, and the last twenty-five with tears in my eyes' David Laskin, author of The Children's Blizzard and The Long Way Home 'A thrilling, heart-thumping tale of a most remarkable band of rowing brothers' Timothy Egan, author of The Worst Hard Time

An Epic Journey to the Heart of Hitler's Berlin

Charlotte 

A bestseller from the year you graduated high school ✔ (advanced)

Traces the story of an American rowing team from the University of Washington that defeated elite rivals at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics, sharing the experiences of such contributors as their enigmatic coach, a visionary boat builder and a homeless teen rower. By the author of Under a Flaming Sky.

Rick Dobrowolski

This was an excellently written book! It was extremely thorough but in an interesting way. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written account of an interesting series of events in history. Those who are sports fans would also really appreciate it.

Emma Friedheim

This book made me miss rowing painfully, and reminded me just how beautiful and unique a sport it is. So many moments in this book took my breath away mostly because of the specific vivid memories they evoked of my own rowing days. Finding that swing is truly a spiritual experience, and Daniel James Brown captures that feeling perfectly. As for literary value, the writing isn't anything exceptional but the story speaks for itself so this still deserves 5 stars from me :) I highly recommend for all, but especially athletes and ESPECIALLY current/former rowers (duh). I know someone has already bought the film rights for this book, so let's hope it happens and they do it justice because this could be such an epic movie.

Summer Stanley

Excellent well written non-fiction. Engaging and storied, these men really come to life. I wish there was a little more detail into the setting and rowing in Nazi Germany. I really liked the sections that were included, just wanted more. 

Jessie

This book should be called "Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Rowing and 50 Pages About the 1936 Berlin Olympics".

Loved this story and how it was written. A lot of info provided in a non dry manner.

Tannie Davidson

Chase Perrin

Cannot recommend highly enough. Well written, compelling and moving. An amazing story very well told.

The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

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