THE BOYS IN THE BOAT (for YOUNG READERS)

THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown

The Boys in the Boat is another book that is landing on my SARAH'S FAVORITES BOOKLIST. This book is one of the most moving books of commitment, endurance, and overcoming that I have read in a while, and I highly recommend it! Traveling the time period of the Great Depression leading up to World War II, there is so much meat in this story to consider. It literally is a full course meal!

Predominantly following the story of Joe Rantz, one of the nine rowers from the University of Washington that ended up going to the Berlin Olympics, the story begins with the neglect and abandonment he experienced from his family who left him to fend for himself at a young age, Overcoming hurdle after hurdle, Joe chose to focus on what lay before him and how to succeed in an economically devastating time instead of what he had lost. The power of forgiveness and pressing on is so overwhelmingly evident. We need more stories like this for young people and adults in our world today!

And by the way...it has a boy protagonist for those of you looking for great reads for your sons, and it's squeaky clean!