Soul Surfer
A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board
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4.6 • 852 Ratings
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- $2.99
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- $2.99
Publisher Description
Now a major motion picture!
#1 New York Times bestseller!
In this moving personal account of faith and fortitude, internationally ranked surfer Bethany Hamilton tells how she survived a shark attack that cost her arm—but not her spirit.
They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing—not even the loss of her arm—could come between her and the waves? That Halloween morning in Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany responded to the shark’s stealth attack with the calm of a girl with God on her side.
Pushing pain and panic aside, she began to paddle with one arm, focusing on a single thought: “Get to the beach.” And when the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was “When can I surf again?,” it became clear that her spirit and determination were part of a greater story—a tale of courage and faith that this soft-spoken girl would come to share with the world.
Soul Surfer is a moving account of Bethany’s life as a young surfer, her recovery after the attack, the adjustments she’s made to her unique surfing style, her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in God. It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows the body is no more essential to surfing—perhaps even less so—than the soul.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hamilton, a 14-year-old aspiring professional surfer from Kauai, Hawaii, made headlines last fall after she lost her arm in a shark attack. With the help of writer Berk and Bundschuh, a pastor whom the teen calls her "spiritual advisor," the teen offers an upbeat and candid if somewhat meandering chronicle of her life. She opens with the shark attack, then fills in details before and after this tragic incident, giving priority to the topics pinpointed in the book's subtitle. Her fervent faith surfaces often in her account: her church youth group figures prominently in her life, she prays before each surfing competition, she states that "Being tight with God is even more important to me than surfing" and, in discussing "God's plan" for her, states, "if I can help other people find hope in God, then that is worth losing my arm for." Hamilton offers copious background information about her close-knit family and her passion for surfing, as well as expressions of gratitude for the post-attack outpouring of support and donations from friends and strangers. Despite her narrative's sometimes overly zealous inspirational overtones, Hamilton's optimism, determination and resilience (she climbed back on her surfboard within a month of the attack) are undeniably impressive and uplifting and may well reassure teens dealing with distressing or life-altering events. Ages 12-up.
Customer Reviews
This is an Inspiration to you no matter how old you are
As a family that has overcome tragedy, examples and role models like Bethany reinforce what you know and believe -- that God doesn't leave you and that you can survive and live again. You can get through it and re-connect with live. As a father with a young daughter, it was very cool reading the book because she writes the first part of the book very recently after the accident -- in other words, in the words of a 13 year old girl who's just been through a lot. It's very heart warming.
The last part of the book is written more recently and reflects an evolved understanding of her circumstances and yet remains uplifting and extremely (and realistically) positive. There were parts of this book that had my eyes watering. I will probably read it again. My daughter loved it as well. Great to have such a good role model for her.
Super inspiring!
This book forever changed me! It made me feel like I was talking to Bethany herself telling me how things are from her point of view. I feel that with this book you can feel closer to god and Bethany. I think i might even read it again! Wait "I think? I know!"
I definitely suggest you read this!
Loved it
This book is amazing.I loved it.It was an inspiring story.