The Boys in the Boat: The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics cover

The Boys in the Boat: The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics

Author: Brown, Daniel James

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 6.9
Points 9.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 51857
Points per Word 0.000174
Page Count 228
Points per Page 0.039474

Description

The book tells the story of the University of Washington rowing team and their journey to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics during the Great Depression. The narrative follows Joe Rantz and his teammates as they work together to become one of the best rowing teams in the world. The story details their training, determination, and ultimate victory against European rivals to win the gold medal in the eight-oared shell competition.

Quick Summary

Nine working-class kids from the Pacific Northwest pull together to beat royalty and row their way to Olympic gold against the backdrop of Nazi Germany. Kids will root for the underdog crew as they face impossible odds, grueling training, and a showdown with Hitler's elite athletes in Berlin. If your kid loves underdog sports stories like "The Million Dollar Shot" or "Heat," they'll be swept up in this incredible true story of ordinary boys doing extraordinary things. Perfect for readers in grades 5 through 7 who enjoy historical fiction and stories about teamwork conquering all.