A Review for Unbroken

 

  Because I am a millennial, and a homeschooler, I grew up learning a lot of things about the World War II generation. Their heroism and morality has been lauded countless times. Then I got a little older and started reading accounts of the men who lived and fought in the Second World War. By their own accounts, they were far from being perfect men, their lives not that much more moral than those of their descendants.

  Unbroken tells the story of Louis Zamperini, who was one such man. Laura Hillenbrand paints his story with an arresting vividness usually reserved for novels; chronicling his devious childhood, tempestuous adolescent and his career as a young Olympian.  

  As Louis' story continues we read of his life as a soldier, a cast-away and then as a POW in a Japanese prison camp. In the prison camp, Louis and his fellow POWs endured unspeakable violence and torture at the hands of their captors. Torture that should have killed Louis, torture that should have broken his will and his spirit. The story of Louis' life in the prison camp and after his release is both heart-rending and inspiring.

  Laura does us a great favor by not ending Louis' story right after he comes home from the war. In spite of all he endured, Louis was not unbreakable by himself. Louis' experience in the war left him with countless personal demons he could not will away. Louis' story is not just one of personal strength and unbreakable will. It is a story of love and grace and salvation and forgiveness. It is a story that chronicles the beauty of the gospel. And it is one that I highly recommend.