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"A thrilling, heart-thumping tale.
— Timothy Egan, author of The Worst Hard Time
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"A great and inspiring true story.
— Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Mayflower
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This is Chariots of Fire with oars.
— David Laskin, author of The Children's Blizzard
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Evocative, cinematic prose.
— Publishers Weekly
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A suspenseful tale of triumph.
— USA Today
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Accolades for the adult edition of The Boys in the Boat: - #1 New York Times bestseller- 2014 ABA Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year- 2014 Washington State Book Award
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With a lyrical flair, Brown tells the story of these men in a manner that intersperses the drama of the time period with the emotional and physical turmoil of their lives. Young adult readers may not understand or even know about the desperation of the Depression, or what it was like at the genesis of Nazi Germany, but the tale of these persistent men, each with their own personal struggle, will entice readers of all ages.
— VOYA
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It becomes almost impossible not to root for such a hardscrabble collection of underdogs as they exhibit hard work, sacrifice, teamwork, and loyalty at every stage of their collective journey to Berlin.
— Horn Book
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Those seeking an inspiring true story or a great sports tale will be pleased with this stirring work.
— School Library Journal
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Offering a model of masterful nonfiction writing, Brown expertly balances the leisurely pacing of the protagonists' back stories with the exciting race scenes, related with concrete nouns, lively verbs, and short sentences, selected and adapted for this edition by Mone. Many photographs, an easy-to-read timeline, and notes on "The Art of Rowing," complete with a diagram, add visual appeal. A fine companion to Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken (2014), also about the 1936 Olympics and also adapted for young readers.
— Kirkus
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The word teamwork, which can sound humdrum to kids in coaches' droning lectures, doesn't adequately describe the connection shared by the men in that boat in 1936. Illustrated with vintage photos, this moving book offers young people a vivid sense of that shared experience. A Depression-era story with timeless appeal.
— Booklist, starred review
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- New York Times bestseller- #1 Pacific Northwest Bookseller Assocation bestseller
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Accolades for The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation):
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"A robust, emotional snapshot of an era.
— James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers
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“For those who like adventure stories straight-up, The Boys in the Boat…is this year’s closest approximation of Unbroken….It’s about the University of Washington’s crew team: ‘Nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant.’”
— New York Times
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“Brown’s book juxtaposes the coming together of the Washington crew team against the Nazis’ preparations for the Games, weaving together a history that feels both intimately personal and weighty in its larger historical implications. This book has already been bought for cinematic development, and it’s easy to see why: when Brown, a Seattle-based nonfiction writer, describes a race, you feel the splash as the oars slice the water, the burning in the young men’s muscles, and the incredible drive that propelled these rowers to glory.”
— Smithsonian
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“Cogent history…and a surprisingly suspenseful tale of triumph.”
— USA Today
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“If you imagined a great regatta of books about rowing, then Brown’s The Boys in the Boat certainly makes the final heat.”
— Boston Globe
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“The astonishing story of the UW’s 1936 eight-oar varsity crew and its rise from obscurity to fame…The individual stories of these young men are almost as compelling as the rise of the team itself. Brown excels at weaving those stories with the larger narrative, all culminating in the 1936 Olympic Games…A story this breathtaking demands an equally compelling author, and Brown does not disappoint. The narrative rises inexorably, with the final 50 pages blurring by with white-knuckled suspense as these all-American underdogs pull off the unimaginable.”
— Seattle Times
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“For years I’ve stared and wondered about the old wooden boat resting on the top rack of the UW boathouse. I knew the names of the men that rowed it but never really knew who they were. After reading this book, I feel like I got to relive their journey and witness what it was truly like earning a seat in that Pocock shell. The passion and determination showed by Joe and the rest of the boys in the boat are what every rower aspires to. I will never look at that wooden boat the same again.”
— Mary Whipple, Olympic gold medal–winning coxswain, women’s eight-oared crew, 2008 and 2012
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“[Brown] offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world. A book that informs as it inspires.”
— Booklist (starred review)
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“Those who enjoy reading about Olympic history or amateur or collegiate sports will savor Brown’s superb book.”
— Library Journal (starred review)
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“An evocative, cinematic prose…[Brown] makes his heroes’ struggle as fascinating as the best Olympic sagas.”
— Publishers Weekly