Unbroken (Adapted for Young Adults) by Laura Hillenbrand- ESSENTIAL

Hillenbrand, Laura  Unbroken: (Adapted for Young Adults), 292 pgs.  NON-FICTION.  Delacorte Press, 2014.  $19.99  Content: Language: PG-13 (14 swears); Mature content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   

In this book, Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner, survivalist, and prisoner of war, overcomes all obstacles and shows the reader what it means to be strong in spirit.  In Louis’ childhood he was a trouble maker, but his brother Pete turned all Louis’ energies to running and Louis excelled.  As a young man, Louis fought in the Pacific front and after his plane crashed he lived on a life raft with two other men until they were found by Japanese soldiers who imprisoned them.  As an adult, Louis had to overcome all of the heartbreak and trauma he experienced in the war and learn to forgive.   

This is an amazing story of one man who more than survived, but lived to help others and teach others of the power of love and forgiveness.  The content is war violence and it’s not pleasant, but it’s not gratuitous violence.  There is a picture of a starved P.O.W’s body among the many illustrations provided and it's disturbing.   

MS-ADVISABLE.  HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.