The Boys in the Boat

The Boys in the Boat

• Genre: Nonfiction; historical biography
• Originally Published: 2013
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1000L; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 19 chapters with prologue and epilogue; approximately 404 pages; approximately 14 hours, 30 minutes on audio
• Central Concern: This narrative chronicles the journey of the University of Washington's eight-oar crew team as they prepare for and compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. In the shadow of Nazi Germany, these nine American boys, mostly sons of working-class families, pull together to achieve the unexpected. The text explores the personal lives of the team members, especially Joe Rantz, and the hardships they face during the Great Depression. This true story is a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the human spirit.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Discussions of the socio-political atmosphere of Nazi Germany; poverty and struggles during the Great Depression; personal family challenges and tragedies; depictions of the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany, poverty, and the abandonment of a child

Daniel James Brown, Author

• Bio: Born 1951; American author known for his narrative nonfiction works; adept at blending meticulous research with compelling storytelling; has a deep interest in the ways individuals overcome challenges and adversities
• Other Works: Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 (2006); The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party (2009)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Value of Teamwork
• Social Stigma and Economic Status
• Human Connection: Presence and Absence

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Explore the sociological theory of generations as well as the Greatest Generation in preparation for reading The Boys in the Boat.
• Through paired texts, identify and discuss American society, its values, and cultural norms during the Interwar Period.
• Discuss and analyze textual elements such as theme, motif, structure, and style, and construct essays connecting these elements to theme.
• Compare the experiences of the rowing team in 1936 to the experiences of athletes in another politicized Olympic Games, and draw conclusions as to why the Olympic Games lends itself to politicization.