Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive

About this book

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 Olympians courage cunning and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. This adaptation of Unbroken introduces a new generation to one of historys 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 planes 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 lieutenants 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 odysseyalso captured on film by director Angelina Jolieis 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 Hillenbrands adult bestseller is highly dramatic and exciting as well as painful to read as it lays bare mans 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