The #1 New York Times bestseller about the Greatest Generation freshly adapted for the next generation. For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the … shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler.
At the center of the tale is Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, whose personal quest captures the spirit of his generation—the generation that would prove in the coming years that the Nazis could not prevail over American determination and optimism.
This deeply emotional yet easily accessible young readers adaptation of the award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller features never-before-seen photographs, highly visual back matter, and an exclusive new introduction.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Great insights on team building.
A new look at the world of sports
Excellent read!
This story, well-told, is inspiring. The blue collars beat the odds, the rich preppies and the cheating Germans. It’s important, inspiring history, well-told.
I read the adu;lt version – a favoriote book!
Outstanding book and very inspirational.
Some books grab you, this book was recommended to me and I wasn’t sure I would like it. I loved it. I have recommended it to others. It happened in the state that I live in, so I walked in their shoes and could really relate.
Loved this book
One of my all-time favorites, this book tells the story of ordinary boys in the 1930s who make it all the way to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Lots of information regarding the sport of rowing as well.
An inspiring book, good history and real!
Having watched crew teams in college, I knew the teamwork and dedication involved. This book covers those same aspects and boosts them up a notch with the background of national championships and ultimately the Olympics. The book highlights the hard work ethic needed to succeed and the self-sacrifices that the athletes and their families must go through. The characters are well developed and plot moves quickly.
Wow! Fact is always better than fiction. A must read – you will be shocked.
Loved it.
i thought it was going to be a novel.. It read like a novel. However it was a true story. Great character development. Most informative relating what I had learned in history to the true background issues in the world as well as in our country
A great story of a real event.
For every teenage boy or girl, it is an inspiration to what one can do when putting your mind to it. For the rest of us, it is just a wonderful story.
True saga that seems to incredible to be true. Detailed, inspiring, heart-rending, and in the end triumphant story of some unlikely heroes who conquered all odds to win the gold.
This account of the home-town boys — heroes crewing the shell for the US in the Olympics in 1936 — made me proud to have been from Seattle.
Interesting and well written but way more information on crew than I was up for. I liked learning more about the historic period and the olympics.
Loved this book and the story it tells about a group of guys overcoming the odds.