OK, this book was published in June of 2013 so I know I’m late to the game.  However, after my mom passed this book along to me before heading to Central America, I became hooked and understood why this book is now a best seller.  It can be hard to get into a new book so whenever I read one that gets me hooked, I love passing it along for someone else to enjoy.  This was a classic story of hardships and overcoming them.  I found the book incredibly inspiring and heart filled describing the 1930’s during the Great Depression, the Nazi reign, the Olympics, and what it was like to grow up during those times.

The book is written from the standpoint of Joe Rantz, the main character if you will.  Joe had a rough upbringing filled with loss and independence.  Once he begins rowing, he has to learn to trust the other boys in the boat which is one of his biggest life lessons.  The boys in the boat go on to row in the Olympics before Hitler with all odds against them.  This book is brilliantly written and I can only hope a movie comes of it 🙂