Review
WL Rating
I downloaded this book onto my Kindle before boarding a flight to Chicago, and had it finished as we flew over Denver, i.e. it’s a quick and easy read. Soul Surfer is the biography of Kauai surfing phenom Bethany Hamilton. While her surfing skills were well known within the professional surfing circuit, Bethany was forced onto the national stage after enduring a vicious shark attack that removed all of her left arm. Written with the help of her pastor and spiritual advisor, Rick Bundschuh, Bethany’s story is a mix of paradise, tragedy, faith and, ultimately, inspiration. While some sections of the book read like you’re peering into the diary of a 13-year old girl (which you kind of are since the book was geared toward a young audience), other parts are thankfully deeper, providing insight into Bethany’s outlook on the attack and recovery. The chapters recounting the drama of the attack and race to the hospital are captivating, as are Bethany’s descriptions of how she came to terms with the event afterwards. For me, the most compelling and inspiring part of the book was Bethany’s return to the water and her first session surfing after her attack. Wearing her Christian faith on her sleeve, Bethany frequently delves into how her religion helped her to cope with the trauma. Deeply religious readers will find themselves nodding with approval during those passages, whereas readers less steeped in traditional religious faith will likely feel that the book gets a bit preachy/creepy. Whatever your inclination, one thing is quite clear. Regardless of her age and faith, Bethany is an amazing person who handled a horrific situation with courage and grace. Even so, I can’t say I’d necessarily recommend this book for an adult, but for a young teen Soul Surfer would be a good summer read. (June 2009)
Soul Surfer - Bethany Hamilton (Rick Bundschuh)
