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The Boys In The Boat: The True Story Of An American Team's Epic Journey To Win Gold At The 1936 Oly: The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympi
The #1 "New York Times"bestsellerabout the Greatest Generationfreshly 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 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."
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 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."
256 pages, Library Binding
First published September 8, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,466 reviews
January 5, 2022
Good informative NF book about the rowers in the 1936 olympics in Berlin just as Germany was on the brink of war. The book spoke of a couple men as they grew up to compete. Their stories.
September 10, 2016
I accidentally checked out this version, the "young readers" adaption by mistake but I'm glad I did. :) I didn't know much about rowing before reading this - so fun to learn about it. I really, really enjoyed reading the story of these guys - about hard work, perseverance and overcoming when the odds are stacked against them. I couldn't help but get teary-eyed at the end. This book is a great read for all ages!
July 20, 2017
5.0
Brilliant!!! This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. The fact that my heart started pumping during the description of numerous races I already knew the outcome to speaks volumes about the skills of the author. As amazing as the story of the competitions may have been it was the lessons in life threaded throughout the book that will stay with me the most. I love the messages of perseverance against all odds, hardwork, overcoming heartbreak, the power of teamwork, selflessness, the love of two soul mates, the lessons of history, the spirit at the heart of America, setting and attaining goals and ultimately good overcoming evil that are found after every turn of a page. I think this young adult adaptation is phenomenal and I will most definitely be reading the adult version at some point because I didn't want this book to end and I think it gives a more thorough account of some of the major historical events. This young adult version has the right mixture of history, excitement, and inspiration for my students. I can't wait to see what they think.
Brilliant!!! This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. The fact that my heart started pumping during the description of numerous races I already knew the outcome to speaks volumes about the skills of the author. As amazing as the story of the competitions may have been it was the lessons in life threaded throughout the book that will stay with me the most. I love the messages of perseverance against all odds, hardwork, overcoming heartbreak, the power of teamwork, selflessness, the love of two soul mates, the lessons of history, the spirit at the heart of America, setting and attaining goals and ultimately good overcoming evil that are found after every turn of a page. I think this young adult adaptation is phenomenal and I will most definitely be reading the adult version at some point because I didn't want this book to end and I think it gives a more thorough account of some of the major historical events. This young adult version has the right mixture of history, excitement, and inspiration for my students. I can't wait to see what they think.
September 1, 2021
I had no interest in reading this. It's about sports. Enough said. So this was assigned reading, really. It's a Battle of the Books pick, so I was stuck with it. I listened to the audiobook, and OH MY GOD. I gripped the steering wheel in my car in suspense during descriptions of races, I cried multiple times, I cheered out loud, and I had feelings, feelings, feelings about a sport. What a story, and what a writer to make me care about the boys in the boat. I give it 4 stars just for the brilliance of someone who can elicit that from me with this topic, but I give it an extra star because I had a change of perspective.
If you had asked me about whether or not we should have boycotted the Olympic Games in Nazi Germany, 1936, I would have adamantly said, "Absolutely." However, after the vicarious experience of all of those races and finding out that Joe's team was going to make it to the Olympics after all, the thought of boycotting was as absurd as I had previously thought NOT boycotting had been. How could we not let those boys go, just because of politics? But it wasn't just politics; it was like 11 million lives....so I had to really think, and seeing different perspectives helps me grow a little.
I have a new respect for the Olympics, rowing, and, to be honest, writers. If you could make me like this book, I realize that anyone can sell me anything, given enough talent.
LOVED THIS BOOK, and I hope my students will give it a try as well.
Update: I just read this book aloud to my (nonreader) husband over the course of a week while he was in a hospital and then home recuperating. A PERFECT bonding-over-books experience. His only complaint is that I had to stop and cry way too many times. He didn't cry once, but I've heard him talk about the book to all of his family members when they call. He's not fooling me. I loved it as much the second time as the first.
If you had asked me about whether or not we should have boycotted the Olympic Games in Nazi Germany, 1936, I would have adamantly said, "Absolutely." However, after the vicarious experience of all of those races and finding out that Joe's team was going to make it to the Olympics after all, the thought of boycotting was as absurd as I had previously thought NOT boycotting had been. How could we not let those boys go, just because of politics? But it wasn't just politics; it was like 11 million lives....so I had to really think, and seeing different perspectives helps me grow a little.
I have a new respect for the Olympics, rowing, and, to be honest, writers. If you could make me like this book, I realize that anyone can sell me anything, given enough talent.
LOVED THIS BOOK, and I hope my students will give it a try as well.
Update: I just read this book aloud to my (nonreader) husband over the course of a week while he was in a hospital and then home recuperating. A PERFECT bonding-over-books experience. His only complaint is that I had to stop and cry way too many times. He didn't cry once, but I've heard him talk about the book to all of his family members when they call. He's not fooling me. I loved it as much the second time as the first.
January 28, 2022
I’ve been hearing about this story and wanting to read it for some time, so when my mom decided to get the adapted for young readers version, I jumped at the chance to see if it was any good. While I haven’t read the other version, I can say that this one was really good. It grabbed my attention and I just wanted to keep reading.
This book focuses mostly on the life of one of the boys, Joe Rantz, instead of following all or most of the boys in the boat. It also mentioned in the back that this version didn’t go into details about the crash on Wall Street that started the Great Depression or the agriculture issues that led to the Dust Bowl. And, while it did take you into the pre-war Germany and let you see what Hitler was doing, it didn’t spend a lot of time on it in this version.
Before I read this book, I knew zero about the rowing teams and what they are like. Very interesting.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hand this version of the book to my nephews as it’s a powerful story of courage, determination, grit, and what it means to be a part of something bigger than just yourself.
Recommended for those not wanting to read the full version.
This book focuses mostly on the life of one of the boys, Joe Rantz, instead of following all or most of the boys in the boat. It also mentioned in the back that this version didn’t go into details about the crash on Wall Street that started the Great Depression or the agriculture issues that led to the Dust Bowl. And, while it did take you into the pre-war Germany and let you see what Hitler was doing, it didn’t spend a lot of time on it in this version.
Before I read this book, I knew zero about the rowing teams and what they are like. Very interesting.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hand this version of the book to my nephews as it’s a powerful story of courage, determination, grit, and what it means to be a part of something bigger than just yourself.
Recommended for those not wanting to read the full version.
May 7, 2025
What a tremendous story! Having watched the movie last spring and thoroughly enjoyed it (not even heard of it before then) now read the book....I want to re watch as the characters are even more real.
Such a bit of world's history thrown in with Hitler in the middle of his reign of terror upon the Jews while slyly trying to present such a peaceful and civilized appearance to the rest of the world through the Olympics. Such a fascinating look from their perspectives as they visited Germany during that time, not realizing the horrors to come all too soon even though the British rowers could hardly look at the German team mates fearing for another war. Such a heartbreaking time knowing the death and destruction that was brought about as we know, instead of allowing to try and exist in a civilized as possible world...
A theme was stood out was how family, or the lack of one/broken family, certainly affects not only the children themselves with society itself indirectly. A main character Joe, had quite the rough childhood after his mother died then his father abandoning him. The coming together as a sort of family within a team came to a prevalent sentiment I found and rightly so. Such an amazing tale of overcoming!
I can most heartedly recommend this book to anyone really...then watch the fantastic film...ideal for anyone; all ages mainly in the company of especially young adults/teens to share the pleasure :)
Such a bit of world's history thrown in with Hitler in the middle of his reign of terror upon the Jews while slyly trying to present such a peaceful and civilized appearance to the rest of the world through the Olympics. Such a fascinating look from their perspectives as they visited Germany during that time, not realizing the horrors to come all too soon even though the British rowers could hardly look at the German team mates fearing for another war. Such a heartbreaking time knowing the death and destruction that was brought about as we know, instead of allowing to try and exist in a civilized as possible world...
A theme was stood out was how family, or the lack of one/broken family, certainly affects not only the children themselves with society itself indirectly. A main character Joe, had quite the rough childhood after his mother died then his father abandoning him. The coming together as a sort of family within a team came to a prevalent sentiment I found and rightly so. Such an amazing tale of overcoming!
I can most heartedly recommend this book to anyone really...then watch the fantastic film...ideal for anyone; all ages mainly in the company of especially young adults/teens to share the pleasure :)
April 16, 2015
This is one of those books I just couldn't put down. I am quite interested in WWII, and to have a true success story, with Nazi Germany as a back ground, well, this was a double dip of happiness for me. In addition, the author weaves together the unrelenting depression, when so many lost so much, including Joe Rantz's family. There is just so much in this book. The dust bowl. Weather statistics that have yet to be broken. Child abandonment. The Olympics of 1936, in Nazi Germany. And the deliberate deception perpetrated by Hitler and his SS to hide and deceive the rest of the world. Page 359...."Within days of the closing ceremony of the 1936 Olympics, the Nazis renewed their persecution of German Jews and others to whom they believed they were superior.....the brutality, the terror resumed..."
November 14, 2018
I read this with my 13 year old son and we both really enjoyed it. Having read both the 'regular' and 'young reader's edition', I think I would probably stick with the full version. Unless you're reading to really young readers (maybe under 10), I think you miss parts of the story that bring it more color & life. There isn't content that I would worry about for older kids & I missed some of the detail from the original. That being said, this story is still fantastic. Really glad we read this together.
April 14, 2023
Read out loud. This was the best pick for our road trip to Seattle. The whole family loved it, I cried so much haha, and we got to see The Husky Clipper in real life.
March 10, 2024
Rip I did not mean to read the young readers version so now I may need to go back and read the real one. I am so upset😂😂😂 perhaps I will watch the movie and then read it
January 31, 2025
Man, I have to say, this was a darn good book! It took a while to get into it, but when I finally got halfway through it, it started getting awesome!🤩
The Boys In The Boat is an amazing story! Five stars all the way!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5.5
Joe Rantz, an an incredible man! Although he was abandoned throughout his childhood, he quit trusting people until he found rowing, which forced him to put his faith in his crew.
Although he’d never rowed before college, the years he spent logging, digging ditches, and building roads, it built the muscles that made him a powerful force in the boat!
Joe Rantz’s story was so good! It made me think, “Just because something’s hard to reach, it doesn’t mean you stop reaching for it”
Please read this review, so that you may read this wonderful, and amazing book!
I want to thank Daniel James Brown, for re-telling this amazing story! He simply did an excellent job!
The Boys In The Boat is an amazing story! Five stars all the way!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5.5
Joe Rantz, an an incredible man! Although he was abandoned throughout his childhood, he quit trusting people until he found rowing, which forced him to put his faith in his crew.
Although he’d never rowed before college, the years he spent logging, digging ditches, and building roads, it built the muscles that made him a powerful force in the boat!
Joe Rantz’s story was so good! It made me think, “Just because something’s hard to reach, it doesn’t mean you stop reaching for it”
Please read this review, so that you may read this wonderful, and amazing book!
I want to thank Daniel James Brown, for re-telling this amazing story! He simply did an excellent job!
July 22, 2017
I'm not a runner, so the one time I stood at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, I was shocked when I found myself crying. Watching people push themselves to do something against the limits of human athleticism moved me in a way I couldn't expect. Reading this book must have been a similar experience because I found myself choking up the entire time. I don't even like sports. Why is my face so wet?!?
March 12, 2017
Very well done and interesting.
September 24, 2023
Despite the book’s title, 90 percent of the book is about just one rower, Joe Rantz. He had a rough childhood — his mom died when he was young, and his stepmother kicked him out when he was a young teen. (The exact same thing happened to my great-grandfather at 14.) He took on jobs that were physically grueling, which gave him the fortitude for rowing. The wealthy boys all dropped out of the program while the farmers and fishermen went on to the Olympics, despite rowing being considered a “gentleman’s sport.”
Many rowing races are described in the book, each with nail-biting depictions. Even knowing ahead of time the boys win gold, each race got my heart racing. It’s a great inspiring American story that should be known by everyone. You don’t have to care about rowing or know anything about it to enjoy the book.
I read this “junior adaptation” because it was shorter and I have lots of books to read. I skimmed through the “adult” version to compare. The adult version contains much more of the geopolitics surrounding the 1936 Olympics, particularly Germany. The junior version is an abridgement that stays focused on Joe and his team. The original prose is preserved. It is very accessible and engaging.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: None
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
Many rowing races are described in the book, each with nail-biting depictions. Even knowing ahead of time the boys win gold, each race got my heart racing. It’s a great inspiring American story that should be known by everyone. You don’t have to care about rowing or know anything about it to enjoy the book.
I read this “junior adaptation” because it was shorter and I have lots of books to read. I skimmed through the “adult” version to compare. The adult version contains much more of the geopolitics surrounding the 1936 Olympics, particularly Germany. The junior version is an abridgement that stays focused on Joe and his team. The original prose is preserved. It is very accessible and engaging.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: None
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
November 19, 2020
What a book! I am not a sport’s fan, I don’t have favorite teams, and certainly don’t search for past sports events to read about or to watch. But this book was talked about in my book club and I researched it a bit. Put it on my list and forgot it there. And then it became available as an audiobook at the library and I borrowed it.
Just like Agassi's Open, this book is not only for sport’s fans or for those interested in rowing. It’s for everyone who feels inspired by an underdog’s story. For everyone who want to read a beautiful and painful biography of a young man who didn’t let the hardships of his childhood spoil everything in life for him.
I absolutely loved everything about The Boys In The Boat
Just like Agassi's Open, this book is not only for sport’s fans or for those interested in rowing. It’s for everyone who feels inspired by an underdog’s story. For everyone who want to read a beautiful and painful biography of a young man who didn’t let the hardships of his childhood spoil everything in life for him.
I absolutely loved everything about The Boys In The Boat
April 28, 2022
This is such a great story! I've read the regular edition and now this young reader's edition and each time I tear up with this story! You do not need to be a fan of rowing, sports, or the Olympics to thoroughly appreciate it.
My 7th graders have LOVED it and have really gotten into the "tense" parts of the book (racing, etc).
My 7th graders have LOVED it and have really gotten into the "tense" parts of the book (racing, etc).
August 3, 2023
Fantastic! I loved the author’s point of view. Although it wasn’t a story about him, it felt like he was there, really there, with all of the personal details.
“This is a story about growing up, about wrestling with hope and doubt, about dreaming big, about going for the gold.”
Cannot wait to talk with 8th graders about ^^ all of these things in just a few short weeks!
“This is a story about growing up, about wrestling with hope and doubt, about dreaming big, about going for the gold.”
Cannot wait to talk with 8th graders about ^^ all of these things in just a few short weeks!
August 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book—adapted for younger readers. I thought it was such an inspiring story!
April 8, 2023
I was already familiar with this inspiring story but wanted to check out the young readers edition. Definitely a worthwhile story to share with my younger students!
January 4, 2024
Another memoir option my students will read. I really loved this one; a very historical and personal account of the boys who won Olympic gold for rowing in Berlin in 1936. It’s an underdog story with a sweet redemptive ending, and I found it both interesting and moving. Will be watching the movie soon.
Listened via audiobook.
Listened via audiobook.
May 27, 2024
I love sports centered nonfiction and the Olympics. This is the combination of the ultimate team sport wrapped in WWII history with an underdog story, a little love story, and a lot of American pride.
December 8, 2024
A fantastic story of grit and perseverance!
August 9, 2025
Did not mean to read the YA version…
January 9, 2025
4.5
-really enjoyed this! It was an easy read and I love a good historical sports book
-inspiring :))
-really enjoyed this! It was an easy read and I love a good historical sports book
-inspiring :))
January 17, 2024
I liked the length and the photos in this adapted version of story which is now a major motion picture. I was disappointed with the way the motion picture did not follow the narrative well at all. However, the story of Joe Rantz and his epic journey of self improvement to become a true olympian was inspiring. Joe was truly abandoned by his family as a young man. His natural reaction was to swear off ever relying on anyone for anything again. But in the sport of rowing, it's all about teamwork. He learned the sport of rowing and was really strong but his strength was not enough. He had to trust his teammates completely and he was challenged to do so because of his past injuries. I liked this quote, "Joe seemed to think he was the only one in the boat. He rowed as if it was up to him to row the boat across the finish line all by himself. When a man rowed like that, Pocock said, he was bound to attack the water rather than to work with it. Worse, he would not be able to let his crew help him row....What mattered more than how hard a man rowed was how well everything he did in the boat harmonized with what the other fellows were doing. And a man couldn't harmonize with his crewmates unless he opened his heart to them...."Joe, when you really start trusting those other boys," Pocock said, "you will feel the power at work within you that is far beyond anything you've ever imagined. Sometimes you will feel as if you have rowed right off the planet and are rowing among the stars."
I really liked the idea that true greatness comes from unified effort not individual effort. I think in many ways, it is lack of unity that stops us from achieving greatness. And lack of unity comes from wanting to trust only ourselves and not learning to like the people we work together with. Imagine being in a boat with someone and yet both of you are rowing in different directions. This book will show you how even rowing in the same direction is not enough if you aren't perfectly in sync. This is a real life lesson that can be applied to many different aspects of life. I want to better in my personal life on unifying my efforts with others.
I really liked the idea that true greatness comes from unified effort not individual effort. I think in many ways, it is lack of unity that stops us from achieving greatness. And lack of unity comes from wanting to trust only ourselves and not learning to like the people we work together with. Imagine being in a boat with someone and yet both of you are rowing in different directions. This book will show you how even rowing in the same direction is not enough if you aren't perfectly in sync. This is a real life lesson that can be applied to many different aspects of life. I want to better in my personal life on unifying my efforts with others.
January 8, 2024
I‘ve been hearing about this book for a decade now and meaning to read it. If anyone had told me that the true story in this book was about one boy overcoming hardships caused by a family situation no child or teenager should have to endure, I would have read it sooner. Yes, it is about the time a bunch of athletes showed up Hitler’s olympic team in German waters in the midst of a turbulent time for Germany, but even that remarkable win isn’t Joe Rantz’s greatest accomplishment. I admire people with enough grit to endure what life unfairly throws at them and rise above it to do great things.
Now I want to hear the stories of all of the other boys in the boat. This book captures what I love about learning about historical events: the stories of the individual humans that experienced them.
*This is the version adapted for young readers, and now I’m curious what the original version includes that this one didn’t, so I will read it too when I can get it from the library.
Now I want to hear the stories of all of the other boys in the boat. This book captures what I love about learning about historical events: the stories of the individual humans that experienced them.
*This is the version adapted for young readers, and now I’m curious what the original version includes that this one didn’t, so I will read it too when I can get it from the library.
February 26, 2017
Apparently, I listened to the YA version on audiobook without realizing it. I didn't even know there was more than one version. Come to find out that authors are currently releasing versions of non-fiction books for young readers that have graphic scenes edited out. I think that's wonderful! From what I found out, the original version of this particular book was not really graphic, so much as, it contains more detailed descriptions of rowing that might be difficult for younger readers to understand. So, I feel like I got the meat and potatoes of the story and was able to read it more quickly. Very enjoyable and inspiring story. Highly recommended!
January 6, 2025
3⭐️
This is a great non-fiction book for kids interested in Olympic history, perseverance, hard work, and rowing. I learned a lot of technical info about the sport of rowing. The family story, behind the Olympic story, is heartbreaking and the book is worth the read for that aspect alone.
I listened to the audio version and found it quite slow at times. I honestly think I chose it because there was such a buzz surrounding the story. This could be a great novel study for middle schoolers.
This is a great non-fiction book for kids interested in Olympic history, perseverance, hard work, and rowing. I learned a lot of technical info about the sport of rowing. The family story, behind the Olympic story, is heartbreaking and the book is worth the read for that aspect alone.
I listened to the audio version and found it quite slow at times. I honestly think I chose it because there was such a buzz surrounding the story. This could be a great novel study for middle schoolers.
December 1, 2016
My nine year old and I read the Young Reader's version of this book together and we both loved it! We were hooked from the very beginning and didn't want to put it down each night. Who knew that rowing could be so intense and exciting? I love that this was such an inspiring, memorable read for us to share together. I would highly recommend this and I'm picking up the adult book to read again.
January 11, 2022
Our first read-aloud of the year and we tore through it in just a few days. We read this YA-adapted version, though I am quite curious what the original version includes. The kids loved the suspenseful regatta scenes, but also cared about the main character's upbringing (warning: abusive) and the dynamics of the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,466 reviews