Conflicted about this one because I really admired the writing and was intrigued by the story. BUT. I don't know that the story would be that interesting to kids or teens.

Had fun re-reading this one over the weekend. Love me some Holmes + Russell.

Enh. I liked Babe better.

Reading this book for me was a little bit like watching Friday Night Lights. ("I don't even CARE about [sport], it's just . . . MAN these kids have heart!!!") It's about the creation of the University of Washington rowing team, made up of hardworking underdogs during the Great Depression. They took on and defeated everyone, from the Ivy League teams to the favored Olympic picks.

Brown chooses to flip back and forth between Seattle and Berlin, showing Hitler's preparations for the games. At first I found this jarring, but then it got really interesting, especially when I saw just how manipulated and fabricated everything was, and what a white-washed, cleaned-up version of Germany he was able to broadcast to the world.