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 7-14Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 7 Summary: “A Rare and Sacred Thing”
In Chapter 7, the narrative focuses on the challenging early weeks of crew season at the University of Washington. As autumn progressed, harsh weather conditions tested the aspiring rowers’ resolve. Many quit, but Joe persevered despite his poverty. He formed a friendship with Roger Morris, bonding over their shared struggles balancing academics and work commitments.
By late October, Coach Bolles selected the most promising rowers, including Joe and Roger, to advance to more challenging shell barges. The chapter then introduces George Yeoman Pocock, the master boat builder at the University of Washington. Brown recounts Pocock’s background, from his early years in England learning the craft of boat building from his father to his immigration to Canada with his brother, and eventually his arrival at the University of Washington.
Pocock’s involvement with the Washington rowing program extended beyond boat building to offering technical advice that significantly improved the team’s performance. Over time, he developed a deep understanding of rowing’s physical and psychological aspects, recognizing the powerful bond that could form among crew members when they achieved perfect synchronization. Brown emphasizes Pocock’s role as a keen observer of the aspiring freshman rowers, including Joe, and Pocock’s potential influence on the team’s future success.
Chapter 8 Summary: “Going It Alone”
This chapter focuses on Joe’s experiences after his family abandoned him at the age of 15. Left alone in an unfinished house in Sequim, Washington, Joe initially struggled with feelings of fear and loneliness. However, he soon resolved to become self-reliant and find his own path to happiness.
Joe engaged in various survival and money-making activities. He foraged for food, protected his chickens from predators, and attempted busking with his banjo in town. When these proved insufficient, he resorted to illegal methods like poaching salmon and intercepting bootleg liquor. He also took on any available legitimate work he could find, including logging, farm labor, and playing in a local band.
A bright spot in Joe’s life was his friend Joyce, who had returned from Montana. Although her strictly supervised life contrasted sharply with Joe’s independence, Joyce admired his freedom and accepted him as he was. She resolved to make up for the hardships Joe had endured.
In 1931, Joe’s older brother Fred invited him to live in Seattle and complete his senior year at Roosevelt High School. Despite his reservations about giving up his newfound independence as well as leaving Joyce behind in Sequim, Joe accepted the opportunity. At Roosevelt, Joe thrived academically and athletically, particularly excelling in gymnastics. His gymnastics skills caught the attention of Alvin Ulbrickson, the University of Washington’s crew coach, who suggested Joe contact him in the future. The chapter ends with Joe considering this potential opportunity in rowing.
Chapter 9 Summary: “Part of a Single Thing”
In this chapter, Brown recounts Joe’s life after high school graduation. Joe worked various labor-intensive jobs to save money for college, including laying asphalt for the Olympic Highway and cutting down cottonwood trees. Despite the challenging work, Joe found solace in his relationship with Joyce, who was completing her final year of high school.
Brown describes a significant moment in Joe and Joyce’s relationship when Joe proposed to her in a meadow near the Dungeness River. The author portrays Joe’s habit of finding four-leaf clovers for Joyce, which he used as a metaphor for his attentiveness and dedication to her.
After Joyce’s graduation, she moved to Seattle to attend university and be closer to Joe. Brown highlights Joyce’s ambition to pursue an intellectual life, contrasting it with her mother’s domestic lifestyle. To support herself, Joyce reluctantly took a job as a maid for a local judge, despite her aspirations for more fulfilling work.
The author depicts Joe and Joyce’s modest dates, which included sharing simple meals in the student cafeteria. Brown emphasizes Joe’s desire to provide more luxurious experiences for Joyce, though she assured him she was content with their simpler outings.
Transitioning to Joe’s rowing experiences, Brown narrates the final practice day of the fall term for the freshman crew. The coaches, Bowles and Ulbrickson, announced the assignments for the first and second boats. Joe and his friend Roger were both selected for the first boat, a moment of triumph for the two working-class athletes.
Joe and the other rowers who were chosen for the first boat went for celebratory row. During this row, Joe experienced a profound sense of belonging with his teammates. This moment marked an emotional turning point for Joe, as he shed tears for the first time since his family’s departure.
The chapter ends with Joe poised to move forward, symbolized by the coxswain’s command to row, representing his readiness to embrace his future with newfound purpose and camaraderie.
Chapter 10 Summary: “A Broken Machine”
Brown recounts how Joe’s rowing experience intensified after returning to Seattle in January. The freshman crew transitioned from barges to proper racing shells, facing a grueling six-day-a-week practice schedule in harsh winter conditions. Their coach, Tom Bolles, pushed them relentlessly to prepare for crucial races against California and potentially Eastern schools.
Brown elaborates on the complex dynamics of a rowing team, detailing the specific roles and responsibilities of each position in the boat. He explains that the first seat rower, closest to the bow, needed to be technically proficient to maintain the boat’s stability and course. The middle seats, referred to as the “engine room,” required the strongest rowers. The seventh seat demanded both strength and heightened awareness of the entire boat’s rhythm. The stroke oar in the eighth seat set the pace for the entire crew.
Brown emphasizes that successful rowing depended on seamless coordination among all team members. To enhance their focus and unity, the freshmen crew developed a chant led by their coxswain, George Morry. The mantra “M-I-B” (Mind In Boat) served as a constant reminder for each rower to stay mentally present and attuned to the boat’s needs.
Despite these efforts to improve teamwork and concentration, the freshmen crew found themselves in a performance slump. Brown notes that a single rower’s lapse in concentration or technique could negatively impact the entire boat’s speed and efficiency, highlighting the delicate balance required for peak performance in rowing.
The chapter highlights Joe’s personal challenges, particularly his difficulty with proper oar technique. Coach Bolles experimented with Joe’s position in the boat, unsure whether his issues stemmed from physical or mental factors. Brown portrays Joe’s growing anxiety about his place on the team and at the university, underscoring the precariousness of his situation and the high stakes involved in maintaining his position.
Chapter 11 Summary: “The Makings of Something Exceptional”
Brown continues chronicling Joe’s freshman year as a rower. Despite ongoing teasing from his wealthier teammates about his worn clothing and voracious appetite, Joe persevered, securing the number three seat in the freshman boat by late March.
In early April, Coach Ulbrickson organized a race between varsity, junior varsity, and freshman crews. The freshman boat surprisingly outperformed the older crews, finishing two lengths ahead at their two-mile mark, hinting at their exceptional potential.
The chapter then describes the Pacific Coast Regatta on April 13, which drew 80,000 spectators, including Joe’s girlfriend Joyce. In an intense race against California, the Washington freshmen, including Joe and Roger Morris, started behind but gradually overtook their rivals. Rowing efficiently at a lower stroke rate, they extended their lead throughout the race, finishing four-and-a-half lengths ahead and shattering the course record.
Brown details the post-race celebrations. Following tradition, the victorious Washington crew collected the jerseys of their defeated opponents. Upon returning to shore, Joe reunited with Joyce amidst the jubilant crowd on the student ferry. The couple shared a celebratory dance, reveling in the momentous win under clear Seattle skies.
Chapter 12 Summary: “Almost Without Pain”
The University of Washington’s freshman and varsity crews embarked on a journey to the national championships in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1934. The team’s departure was marked by a celebratory send-off at Seattle’s King Street Railroad Station. During the train ride, the boys engaged in playful antics. Joe, who was starting to feel more comfortable around his teammates, pulled out his guitar and started singing, but he was met with mockery.
Brown provides historical context for the Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s regatta, highlighting its prestige and the traditional dominance of Eastern colleges. The chapter underscores the contrast between the privileged eastern rowers and the working-class Western crews, emphasizing the socioeconomic divide exacerbated by the Great Depression.
Upon arriving in Poughkeepsie, the Washington crews faced challenging conditions, including subpar accommodations. They were also unfamiliar with rowing on a river, having trained on Lake Washington. Despite initial struggles during practice, the freshman crew managed to overcome these obstacles on race day. Brown describes the atmosphere of the event, detailing the massive crowds and the array of vessels lining the Hudson River.
The chapter culminates with the freshman race, in which the Washington crew, despite being underdogs, secured a decisive victory over the favored Syracuse team. Their unexpected triumph not only surprised spectators but also demonstrated the crew’s exceptional skill and endurance.
Chapter 13 Summary: “Stay Out of Our Life”
Brown details the aftermath of the Washington freshman crew’s victory at the regatta. Despite this success, the varsity team’s loss to California left Coach Ulbrickson worried about future competitions, especially with the 1936 Olympics approaching.
The narrative follows Joe’s journey home through the US, which was grappling with the Dust Bowl. Brown depicts a landscape ravaged by intense heat and massive dust storms, with struggling livestock and desolate communities. Upon returning to Sequim, Joe worked various jobs to fund his education; he cut hay, dug ditches, and spread asphalt. He also worked in the woods with an older neighbor, a logger named Charlie McDonald. Brown highlights Joe’s growing fascination with cedar and draws parallels to George Pocock’s use of the material in racing shells.
As Joe returned to the shell house in October 1934, the sophomore rowers, now national freshman champions, displayed a newfound confidence. However, Coach Ulbrickson sought to temper their ego with humility. The coach implemented strict rules regarding diet, sleep schedules, and behavior.
Joe found out that his family had been living in Seattle all along. Joe and his girlfriend Joyce visited them, but Thula, Joe’s stepmother, rebuffed their attempt to reconnect, telling Joe to stay out of their lives. This encounter left Joyce angry and confused by Joe’s apparent lack of resentment. Joe explained that he needed to focus his energy on moving forward rather than dwelling on anger.
The chapter ends with Joe’s determination to take care of himself and stay focused on his goals, despite the emotional challenges he faced.
Chapter 14 Summary: “Driven Nearly to Madness”
The chapter opens with the intense competition among the University of Washington’s rowing crews in early 1935. Coach Ulbrickson announced ambitious plans, declaring that it was his goal to send a team to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This sparked fierce rivalry among the rowers. Joe and his sophomore teammates initially struggled against the junior varsity boat, leading Ulbrickson to reprimand them for losing their composure.
The chapter details the challenges faced by the crews, including harsh winter weather and interpersonal conflicts. Ulbrickson experimented with different boat compositions, searching for the ideal combination of rowers. He focused on two promising crews: the original sophomore boat and a junior varsity boat led by coxswain Bobby Moch.
Brown describes Ulbrickson’s growing frustration with the inconsistent performance of the sophomore boat, whose lineup included Joe. The coach recognized the boat’s potential but was concerned by their lack of teamwork and emotional control. He emphasized the importance of finding their “swing”—a state of perfect synchronization among the rowers.
The chapter mentions several key rowers, including Shorty Hunt and Roger Morris, Joe’s supportive teammates, as well as promising freshmen like Don Hume and Gordy Adam. Brown portrays the intense pressure and competition among the rowers as they vied for coveted spots in the top boats, setting the stage for further developments in their pursuit of Olympic glory.
Chapters 7-14 Analysis
Throughout these chapters, Joe’s journey continues to exemplify the tension between self-reliance and learning to trust others. After being abandoned by his family, Joe developed a fierce independence, determined to make his own way in the world. This self-reliance served him well initially, allowing him to survive and even thrive in difficult circumstances. Brown illustrates Joe’s resourcefulness:
He drove iron stakes into the ground to defend the chicken coop against future mink attacks, and treasured the few eggs he gathered every morning. He foraged in the dripping woods for mushrooms, gathered the last of the autumn’s blackberries, netted the last of the fish from the pond (63).
These actions demonstrate Joe’s ability to fend for himself, showcasing his resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. However, as he became part of the rowing team, Joe began to understand the value of trusting others and working as a cohesive unit. This transition was not easy for Joe, as his past experiences taught him to rely solely on himself. The theme of Self-Reliance Versus Trusting Others becomes increasingly prominent in the narrative as Brown depicts Joe navigating the complexities of team dynamics.
The sport of rowing itself becomes a metaphor for this theme. The narrative suggests that while each rower must be individually strong and skilled, true success only comes when the entire crew works in perfect harmony. Brown emphasizes that in order for a group of rowers to find their swing, they need to be so in sync that “[e]ach tiny action must be mirrored exactly by each oarsman” (110). This underscores the intricate balance between individual strength and collective coordination required in rowing. Joe’s struggle to balance his ingrained self-reliance with the need to synchronize with his teammates reflects a broader challenge many face in life: learning to maintain personal strength while also opening up to the support and cooperation of others. Brown suggests that as Joe progressed in his rowing career, he had to learn to trust his teammates and coaches, gradually understanding that true strength often comes from collective effort rather than solitary struggle.
The narrative consistently highlights the contrast between the Washington crew, composed largely of working-class boys from the West, and their more privileged Eastern counterparts. This juxtaposition is particularly evident in descriptions of the team traveling to Poughkeepsie for the national championships. Brown paints a picture of the socioeconomic divide, emphasizing how the Washington boys’ humble backgrounds and work ethic set them apart in a sport traditionally dominated by the elite: “Eastern fans were accustomed to seeing the sons of senators and governors and titans of industry sitting in racing shells, not farmers and fishermen and lumberjacks” (89). This quote encapsulates the stark contrast between the Washington crew and their competitors, underscoring the theme of Working-Class Underdogs in an Elitist Sport. Brown further emphasizes this divide by describing the Washington team’s accommodations in Poughkeepsie: “It was drafty, rickety, sitting on thin stilts over the river. The showers pumped foul-smelling cold water directly from the Hudson over the boys’ heads” (90). These conditions starkly contrast with the presumed comfort enjoyed by their Eastern rivals, highlighting the challenges faced by the Washington crew beyond just the physical demands of the sport. This theme resonates strongly with the broader context of the Great Depression era, in which class distinctions were particularly pronounced. The success of the Washington crew against their more privileged competitors serves as a narrative of underdog triumph, challenging established social hierarchies through sheer determination and skill. Their victories become not just athletic achievements, but symbolic victories for the working class.
As the chapters progress, Brown conveys how Joe and his teammates gradually transformed from a collection of individuals into a cohesive unit. This evolution is epitomized by the concept of “swing” in rowing—a state of perfect synchronization that transcends individual effort. The author’s description of Joe’s emotional moment during a celebratory row illustrates this theme: “Even now that they had stopped rowing, their breathing was synchronized, and for a brief fragile moment, it seemed to Joe as if all of them were part of a single thing, something alive with breath and spirit of its own” (74). This passage captures the essence of Becoming a Part of Something Bigger Than Oneself, showing how the individual rowers merged into a collective entity. Brown argues that this transformation is not just about physical coordination but also about emotional and psychological alignment. The boys learned to sublimate their individual egos and anxieties for the good of the team, a process that proved challenging but ultimately rewarding.
In these chapters, Brown continues to employ foreshadowing, hinting at future Olympic aspirations, which creates a sense of larger stakes beyond the immediate competitions. This narrative technique helps to maintain a forward momentum in the story, even as it delves into historical context and character development. Brown also makes use of symbolism in this section. The cedar wood that Joe works with becomes a symbol of strength, resilience, and hidden potential—qualities that mirror Joe’s own character and that of his teammates. Similarly, the boat itself becomes a symbol of unity and collective purpose.
