Summary of Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat is a non-fiction account of the remarkable life story of Joe Rantz. Rantz was a determined young man who overcame personal tragedy and hardship to win a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics as a member of the US rowing team. 

When Joe was four, his mother, Nellie, died of throat cancer. His father, Harry, went to Canada. He sent Joe to Pennsylvania to live with his Aunt Alma while his older brother, Fred, returned to college. A year later, Fred had graduated college and married Thelma. He sent for Joe to live with him and his new wife. 

Joe's father returned and built a new house in Spokane, Washington. He married Thelma's sister, Thula, a talented violinist. Joe moved in with Harry and Thula...