Synopses & Reviews
The amazing story of the thirteen-year-old surfer girl who lost her arm in a shark attack but never lost her faith -- and of her triumphant return to competitive surfing. They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the tremendous passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing -- not even the loss of her arm in a horrific shark attack -- could come between her and the waves?
That Halloween morning in Kauai, Hawaii -- a glorious part of the world, where it's hard to deny the divine -- 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 immediately began to paddle with one arm, focusing on a single thought: "Get to the beach...." Rushed to the hospital, where her father, Tom Hamilton, was about to undergo knee surgery, Bethany found herself taking his spot in the O.R. It's the kind of coincidence that isn't mere coincidence to the Hamilton family, a clan whose motto could easily be "the family that surfs and prays together stays together." To them it was a sign someone had a greater plan than the one they'd been working on themselves -- which had been to scrape together whatever resources they could to help Bethany rise to the top of her sport. When the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was "When can I surf again?" it became clear that her unfaltering spirit and determination were part of a greater story -- a tale of courage and faith that this modest and 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 in the wake of the shark 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 that the body is no more essential to surfing -- perhaps even less so -- than the soul.
Synopsis
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 nothingand#8212;not even the loss of her armand#8212;could come between her and the waves? That Halloween morning in Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany responded to the sharkand#8217;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: and#8220;Get to the beach....and#8221; And when the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was and#8220;When can I surf again?and#8221; it became clear that her spirit and determination were part of a greater storyand#8212;a tale of courage and faith that this soft-spoken girl would come to share with the world. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;iandgt;Soul Surferandlt;/iandgt; is a moving account of Bethanyand#8217;s life as a young surfer, her recovery after the attack, the adjustments sheand#8217;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 surfingand#8212;perhaps even less soand#8212;than the soul.
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Bethany Hamiltonandlt;/Bandgt;, who andlt;Iandgt;YMandlt;/Iandgt; magazine called the "Bravest Girl in America," has been surfing since she was seven years old. Since her shark attack last year Bethany has participated in numerous competitions and has received the 2004 Teen Choice award for Most Courageous Teen and the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete.andlt;Bandgt;Sheryl Berkandlt;/Bandgt; most recently collaborated with andlt;Iandgt;Sopranosandlt;/Iandgt; star Jamie-Lynn DiScala on her memoir, andlt;Iandgt;Wise Girl,andlt;/Iandgt; and with Britney Spears on her autobiography, andlt;Iandgt;Stages.andlt;/Iandgt; She lives in Manhattan with her husband, Peter, and their own little miracle, daughter Carrie.andlt;Bandgt;Rick Bundschuhandlt;/Bandgt; is a surfer, writer, and cartoonist, and serves as one of the pastors at Kauai Christian Fellowship. He makes his home in Kalaheo, Hawaii, along with his wife, Lauren, their four kids, a weenie dog, and a quiver of surfboards.
Table of Contents
Contents Foreword
1. Halloween Morning
2. Roots
3. A Serious Competitor
4. A Mostly Normal Life
5. Attack
6. Dark Hours
7. Surgery
8. The Road Back
9. Why I Do It
10. Keeping the Faith
11. An Outpouring of Aloha
12. On Being Kind of Famous
13. Back in the Waves
14. Aftermath
15. Part of a Plan
Endnote: Sweet Sixteen