"Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

• Age Range: 12 and up 
• Grade Level: 7 - 9
• Pages: 320 
• Published by Multnomah on April 19, 2016
• Genre: Non-fiction
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"Most people don't expect you to understand what we're going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don't expect you to care. And even if you care, they don't expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last. We do." – Alex and Brett. Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential. Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life.  Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change. Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of an already-happening teen revolution challenges a generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today."

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My Thoughts:

"Do Hard Things" was an awesome book challenging teens to doing hard things. After reading this book, I definitely was challenged and since then have accomplished several challenging tasks. The brothers story was very inspiring as well--how their movement began is very interesting. Overall I thought this book was an amazing book that EVERY teen should read"

Top Ten Authors

Here is a list of my top 10 favorite authors.

1. Chuck Black
2. Alex and Brett Harris
3. Joachim de Posada
4. Eric and Leslie Ludy
5. Rachel Cruze
6. Gilbert Morris
7. Jon Acuff
8. Dan Miller
9. Lois Gladys Leppard
10. Janet and Geoff Benge

Top 5 Movies

Here is a list of my top 5 favorite movies.

1. Alone Yet Not Alone
2. Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge
3. I'm Not Ashamed
4. Beyond the Mask
5. Soul Surfer

Top 20 Non Fiction Books

Here is a list of the my 20 top favorite non-fiction books that I have read.

1. "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris
2. "Don't Eat the Marshmallow Yet" by Joachim de Posada and Ellen Singer
3. "This Changes Everything" by Jaquelle Crowe
4. "When God Writes Your Love Story" by Eric and Leslie Ludy
5. "Love Your Life, Not Theirs" by Rachel Cruze
6. "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory A. Freeman
7. "Alone Yet Not Alone" by Tracy Leininger
8. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie
9. "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai
10. "The Magnolia Story" by Chip and Joanna Gaines
11. "Living Well, Spending Less" by Ruth Soukup
12. "Soul Surfer" by Bethany Hamilton
13. "Unbroken" by Laura Hildenbrand
14. "Redemption At Hacksaw Ridge" by Booton Herndon
15. "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom
16. "Hearts of Fire" by The Voice of the Martyers
17. "Will Our Generation Speak" by Grace Mally
18. "Chain Reaction" by Darrell Scott
19. "Daring to Hope" by Katie Davis Majors
20. "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel

"20 Reasons We Must Not Borrow" by Bill Gothard

Genre: Information

About:

In Bill Gothard's book, 20 Reasons We Must Not Borrow he tells the reader the dangers of debt. From reason 1) “Debt denies God opportunities to show his power, and reason 3) “Debt makes us the slaves of our lenders”; to reasons 12) “Debt over-rules God's direction”; and 17) Debt contradicts God's examples”; Gothard goes in depth explaining how each reason is so important. Reasons 1) “Debt denies God opportunities to show his power” and 14) “ Debt rules out faith” stuck out to me. Reason one stuck out to me because Bill Gothard explains that God wants to use his supernatural power to meet needs that to our eyes is impossible; but when we use money to buy everything that makes us comfortable, it denies God a chance to show us a miracle. Reason 3) stuck out to me because Gothard explained that as Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,' faith is vital for the Christian life. When we don't trust God to provide for our needs and use money instead, we are showing that we dont believe in God's power enough to trust in his timing and will. As Bill Gothard says, “When we put our faith in money to do what only God can do, we make money our God”. 20 Reasons We Must Not Borrow is a great book to learning how to handle riches God's way.

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"10 Steps to End Financial Pressure" by Bill Gothard

Genre: Information

About:

In today's world, financial pressure is very real and common, as people see money as a security—something God never intended money to be used for. However, financial pressure can be put to an end using the right principles and in Bill Gothard's book, Ten Steps to End Financial Pressures, he tells you how. Starting with step one, “Put all your resources in God's command”, and going on down the list; 2) Become a sower of money”; 3) “Remove ten causes of losing wealth”; 4) “Learn how to start a successful buisness”; 5) “Develop the skill of “win-win” negotiating”; 6) Practice frugality with time and money; 7) “Turn clutter into cash”; 8) “Renounce borrowing”; 9) “Reject all tendencies to love money”; and 10) “Listen to the cautions of your wife”, Bill Gothard explains how to end your financial pressures. Ten Steps to End Your Financial Pressures taught me that I need to give everything to God before I get his blessings.

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47 pages

"The Forgotten 500" by Gregory A. Freeman

Genre: Non-fiction

About:

"The astonishing, never before told story of the greatest rescue mission of World War II—when the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia...
During a bombing campaign over Romanian oil fields, hundreds of American airmen were shot down in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia. Local Serbian farmers and peasants risked their own lives to give refuge to the soldiers while they waited for rescue, and in 1944, Operation Halyard was born. The risks were incredible. The starving Americans in Yugoslavia had to construct a landing strip large enough for C-47 cargo planes—without tools, without alerting the Germans, and without endangering the villagers. And the cargo planes had to make it through enemy airspace and back—without getting shot down themselves."

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336 pages

"Love Your Life Not Theirs" by Rachel Cruze

Genre: Non-fiction

About:

"In Love Your Life, Not Theirs, Rachel Cruze shines a spotlight on the most damaging money habit we have: comparing ourselves to others. Then she unpacks seven essential money habits for living the life we really want--a life in line with our values, where we can afford the things we want to buy without being buried under debt, stress, and worry.The Joneses are broke. Life looks good, but hidden beneath that glossy exterior are credit card bills, student loans, car payments, and an out-of-control mortgage. Their money situation is a mess, and they're trying to live a life they simply can't afford. So why exactly do we try so hard to keep up with the Joneses? Are we really living the lives we want, or are we chasing someone else's dream, just trying to keep up appearances on social media, at church, and in our community? Why are we letting other people set the pace for our own family's finances?
In Love Your Life, Not Theirs, Rachel shows you how to buy and do the things that are important to you--the right way. That starts by choosing to quit the comparisons, reframing the way you think about money, and developing new habits like avoiding debt, living on a plan, watching your spending, saving for the future, having healthy conversations about money, and giving.These habits work, and Rachel is living proof. Now, she wants to empower you to live the life you've always dreamed of without creating the debt, stress, and worry that are all too often part of the deal. 
Social media isn't real life, and trying to keep up with the Joneses will never get you anywhere. It's time to live--and love--your life, not theirs."

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272 pages

"Kingdom's Dawn" by Chuck Black

Genre: Christian Fantasy

About:

"Good and evil clash. Leinad and Cedric are determined to not only survive, but claim hope and victory! In Kingdom’s Dawn, Leinad and Tess, along with all the king’s people, must escape slavery by the powerful Lord Fairos. Kingdom’s Hope finds them free and arriving in the Chessington Valley. But when they forget the king, will Kergon and the Kessons capture them for good? After many years, Kingdom’s Edge finds Cedric living a hopeless life until a stranger appears with powerful words of a new kingdom and a grand army. Finally, Kingdom’s Reign marches you through the danger of earth’s last days as the evil dark knight threatens to defeat the prince once and for all. Swords, knights, and battles define these captivating tales that parallel biblical events from Genesis to Revelation! He’s just a young man, but that doesn’t change the truth. He was chosen… Sixteen-year-old Leinad thought he was a common farmer’s son, nothing more. He wondered why his father had trained him for years to master the sword—not exactly a tool of the trade for farmers—but one tragic event initiates a world of revelation. Only then does he begin to understand his calling—a calling no other man in the entire kingdom of Arrethtrae can fulfill—a calling given him by the King himself. Teamed with a young slave girl, Leinad is thrust into adversity and danger—for the Dark Knight and his vicious Shadow Warriors will stop at nothing to thwart the King’s plan to restore the kingdom. Leinad will need more than a sharp blade and a swift hand to fulfill his mission and survive the evil plots of the King’s sworn enemies! Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil—and the future of a kingdom lies in the hands of a young man. "

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160 pages

"Charles Sheldon" by Barbour

Genre: Biography

About:

Talented writer, beloved pastor, zealous performer-these all describe the Reverend Charles Sheldon, author of In His Steps. In Charles Sheldon by Barbour the author tells the amazing and unique story of Charles Sheldon, who became the multimillionaire, best-selling author of the novel In His Steps, and launched the worldwide “WWJD” (or What Would Jesus Do), movement that inspired millions of people all over the world. Growing up on a farm in Yankton in the Dakota territory, Charles was accustomed to hard work; however this did not get in the way of Spiritual “work”. Charles's father insisted as a family, each family member read two verses every single day, as well as sing a song or two , pray, and recite the Lord's prayer. Therefore from a young age Charles was grounded in the Word, but had no idea that these “'life lessons' on the prairie” would not go unheeded” Even though Charles Sheldon is best remembered for his 1896 Christian novel, Sheldon did much more. One of the lessons that Barbour's Charles Sheldon teaches is that hard work always pays off in the long-run.

Charles Sheldon teaches that hard work always pays off in the long run. In chapter 8 Charles demonstrates this truth by working hard and finishing his novel. In His Steps started out with just a few sentences swimming together in Charles's mind, and slowly advanced to a whole novel. Working day after day, Charles slowly poured out the sentences that were swimming in his head onto paper. Every week, at church, Charles would read aloud a chapter of his latest novel to his congregation; and when In His Steps was read, it became an instant success. The day after reading the first chapter, Charles received a letter from a publishing company offering to pay him seventy-five dollars if Charles would allow them to publish his book in serial form. Even though this wasn't phenomenal, it was a start, and Charles continued to attempt to get other major publishers to publish his book. The first two publishers that he tried rejected him, but finally the third agreed. Shockingly, as soon as In His Steps was released to the public, it became an instant best-seller as millions of copies were sold world-wide. No one was more surprised then the two publishers who rejected him.

Barbour's Charles Sheldon teaches the rewards of hard work. In Charles Sheldon the author tells the phenomenal story of a farm boy who grew up to be a world-famous writer and reverend. Life-lessons and spiritual questions which prompt the famous question What Would Jesus Do?, are all summed up into a unique story of another hero of the faith.

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208 pages

"Fanny Crosby" by Barbour

Genre: Biography

About:

Blind woman who became a famous hymn writer of over 2000 beloved hymns-this is what describes Fanny Jane Crosby, born on March 24, 1820. As a young toddler, Fanny picked up an eye disease which made her eyes weak. After searching for awhile, Fanny's parents finally found a man who claimed to be a physician. But to their horror, this man placed hot comprises on Fanny's inflamed eyes claiming that the heat would draw out the infection; however, this left white scars on her eyes which took away her sight completely. Amazingly, Fanny Crosby used this tragedy to change her life for good. In Fanny Crosby by Barbour, the author tells of the incredible story of an amazing woman who made a huge impact on the world-blind. Fanny Crosby teaches that one person's actions affect others and that determination brings reward.First of all Fanny Crosby teaches that one person's actions affect others. In chapter 1 the “doctor” demonstrates this truth when he lies to the Crosbys and ruins Fanny's eyesight. This “doctor” told the Crosbys that he was a physician and worked on Fanny's eyes. However, instead of helping her inflamed eyes, he took her sight away by putting hot compresses on her eyes which caused scars to form on her eyes, blinding her (12-13). His actions affected not only Fanny, by blinding her, but also her parents who would now not only have to give special care to her but also pay extra money to send her to special schools.  In addition to teaching that one person's actions affect others, Fanny Crosby teaches that determination brings reward. In chapter 2 Fanny demonstrates this truth when she never let the discouragement of others define her (22). Despite advice of many people to not do certain things because she was blind, Fanny didn't listen. She continued to persevere and wrote many poems. Because she was determined to not let her handicap make her different from others, Fanny kept her determination for the rest of her life and went on to become one of the most well-loved and known hymn writers in history. Barbour's Fanny Crosby teaches that one person can suffer from another's actions, and that one is always rewarded for determination. Fanny Crosby had a vast handicap, in fact one of the worst, but she never let it define her. She is a phenomenal example to the world of determination, faith, and love. Fanny Crosby teaches valuable life lessons and intriguing facts in a timeless story of enduring faith.

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208 pages

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Genre: Classic

About*:

"Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman living near the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London. Page 2 of a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra (11 June 1799) in which she first mentions Pride and Prejudice, using its working title First Impressions. (NLA) Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of "most loved books." It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen's memorable characters or themes."

*review from Amazon

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"I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris

Genre: Information

About:

What is your motivation in relationships; pleasing yourself or pleasing others? Do you give yourself away physically or emotionally in ways you will regret when married? Does your current relationship hinder you from serving God as a single person? If you answered yes to any of these questions than this book is for you; or even if you didn't but are a teenager seeking answers to any dating questions you might have, this book is a must-read. I Kissed dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris is about a new attitude toward romance and relationships. Kissing dating goodbye, however, does not mean giving up friendships with the opposite gender. It just means not to pursue relationships without the intent of marriage. As Joshua Harris says, “the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing...” Just as spring's role is different from that of fall, so each of the seasons of our lives has a different emphasis, focus, and beauty. One is not better than another; each season yields its own unique treasures. We cannot skip ahead to experience any more than a farmer can rush the spring. Each season builds on the one before it. “And because we cannot rush any season of your life, we need to enjoy the one God has put us in, because it was for a reason. The reason dating should be so strongly avoided is because it is really it is really just pursuing a relationship for fun,, which can lead to serious consequences.” In Joshua Harris's book he tells the dangers of dating and the rewards of waiting . As he says, we need to write a love story with our life that we'll be proud to tell.

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221 pages

"Don't Eat the Marshmallow...Yet!" by Joachim de Posadqa and Ellen Singer

Genre: Non-fiction

About:

What separates the successful people from the unsuccessful people? The answer is...marshmallows! You might be thinking, “What?! How can a marshmallow determine a person's success?” Well, the explanation comes from a study that the Stanford University did. In the study they placed a marshmallow in front of a kid and left the room with the promise that if on their return the marshmallow was uneaten, the child would be rewarded a second marshmallow. Some ate the marshmallow, some waited—but the real results weren't shown until over a decade later. The children who held out for the second marshmallow were more successful adults—did better in school, handled stress better, etc—than the children who ate the marshmallow immediately. In Don't Eat the Marshmallow...Yet! by Joachim de Posada and Ellen Singer, the authors tell the story of Mr. Patient-or Mr. P--who is a hard working billionaire and Arthur, his smart,young and equally hard working chauffeur and what separates their level of achievement. Again, it is the marshmallows—but this time it isn't light and fluffy treats it is real life circumstances. Arthur eats all his marshmallows as fast as they come, while Mr. P waits for and saves his. The book follows Mr. P and Arthur as Mr. P teaches Arthur all the secrets to sweet success in work and life. 8 months of teaching later, Arthur lived a

completely different life. He saved more money than he used to even see by conserving the money he made and using the money he spent wisely. Arthur's story is a great example of learning to wait to eat the marshmallow. Don't Eat the Marshmallow...Yet! Teaches vital life lessons that can be applied to all people of all ages and stages.

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112 pages

"Desmond Doss" by Francis M. Doss

Genre: Non-fiction

About:

As a young child, Desmond Doss was accident-prone-- escaping death many times, Desmond knew that God had something big planned for his life. Little did he know, however, just how big that plan would be. In Desmond Doss; Conscientious Objector—the Story of an Unlikely Hero Desmond Doss' second wife, Frances Doss tells the story of this phenomenal hero. Raised as a Seventh-Day Adventist, Desmond learned from an early age the importance of having, and following, strong convictions. When he was 18, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor causing America to declare war on Japan; shortly after, Desmond enlisted into the army. However, as Desmond was a Seventh Day Adventist, he strongly believed in following the ten commandments which forced him to enlist as a conscientious objector, since he refused to carry a gun into combat, saying that he wanted to save men—not kill them. In April, 1945, Desmond—along with his battalion—was transported to the island of Okinawa where they fought a gruesome battle with the Japanese. When the rest of his battalion retreated because the Japanese were pressing so hard, it would be a suicide mission to stay up there, Desmond marched back into the Japanese fire and started rescuing wounded men by lowering them down the 400 foot cliff called the Maeda Escarpment. He refused to retreat down the cliff until every single wounded man was saved. Five hours later, a tired, blood-soaked Desmond climbed down the Maeda Escarpment having rescued approximately 75 wounded men by lowering them down the cliff single-hand. Later, on his return to the States after the Americans had defeated the Japanese at Okinawa, Desmond Doss was reunited with his wife, Dorthy--who he had met and married before going off to war—and he was hailed a hero and rewarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by the United States president—the highest honor that America could bestow on one of her soldiers. Not many people at all have ever received a Congressional Medal of honor and most of the people who have were rewarded it on their coffin. After the war, Desmond and Dorothy Doss lived a happy life until years later when Dorthy was killed in an accident. Desmond was heart-broken—because Dorothy had been the one to always stand by him, even during the time when he refused to carry a gun into battle,despite the consequences—however, just a year later his heart was mended when he met and married Frances. But his story doesn't end there. There have many other battles and victories for this man known as “the unlikeliest of heroes” and Frances Doss' book Desmond Doss; Conscientious Objector—the Story of an Unlikely Hero tells those stories. This book is an amazing true story of a phenomenal hero who risked everything—including his career and life—follow his convictions. Desmond Doss is one of the most courageous men ever born in history and his story should be an example to people all over the world of courage, determination, and devotion.

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160 pages

"I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai

Genre: Non-fiction

About:

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai is the amazing true story of a young girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Malala Yousafzai was born in Swat, Pakistan, to a Muslim family where girls were hated, and thought to be a sign of bad luck. As she said, “[Malala] was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of a son, while daughters are hidden away behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children”. Despite what most Pashtons believed, however, Malala's father, Ziauddin, fell in love with her and raised her as a normal child. Education for girls was not popular in Pakistan. The citizens of the city thought that girls were not worthy enough to attend a school, and thus it was not necessarily safe for a girl to go. However, as Malala grew up, she realized how important education is to all people-boys and girls. She made a promise to not let anybody take that away from her. When the Taliban took over, they started blowing up schools all over Pakistan; as a result over 400 schools were destroyed and the governor's deputy announced that all girl's schools would close. Girls were no longer allowed to attend school. However, Malala didn't let that stop her. As she said,”The Taliban could take our pens and books, but they couldn't stop our minds from thinking.” When Malala was twelve a documentary was made about her-what it was like for a girl living in Pakistan-and a blog with diary entries from her was posted on the internet. Her mother was worried about her participating in these things because the Taliban would shoot and beat people publicly if they just found one thing wrong about someone. Malala's mother was afraid that they would single Malala out. However, her father, let her participate because he said that the Taliban had never singled out a young child-specifically a girl-before. For several years Malala lived a normal life-or at least as normal a life as a girl living in communist-run Pakistan can. However, one day, Tuesday, October 9, 2012, Malala was returning home on the Pashton school bus, when the Taliban stopped the bus, and after inquiring who Malala was, shot her point-blank in the head. Malala was rushed to a Pashton hospital, and after the doctors couldn't do anything more for her, was flown to a hospital in Burningham England where the doctors didn't expect her to live very long. Malala was in a coma for a week and in ICU for even longer, but she miraculously survived. As she reovered, instead of tearing her down, Malala has used her story to touch millions of hearts around the globe. She became the youngest person to receive the Noble Peace Prize;she has also received numerous other awards. Malala's extraordinary recovery has taken her to the United Nations in New York where she spoke on how important education is to-not just the Pashtun girls-but people all over the world.. At twenty years old, she continues to campaign for education and has started the Malala Fund, a non-profit organization that supports education advocates around the world. I Am Malala is the amazing story of the courage of one girl who fought to bring education in her country. This book will make you realize the blessing of freedom ad the power of one person's voice.

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"No More Mondays" by Dan Miller

Genre: Non-fiction

About:

Do you find yourself hating Mondays? And/or find your job boring? Well did you know that the only person keeping you from loving Mondays and your job is yourself? In Dan Miller's No More Mondays, the author tells how to find your true calling at work in order to love your job. If the only thing keeping you at your current job is the steady paycheck then you're going to be disappointed. Dan Miller reveals that the only way to find true security is by finding and following your true calling and then creating or finding work that matches your passion and calling. When you have a job you love you are a lot more likely to succeed at it. Like in a Peanuts cartoon where Charlie Brown is complaining every day that his lunch is the same and it turns out he was the one making it; Miller tells how many people are like Charlie Brown. They are making their own lunches, are tired of them, and do nothing about. The only person from making you love and succeed at your job is yourself. In his book, Dan Miller proves that it really is possible to love both your job and Mondays. No More Mondays is the ultimate guide to loving Mondays and finding your true calling at work.

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272 pages

"Unbroken" by Laura Hildenbrand

Genre: Non fiction

About:

Olympic running, stranded on a raft battling angry sharks in the middle of the ocean, being tortured by vicious Japanese-these scenarios frame Laura Hildenbrand's intriguing World War II story Unbroken. As a spunky young boy growing up in Torrance, CA, Louie Zamperini had no idea that his spunky spirit would serve him well in the years to come. He did not expect to become an Olympic runner, get drafted into the army, and become a POW. Hildenbrand's Unbroken teaches that hard work and perseverance bring reward and that having faith in the midst of dire circumstances bring one hope.First, Unbroken teaches that hard work and perseverance bring reward. In chapter 2, Louie demonstrates this truth when he continues to run despite his principle's discouragement and his own lack of speed. Though he feels like quitting, Louie's older brother Pete forces him to continue training until Louie is running on his own. This running led Louie's speed to improve and he started placing in his schools' races, than winning them, then becoming the fastest kid in the state, and then competing in the Olympics. Louie also demonstrates this lesson in the epilogue when he started the nonprofit Victory Boys camp that began with “only an idea and very little money...He'd spent two years manning backhoes, upending boulders, and digging a swimming pool. When he was done, he had a beautiful camp.” Both of Louie's accomplishments required a lot of hard work and perseverance, but in the need they paid off.While teaching that reward comes from hard work and perseverance, Unbroken also teaches that having faith in the midst of dire circumstances bring one hope. In chapter 15 Louie demonstrates this truth by patching bullet holes in the raft, shot by the Japanese, for hours and not quitting. After a Japanese plane spotted the three men afloat on the raft they rained down bullets-severing one raft and peppering the other raft with bullet holes. Because the other raft was completely ruined, all three men had to crowd onto the one surviving raft; however, this raft was sinking lower every minute because of the many holes that were letting out air and the hungry sharks that were jumping onto it in attempts to get the men. Louie knew that if the holes were not patched soon, the men would die, so he worked feverishly for he hours battling hungry sharks and fatigue without giving up hope. Louie also demonstrates this lesson while as a POW in a Japanese concentration camp in chapters 28-29 when he continues to have faith for the wars end to keep him going (291). Battling starvation, cruel Japanese medical experiment and torture Louis continues to cling to the hope of the war's end instead of giving up. In both trials, Louie had faith and did not give in to what his mind wanted him to do; thus saving his life.Louie Zamperini's story shows how hard work and perseverance bring reward and that having faith despite the circumstances keep one going. Louie went through a lot of hard trials in his life but he used them to build him up-not tear him down. His character continues to be an inspiring example to individuals all around the world. Laura Hildenbrand's Unbroken keeps the reader on the edge of his seat throughout the entire story in a phenomenal true story of “survival, resilience, and redemption.

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About

Hi! I'm Annalisa. Welcome to Clean Reads for Teens!
I am a Christian homeschooler who loves reading. This blog was created after my dad gave me the idea. Since 2016, after watching the movie Gifted Hands, and seeing how much reading benefited Ben Carson, my parents started a new family rule that we must read at least one non-fiction book a week and write a book report on it. As I am a natural born bookwarm, this wasn't that much of a rule to me, but a privilege. Fast forward 3 years--I have read hundreds of non fiction books and still more fiction. My dad gave me the idea to share reviews on the books that I have read in order to encourage other teens (and adults) to read. As well as to provide them with recommendations on books for clean reading. I will give honest reviews on the books, so if there is an inappropriate section in the book, I will make sure to let readers know.
I hope this blog is a blessing to you. If you have any suggestions or questions feel free to comment.
May God Bless You!
Annalisa G.