In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian's courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. This adaptation of Unbroken introduces a new generation to one of history's most thrilling survival epics. On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary sagas of the Second World War. The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. As a boy, he had been a clever delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and stealing. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a supreme talent that carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when war came, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would respond to desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope and humor, brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would hang on the fraying wire of his will. Featuring more than one hundred photographs plus an exclusive interview with Zamperini, this breathtaking odyssey—also captured on film by director Angelina Jolie—is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to endure against the unlikeliest of odds. Praise for Unbroken "This adaptation of Hillenbrand's adult bestseller is highly dramatic and exciting, as well as painful to read as it lays bare man's hellish inhumanity to man."—Booklist, STARRED "This captivating book emphasizes the importance of determination, the will to survive against impossible odds, and support from family and friends. A strong, well-written work."—SLJ "This fine adaptation ably brings an inspiring tale to young readers."—Kirkus
Download and start listening now!
“In response to requests from teachers and school librarians, Hillenbrand offers a young-readers’ edition of her bestselling World War II tale of survival…This solid adaptation is half the length of the original, more visual (with more, and sometimes larger, photographs), less descriptive, and swifter paced, and it avoids such adult themes as the sexual sadism of evil Corporal Watanabe, the man so intent on destroying Louis in the POW camp outside Tokyo. A fascinating appended interview with Louis Zamperini explores issues of survival and heroism. This fine adaptation ably brings an inspiring tale to younger readers.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Lauren Hillenbrand’s Unbroken was published in 2010; in 2014, it was still on national bestseller lists, including ours. This well-told, epic renders the true story of Louie Zamperini…[and this is the] young adult adaptation of his astonishing story.”
— Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review“This adaptation of Hillenbrand’s adult bestseller is highly dramatic and exciting, as well as painful to read as it lays bare man’s hellish inhumanity to man.”
— Booklist (starred review)“This captivating book emphasizes the importance of determination, the will to survive against impossible odds, and support from family and friends. A strong, well-written work.”
— School Library Journal“A humdinger of a page-turner: a noble story about the courage of America’s Greatest Generation, personified.”
— Horn Book magazine“Narrator Edward Herrmann never gets in the way of this story of WWII heroism, survival, and redemption. His voice is so compelling that the narrative flows smoothly and engagingly. The author is a magazine journalist, so the text itself is especially listener-friendly. In this young listener version, some of the most harrowing sequences and historical background passages are left out or abridged, but the scope and dramatic arc of the story remain. This production will have listeners driving round and round the block, unable to turn it off. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFileLaura Hillenbrand is the author of two #1 New York Times bestsellers Seabiscuit: An American Legend and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Seabiscuit was a multi-award winner, made more than fifteen best-of-the-year lists, and inspired the film Seabiscuit, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including for best picture. Unbroken was also made into a movie that garnered three Oscar nominations and won multiple other film awards.
Edward Herrmann (1943–2014) was one of America’s top audiobook narrators. He won multiple Audie Awards and twenty-two Earphones Awards, and his narration of the King James version of the Bible remains a benchmark in the industry.