Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat (2013), the absorbing, suspenseful account of an American rowing crew's gold-medal win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, is "a story about growing up," says the author in his introduction to this young readers' edition of his runaway bestseller.
Brown explains that young people at his readings inspired this version, which minimizes the historical context of 1930s America and the rise of Nazi Germany to focus more on the human drama: "What they recognize in the story... is the sheer excitement of being young, having a goal, striving to accomplish that goal, and making it happen, just as the boys in the boat did." The nonfiction narrative revolves around Washington native Joe Rantz (the author's neighbor's father), one of nine young men from the University of Washington who stunned everyone, including Adolf Hitler, with their Olympics gold-medal win. It was hard work. In chapter one, readers meet Joe as freshman at the UW. He learns quickly that rowing takes "raw power, superhuman stamina, and solid intelligence." Flashbacks to Joe's impoverished, turbulent childhood (he was abandoned at 15) show he's made of tougher stuff than some wannabe rowers in their "expensive cardigans." The transcendent beauty of fine-tuned teamwork in the boat and vividly described, heart-pounding racing scenes swirl around Joe's often heart-rending personal story, always, impressively, the narrative's anchor. Black-and-white photos keep the sense of history alive throughout.
This heartening account of how nine scrappy young men persevere to win Olympic gold may inspire a few to try their oars in the water, metaphorically or otherwise. "Row!" --Karin Snelson, children's editor, Shelf Awareness