1. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand Background notes on the biography Instructor Schofer English 099 Reinhardt University

2. Author background Laura Hillenbrand is a best-selling author. Born in 1967, Hillenbrand grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, and began writing at a young girl. (Taken from birography.com ) Laura Hillenbrand is a best-selling author. Born in 1967, Hillenbrand grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, and began writing at a young girl. (Taken from birography.com )

3. Author background While attending Kenyon College, she became ill with chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating condition with no treatment or cure. Being too ill to leave her home, Hillenbrand began writing. A lifetime passion for horses inspired the topic of her first book, Seabiscuit, a bestseller published in 2001. A film was later made based on this book. In 2010 she published Unbroken. The life story of Louis Zamperini, Olympic athlete and war hero, the book was also a huge success.

4. Unbroken: A Biography Unbroken is a nonfiction book, not a novel. This means that the events in the book are based on a true story, based on historical research and Zamperini’s own accounts, along with witnesses. Unbroken is a nonfiction book, not a novel. This means that the events in the book are based on a true story, based on historical research and Zamperini’s own accounts, along with witnesses. Biographies often inspire readers or allow them to take away life lessons from the story.Biographies often inspire readers or allow them to take away life lessons from the story.

5. Young Zamperini running in a race

6. Zamperini as a Bombardier

7. characters Louis Zamperini - This person was born in New York in 1917 and moved to Torrance, California, during childhood. Mutsuhiro Watanabe - This person worked as a corporal and prison guard during World War II and was known for being especially brutal. Allen Phillips - This person survived the crash, but had a bad head wound, survived captivity, and was later returned to Indiana. Bill Harris - This person was a Marine officer and a prisoner who organized a system for intelligence gathering. Pete Zamperini - This person was faithful and supportive and was successful in both school and sports. Louise Zamperini - This person was a devoted mother and an Italian immigrant who spoke little English at home.

8. Characters Cynthia Applewhite - This person was charming and beautiful and had a religious experience after getting married. Jimmie Sasaki - This person may have been spying for the Japanese and was a translator for prisoners being interrogated. Charleton Cuppernell - This person was a co-pilot when the plane crashed, and he died during the crash. Sylvia Zamperini - This person believed that her brother was still alive and moved in with her parents to provide support. Francis MacNamara - This person survived a crash only to lose control of his emotions and die.

9. Settings and objects of interest California - This was where one person grew up and went to college. The 1936 Olympics - This was held in Berlin, Germany. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - An attack on this location caused the United States to formally enter the war. Wake Island - This location was in the Pacific and was used as a military base by the Japanese. The Battle of Nauru - This is the event in which the Super Man was badly damaged. The Green Hornet - This was used during an assignment to search for another lost bomber, but it crashed in the Pacific. Kwajalein Prison - This had the nickname of "Execution Island." Ofuna - This was used as a prison camp. Omori - This was used as an interrogation camp. Naoetsu - This was the final camp where someone encountered the Bird. B-24 - This was a common bomber used during the Pacific War and consisted of a pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, turret gunner and two waist gunners. B-29 - This was a large bomber and was used extensively to bomb Japan.

10. Pre-reading questions 1.How do people get labeled? Is it possible to change one’s reputation or the impression one makes on others? 2.When faced with adversity or hardships, what makes one person more admirable than another? 3.Can sports or athletics motivate people to change for the better? How so?