Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Written by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Written by Laura Hillenbrand

Grades: 7-12

Awards:
Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography (2010)
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Young Adults (2014)
Indies Choice Book Award for Nonfiction (2011)
Dayton Literary Peace Prize Nominee for NonFiction (2011)
Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2015)

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History and Biography (2010)

Unbroken is the story of an Olympic runner, Louis Zamperini, who joins a bomber crew in WWII. While they are flying over the Pacific Ocean their plane goes down. Only Louis and two other crew members survive the crash and float in a raft for forty days. While they are floating one crew member dies. They live off of rainwater and the occasional fish. As they get close to land the two survivors are captured by the Japanese. The Japanese never tell America that they have two Americans in custody. America tells the families of the airmen that they are dead. Louis is treated at a hospital at first to recuperate. When he is able they transfer him to a prisoner camp to be executed but, because of his athletic frame he is spared. Louis is transferred to another prisoner camp and brutally beaten by the guards. One guard named the Bird has taken a serious dislike to Louis. The Bird beats Louis for everything. The Japanese even try to make Louis record pro Japanese propaganda ads but, he refuses and he is beaten. When America bombs Hiroshima, Louis is in Tokyo and cut off from all news. The prisoners in the camp do not even know the war is over until a guard tells them. Louis is brought back to the States where he is treated for his wounds. He goes back home to Torrence, California and his family. Louis has night terrors and flashbacks about his time in prison. He drinks in an attempt to rid himself of the memories. It only makes his family life worse. Eventually, he goes into a Billy Graham tent meeting and finds Jesus. Louis starts to heal on the inside and forgive the Bird. He finds out the Bird is still alive. Louis goes to Japan. He want to meet with him and tell him he forgives him but, the Bird refuses to see him.