Unbroken Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summaries of "Unbroken"

Chapter 1: The One Boy Insurgency
Louie Zamperini is notorious for his rebellious behavior in Torrance, California.
Chapter 2: Run Like Mad
Encouraged by his brother Pete, Louie discovers his running talent by joining the track team at high school.
Chapter 3: The Torrance Tornado
Louie sets a high school running record and competes in the 1936 German Olympics, shaking hands with Adolf Hitler.
Chapter 4: Plundering Germany
Louie garners widespread acclaim and begins planning for the Tokyo 1940 Olympics, which will be thwarted by the war.
Chapter 5: The Red Circle
With the onset of World War II, the Tokyo Olympics are canceled. Louie enlists in the Army Air Corps in early 1941.
Chapter 6: The Flying Coffin
Japan attacks America with the bombing of Hawaii. Louie graduates flight school in August 1942 and becomes a pilot of a B-24 bomber named Superman.
Chapter 7: This is it, boys
After Pearl Harbor, Louie and his crew are assigned boring Sea Search missions, leading to pranks. They are later tasked with bombing Wake Atoll.
Chapter 8: Driving in Droves
A high casualty rate among pilots leads to a somber atmosphere as several crew members from Louie’s barrack die within two months.
Chapter 9: Five Hundred and Ninety-Four Holes
Louie’s crew flies to Funafuti Atoll and endures battle against Japanese forces, resulting in the death of a crewmate, Brooke.
Chapter 10: The Whole Island Was Blowing Up
Following the Nauru raid, Louie and Phil lose their crew and transfer to a new one, meeting Mac as they face further challenges.
Chapter 11: Nobody's Going to Live Through This
Crewed on an unreliable plane, Green Hornet, Louie nearly drowns after it crashes in the ocean, losing communication with other crews.
Chapter 12: Downed
Only Louie, Mac, and Phil survive the crash, limited to two small rafts and scant supplies as they face isolation at sea.
Chapter 13: Missing at Sea
Tensions rise as Mac consumes all their chocolate bars, and their status as missing in action is declared.
Chapter 14: Thirst
The absence of drinking water leads to desperation. Sharks circle their rafts until a storm provides rainwater for survival.
Chapter 15: Sharks and Bullets
On the 27th day at sea, Louie is attacked by a Japanese fighter plane, narrowly escaping sharks and returning to the raft.
Chapter 16: Singing in the Clouds
Louie battles multiple shark attacks, and Mac assists him. Louie devises a method to catch and consume sharks for sustenance.
Chapter 17: Typhoon
Louie and Phil endure a major storm but manage to float to an island, where they are initially treated humanely by Japanese soldiers.
Chapter 18: A Dead Body Breathing
Imprisoned on Kwajalein, Louie experiences harsh treatment and illness, hearing angelic singing reminiscent of his time at sea.
Chapter 19: No One Knows You're Alive
Louie faces brutal beating aboard a Japanese ship and is moved to Ofuna, a notorious POW interrogation center.
Chapter 20: Farting for Hirohito
Among the prisoners at Ofuna, Louie befriends Lieutenant Harris, who boosts morale with memorized American war maps.
Chapter 21: Belief
Louie’s family receives news of his likely death while Louie's mother steadfastly believes her son is still alive.
Chapter 22: Plots Afoot
In the summer of 1944, Louie works as a barber amidst harsh conditions, devising an escape plan from Ofuna with comrades.
Chapter 23: Monster
Louie encounters Corporal Watanabe, known as The Bird, who becomes his primary tormentor at Omori POW camp.
Chapter 24: Hunted
Louie becomes a target of The Bird's sadistic tendencies; he faces relentless beatings and dehumanization.
Chapter 25: He's Alive!
The sight of B-29 bombers flying overhead instills hope among POWs, signaling a shift in the war’s outcome.
Chapter 26: Madness
Louie is exploited by propaganda efforts but refuses to comply, leading to further abuse at the hands of The Bird.
Chapter 27: Falling Down
Conditions at Omori improve slightly, allowing for communication with relatives while the camp bears the weight of American victories.
Chapter 28: Enslaved
POWs endure brutal labor and the constant torment of The Bird, who revels in their suffering as the war progresses.
Chapter 29: Two Hundred and Twenty Punches
News of the war's progression impacts morale; plans to poison The Bird are hatched but remain unexecuted.
Chapter 30: The Boiling City
As Japan's situation worsens after Hiroshima, Louie survives The Bird’s brutalities but contemplates retribution.
Chapter 31: The Naked Stampede
Japanese guards abandon their posts on August 15, 1945, sparking confusion and hope for the POWs’ liberation.
Chapter 32: Cascades of Pink Peaches
POWs celebrate Japan's surrender with a newfound sense of freedom, leading to improved conditions and supplies.
Chapter 33: Mother's Day
Louie is flown to an American base, where he receives care and basks in the relief of being alive, surprising many who thought he was dead.
Chapter 34: The Shimmering Girl
Back in Torrance, Louie's return to normalcy is marred by anxiety and alcoholism. He becomes engaged to Cynthia Applewhite shortly after meeting her.
Chapter 35: Coming Undone
Statistics of POWs reveal troubling post-war realities. Louie suffers from PTSD, marked by nightmares and anger.
Chapter 36: The Body on the Mountain
A nationwide hunt for The Bird proves unsuccessful as he remains elusive, living quietly away from the war's aftermath.
Chapter 37: Twisted Ropes
Louie and Cynthia face significant difficulties, leading to uncontrolled anger, bad investments, and abuse in their marriage.
Chapter 38: The Promise
While The Bird visits his mother annually, Louie grapples with his past. Cynthia attends a Billy Graham revival, seeking hope.
Chapter 39: Daybreak
Louie finds redemption and strength in faith, returning to Japan to confront his past abusers. He extends forgiveness where possible, though The Bird remains absent.