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Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board
Safe for the age band
Age-appropriate with no significant concerns.
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- Published
- 2004
- Ages
- 12–16
About the book
About the book
The autobiography of a teenage surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack and her journey back to competitive surfing.
AI summary
The autobiography of a teenage surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack and her journey back to competitive surfing.
Why parents choose this book
What makes Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board worth choosing
An honest, parent-first look at who this book suits, what it offers, and what to know before you buy.
Best for
- Age range: 12–16 (fits siblings across a range).
- Reading maturity: Young adult — teen protagonists and more nuanced themes.
- Kids who tend to love it: Biography.
- Personality fit: kids ages 12–16 who enjoy a good story.
Parents love this book because
- Age-appropriate content for the 12–16 band with no significant flags.
- Written by Bethany Hamilton, whose books parents return to for consistently thoughtful storytelling.
Your child will probably enjoy Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board if they…
- Enjoy stories written for kids around ages 12–16
This book helps develop
Vocabulary, sustained attention, and reading confidence for the 12–16 age band.
Things parents should know
- Violence: clear on-page conflict without lingering detail.
Reading commitment
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Why we recommend it
We think Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board is a confident pick for the 12–16 age band. It leans into biography in a way that feels genuine, not formulaic. Bethany Hamilton's voice is what makes it stick: readable, respectful of kids, and easy to hand to the next child in the family.
Content ratings
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