“Without dignity, identity is erased.” 

This is a book I will never forget. I am amazed at Louie Zamperini’s life and am grateful he was willing to share his story with us – the good and the bad.
I saw a preview for the movie Unbroken and went to go see if it had been a book first. It was and I added it to my reading list. It wasn’t until the movie was in the theaters that I felt the pressing need to read the book. Maybe it was because I had just finished reading about the Bataan Nurses in We Band of Angels, or that it was a movie I wanted to see and I can’t see a movie until after I’ve read the book, but after I saw how long the waiting list was for it at the library, I decided to buy my own copy. Then, a friend gave it to me for Christmas (thank you!). 
As I read the story, I stopped numerous times to share the incredible, almost unbelievable, events with my husband. It often started with, “You won’t believe …”
Louie was a mischievous, adventurous child who finally found his way with running. He trained and competed in the Olympics in Berlin and was on the verge of doing something no man had done before – run a 4-minute mile – when he joined the war effort.
The spoilers are in the details, which I am sure cannot all be included in the movie. The book takes you on a journey through Louie’s childhood, military training, his time in the B-24 as a bombardier, how he survived a plane crash and 47 days adrift at sea, his time as a Japanese POW, how the war affected him when he returned home and his conversion to Christianity after listening to Billy Graham.
The story is one of courage, forgiveness, the will to live and the audacity of the human spirit. After reading this, I wish I could shake Louie’s hand and tell him thank you. I wish I could shake every war veteran’s hand and tell him thank you. They see and suffer through unimaginable things for our freedom and us. 
We need books like Unbroken to remind us of our history. We need to make sure our children are taught about both fronts of WWII. Hillenbrand has also edited the book down to adaption for young adults, recommended for ages 12 and up.
You will not be disappointed if you take the time to read this book. You will learn more about the human spirit and about history.
For more information, visit http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com.