When I picked up The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel Brown, I expected it to be an exciting, fast-paced, non-fiction book. It was better then that. As I continued reading I found myself increasingly interested in the plot, especially after the first few chapters. The Boys in the Boat is about nine men who row for their school and eventually, their country in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. The story focuses on Joe Rantz, a poor student with no close parents. His only hope of getting through school is to receive a crew scholarship. Daniel Brown not only focuses on the sport but also the time period, with Adolf Hitler gaining power and the Great Depression at its peak.
The key to this book’s success is a combination of incredible detail and a theme of teamwork. Due to several diaries left behind by crewmembers, this book accurately and factually describes the thoughts and feelings of the crew and coach. This makes the book seem realistic and representative of the crew. In addition, the way Brown describes Joe’s relationship with his team gives The Boys in the Boat a deeper meaning.
The men in the boat come from working class families and bleak pasts, but they manage to beat the privileged kids from the Eastern US and shock the handpicked team from Germany. The epic tale of this journey to greatness is the astounding premise for The Boys in the Boat and the story of their victory that gave hope to the desperate American people.
This work of literature is incredible, and I will be searching for more books about the time period and sport. I can only hope I will be able to find another book as interesting and powerful as The Boys in the Boat.
By Liam B.
The Boys in the Boat
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