Soul Surfer is a memoir by the surfer Bethany Hamilton. While it touches on different periods of time, such as Bethany’s early childhood and her parents’ young adulthood, Soul Surfer focuses on a single incident in the author’s life: a shark attack while she was surfing at 13. Soul Surfer was originally published in 2004, when Hamilton was only 14, and is co-authored by Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh. Soul Surfer fits into the genre of inspirational memoirs, alongside books like Still Lolo by Lauren Scruggs and Everything is Possible by Jen Bricker, each of which tells the story of a devastating accident that is overcome by faith and perseverance. The book sold well, and in 2011, a movie adaptation, also called Soul Surfer, was released. This guide refers to the 2004 edition published by Pocket Books, New York, NY.

Soul Surfer contains two elements that appeal to a young adult reader: color photos of the author and segments that are set apart in gray boxes in the text. The photos put faces to Bethany Hamilton’s inner circle of friends, and the boxes give the reader “insider knowledge” related to the world of Bethany Hamilton. One box, for instance, contains facts about the history of surfing, while another contains a glossary of “surfspeak.”

Summary

Soul Surfer is the story of Bethany Hamilton, a teenage girl living on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Bethany began surfing as a small child, and by the age of 13, when the events of in the story take place, Bethany has become such a successful athlete that she routinely wins surfing competitions and is being homeschooled to accommodate her daily training and competition schedule.

The book is written one year after the traumatic event that changes Bethany’s life forever: Bethany is surfing with friends early one morning when she is attacked by a shark. The shark bite leaves Bethany with only one arm.

Soul Surfer is the account of this accident and the aftermath. While the book touches on Bethany’s injuries and surgeries, the focus of the story is on her recovery and the challenges—and opportunities—that come with being internationally famous and learning how to get back on her board again. Hamilton relies on her faith in God, her resilience, and her community to face these challenges and to grow to inspire others.