61 pages • 2 hours read
Daniel James BrownThe Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation): The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics
Nonfiction | Book | YA | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 15-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 15 Summary: “Battle in California”
Brown recounts the events leading to the 1935 Pacific Coast Regatta. The chapter opens with Joe and Joyce enjoying a day on the water, providing a brief respite from their daily struggles.
Brown then narrates Joe’s attempt to reconnect with his estranged father, Harry. Joe visited Harry at his workplace, and while their interaction was awkward, it hinted at the possibility of future reconciliation. However, Harry’s reluctance to allow Joe to visit his half-siblings revealed the lingering tensions in their relationship.
The focus shifts to the Washington crew’s preparation for the regatta against California. Coach Ulbrickson grappled with selecting the varsity lineup, ultimately choosing the sophomore crew, including Joe. Brown then describes the industrial setting of the Oakland regatta and the large crowd in attendance.
The varsity race forms the chapter’s climax, with Brown detailing the intense competition between Washington and California. In a thrilling finish, Washington clinched victory by a mere six feet.
Brown concludes the chapter by depicting the celebratory parade in Seattle upon the team’s return. He highlights Joe’s emotional response to the event, emphasizing his profound sense of pride and accomplishment.
Chapter 16 Summary: “Rage, Fear, and Uncertainty”
The Washington rowing team prepared for the Poughkeepsie Regatta, a pivotal event for the team. Coach Ulbrickson surprised everyone by announcing that the sophomore crew might not remain the first varsity boat, giving the junior varsity a chance at the national championship. This decision caused tension and frustration among the sophomores, who struggled to perform consistently against the older crew throughout May.
As the regatta approached, Ulbrickson made the difficult choice to have the older boys race as the varsity crew, believing they offered the best chance at victory. The trip to Poughkeepsie was somber, with both crews keeping their distance from each other. Upon arrival, other coaches and the press were shocked by Ulbrickson’s decision to demote the sophomores.
The conditions at Poughkeepsie were challenging, with rain and strong winds affecting the river. The Washington team faced additional hardships, staying in a dilapidated boathouse while their rivals enjoyed more comfortable accommodations. Despite the poor weather, a significant crowd gathered for the races.
The regatta began with the freshman race, in which Washington’s crew dominated, winning by a considerable margin. The junior varsity race followed, featuring the demoted sophomores. Initially struggling, they found their rhythm and won convincingly.
The varsity race was the final and most crucial event. Washington started strong but eventually fell behind as California and Cornell surged ahead. In a tight finish, California won their third consecutive national title, with Washington placing third.
Chapter 17 Summary: “Difficult and Dangerous Work”
This chapter focuses on Joe’s journey to find work during the summer of 1935. Amidst the Great Depression, Joe drove from Seattle to Grand Coulee, Washington, where President Roosevelt had recently announced plans for a massive dam project. Upon arrival, Joe quickly secured a job as a jackhammer operator, tasked with clearing loose rock from canyon walls.
Brown describes the challenging and hazardous nature of Joe’s work, which involved dangling from ropes while operating heavy equipment in extreme heat. Despite the difficulties, Joe persevered, motivated by the need to fund another year of school and his growing desire to compete for Olympic gold in Berlin.
The chapter also introduces two of Joe’s fellow University of Washington rowers, Johnny White and Chuck Day, who were also working at the dam. Brown portrays how the three young men formed a friendship, setting aside their previous rivalries from the shell house. In their free time, they explored the bustling boomtown of Grand Coulee, enjoying movies, music, and outdoor activities.
Brown’s narrative highlights the contrast between the grueling work conditions and the carefree moments the young men shared. It also emphasizes Joe’s determination to overcome financial obstacles and pursue his rowing ambitions.
Chapter 18 Summary: “The Parts That Really Matter”
Joe returned to Seattle with enough money to continue his education. His girlfriend Joyce found new employment after leaving her previous job due to inappropriate behavior from her employer.
Brown describes how Joe visited his half-siblings whenever Harry and Thula were away on a trip. When Joe visited, he realized that his parents had left the children alone and unfed for days. Joe and Joyce provided food for them and snuck away before Harry and Thula returned.
The narrative shifts to the shell house, where Coach Ulbrickson resumed training with a renewed determination to win Olympic gold. Ulbrickson sought George Pocock’s advice on Joe’s inconsistent performance. Pocock invited Joe to his workshop, imparting wisdom about woodworking and its parallels to life and rowing.
Brown portrays the competitive atmosphere as varsity practice began, with Ulbrickson mixing up boat assignments. Now rowing with different teammates, Joe struggled with the loss of camaraderie and found himself questioning his independence; he started to worry that the fact he missed his other boatmates meant that he had become too dependent on them.
Joe found out that Thula passed away, leaving him conflicted about his feelings toward her. Joe’s father proposed building a house for the family all to live together, but Joe remained uncertain about this offer. The chapter ends with Joe grappling with complex emotions, alternating between confusion and anger.
Chapter 19 Summary: “A Truth to Come to Terms With”
In this chapter, Brown recounts Joe’s struggles during the fall and winter seasons of the Olympic year. Joe’s performance declined, often finishing third in races, as he grappled with personal losses and his father’s invitation to return home and live together as a family. His focus waned, impacting his rowing, though he remained unaware that George Pocock was closely observing him.
As the new season began, Joe found himself unexpectedly placed in the top varsity boat. However, this proved to be temporary as Coach Ulbrickson shuffled the lineup to work on fundamentals. The team endured harsh winter conditions, rowing through snow and ice. Joe’s performance continued to falter, resulting in his demotion to lower boats.
Brown describes a pivotal conversation between Joe and Pocock, in which Pocock advised Joe to harmonize with his crewmates and open his heart to them. This advice prompted Joe to reflect on his past experiences and the challenge of trusting others.
The chapter concludes with Joe’s unexpected reinstatement to the second boat, which gave him another chance to prove himself. Brown portrays Joe’s renewed sense of belonging and the warm welcome he received from his teammates.
Chapter 20 Summary: “Finding Their Swing”
Joe and his crew prepared for the Pacific Coast Regatta. They began to row exceptionally well together and their synchronization and trust in one another led to remarkable improvements in their performance. The team won multiple races against other crews, excelling in various weather conditions.
Ulbrickson officially designated them as the new varsity boat. George Pocock christened the new shell the boys would row in, naming it the Husky Clipper. The crew continued to impress Ulbrickson. He held a three-mile time trial before the Pacific Coast regatta, and the crew broke the course record. Brown attributes their success to the team’s humble origins, determination, and newfound ability to row for one another rather than themselves.
The chapter culminates with the Pacific Coast Regatta against the California team. Despite California’s impressive record and initial lead, the Washington crew maintained a steady pace. Their coxswain, Bobby Moch, made a strategic decision to lower the stroke count, allowing the team to find their rhythm. This tactic proved successful as Washington gradually overtook Cal. In a thrilling finish, the Husky Clipper crossed the line three lengths ahead, setting a new course record.
Brown notes that while this victory was significant, coach Ulbrickson remained cautiously optimistic. He recalled previous years when early successes did not translate to championships.
Chapter 21 Summary: “Save, Save, Save”
After intense training, the Washington team arrived in New York for the 1935 Poughkeepsie Regatta with high spirits and Olympic aspirations. They were provided improved accommodations, reflecting their growing reputation in the rowing world.
The chapter details the mounting tension between Washington and California. Both teams performed exceptionally well in time trials, with Washington secretly outpacing California. Brown describes a pivotal moment when the Washington crew experienced perfect synchronization during a nighttime row, foreshadowing their potential.
On race day, Washington employed a strategic plan to conserve energy early in the race. This decision initially placed them far behind, causing concern among spectators and coaches. However, in the final stretch, coxswain Bobby Mock unleashed the crew’s power. They surged forward, overtaking their competitors in a dramatic finish to win the race.
Brown portrays the post-race atmosphere, highlighting the team’s elation and Coach Ulbrickson’s pride in their performance. The team realized that their Olympic dreams were now within reach.
Chapters 15-21 Analysis
In these chapters, Joe’s struggle between self-reliance and trust continues to form a central conflict in the narrative. His early life experiences of abandonment and poverty instilled in him a fierce sense of independence, which initially hindered his ability to fully integrate with his team. This internal conflict is evident when Brown describes Joe’s reaction to being separated from his usual crewmates: “Joe hadn’t really thought before about how much it mattered to him that those two fellows were in the boat with him. But it turned out that it did matter, a lot” (138). Joe’s realization that he had allowed himself to depend on others, despite his previous vow never to do so, marks a crucial turning point in his character development. The theme of Self-Reliance Versus Trusting Others comes to the forefront when Brown recounts how George Pocock advised Joe to open his heart to his crewmates. Pocock’s wisdom is encapsulated in his statement: “If you don’t like some fellow in the boat, Joe, you have to learn to like him. It has to matter to you whether he wins the race, not just whether you do” (145). This advice challenged Joe’s ingrained self-reliance and set him on a path toward understanding the power of trust and teamwork. Joe’s gradual acceptance of interdependence within the team proved crucial to their success, illustrating how trust can overcome individual limitations and lead to collective achievement.
The transformation of the Washington crew throughout this section exemplifies the theme of becoming part of something greater than oneself. Initially driven by individual ambitions, the rowers learned to subordinate personal glory for the sake of the team. Brown writes: “They were starting to row now for one another, not just themselves, and it made all the difference” (151). This change in mindset was not immediate but developed over time as the team faced challenges together. The theme of Becoming a Part of Something Bigger Than Oneself is powerfully demonstrated during a nighttime row on the Hudson River. Brown describes the experience: “They were rowing perfectly, fluidly, mindlessly. They were rowing in perfect unity, as if on another plane, among the stars, just as Pocock had said” (159). This moment of perfect synchronization symbolizes the team’s transcendence of individual limitations through unity of purpose. The synchronization they achieved not only improved their performance but also provided them with a profound sense of connection and meaning.
Brown’s narrative structure continues to build tension toward key rowing events, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement. He interweaves personal struggles, such as Joe’s complex relationship with his father and his internal battle with trust, with team dynamics and the broader historical context of the Great Depression. This multi-layered approach creates a storyline that resonates on both personal and societal levels. The author’s use of sensory details, particularly during race sequences, immerses readers in the spirit of competitive rowing. For instance, Brown’s description of the Pacific Coast Regatta helps bring the race to life: “Spray was breaking over the bow of their shells as they skipped from wave to wave” (153). Such imagery aims to place readers close to the perspective of the crew.
The text employs several rhetorical devices to enhance its impact. The author uses foreshadowing throughout the chapters, building anticipation for future events. Metaphors and similes abound in Brown’s writing, often comparing the rhythm of rowing to music or natural phenomena. For instance, Pocock’s description of wood and rowing draws a parallel between the two: “The ability to yield, to bend, to give way, Pocock said, was sometimes a source of strength in men as well as in wood” (137). These literary elements deepen the narrative’s portrayal of both the physical and psychological aspects of rowing.
Brown’s analytical framework contextualizes the team’s journey within the socioeconomic landscape of the US in the 1930s, providing a backdrop that adds depth and relevance to the narrative. He draws parallels between the rowers’ struggles and the broader challenges faced by the nation during the Great Depression. This is evident when Brown describes the team’s background: “Every one of them had come from humble origins or had been humbled by the hard demands of rowing” (151). By connecting the personal stories of the rowers to the larger narrative of American struggle and perseverance, Brown strives to elevate the book beyond a simple sports story. Instead, it aims to serve as a reflection of American resilience and teamwork in the face of adversity, mirroring the nation’s collective effort to overcome the hardships of the Great Depression.
