Soul Surfer

Penned by the young and courageous Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer is her story, a peek into her life, heart and memories.

Young and big in spirit, Bethany survived the jaws of death to tell others how God protected and guided her to where she
is today.
Inspiring for any young person who is fighting to overcome something—anything—in their life, Soul Surfer touches the very deepest parts of who we are as humans.
Like many other teenage girls, Bethany’s life revolved around family, school and surfing (not particularly in that order). Life was fun, easy and
exciting.
One day, that all changed. Bethany never saw the shark closing in, but she sure felt it go for its dinner—her left arm. Life has never been the same for her since.
Throughout her traumatic experience, she only prayed, “Please, God, help me. God, let me get to the beach.” That was it. It wasn’t to “save my arm,” or anything of that nature, just “help me.”
Written with the soft, young and almost naive voice of Bethany, Soul Surfer will catch you off guard. Recounting her early childhood, surfing life, supportive and Christian family and the attack itself, Bethany opens the painful memories of what happened in the water that day.
Bethany’s story is truly remarkable. Just days after the attack and massive surgery, she recalls a conversation with her father. “‘I want to be the best surf photographer in the world,’ I told my dad. That was my way of saying, ‘Listen, I know my surfing days are over…’ He just nodded, ‘I’m sure you will be,’ and tried to smile. He knew what it meant as well. But Saturday I changed my mind and started thinking about going surfing again” (page 105).
Since the shark attack, Bethany has continued to enter competitions and receive awards including 2004 Teen Choice award for “Most courageous teen.”
Soul Surfer will have an impact on you and inspire you. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Get out there and do whatever God has given you the power to do!

Soul Surfer
Bethany Hamilton with Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh
Pocket Books, 2004
213 pages