This historical biography encapsulates the life story of a boy, Joe Rantz, who joins the University of Washington rowing team in order to get his life back together in the midst of an economic depression. Boys in the Boat not only illustrates the physical and emotional toll being a rower at a high-level program has on an individual, but also how competing in such a taxing sport can be so rewarding and fulfill voids that are missing in one’s life.
The movie Race follows the story of Jesse Owens in his life and athletics, leading up to the 1936 Olympics. Jesse starts out in his home state of Alabama with his family, girlfriend, and daughter. People know how great of an athlete he is, but his full potential is realized when he gets the opportunity to go to college at Ohio State University to participate in track. He becomes a star, beating world records and making it look easy.
Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab is a Teen Fiction novel. It is a diverse and heart wrenching book with many ups and downs. Breath Like Water is about a Latino girl named Susanna who lives in Chicago with her friends and family. Susanna loves to swim, that’s her life, swimming and competing, that is until she meets a boy at a swim meet. They become friends and soon something more, until a series of events forces them apart.
