Soul Surfer

Hamilton is aware of the fact that, while her life seems perfectly normal to her, other readers may not find it entirely relatable. Hamilton invites those readers into her daily existence on the island of Kauai, introducing her large group of friends, discussing the pros and cons of living on an island, identifying the music and television shows she likes best and things she does not enjoy, and even listing what she believes are the three best things about living on Kauai. Hamilton then describes the large part of her life that is devoted to her faith community: church attendance, Bible study, church camps, and youth groups.

Even after the shark attack left her with only one arm, Hamilton still feels like herself, she explains, because of these elements—her community, her love of nature, and her faith. She writes, “I don’t think much about it or worry about how I look with one arm. People around here know me and don’t think much about it either [...]” (65). Thus, even with only one arm, Hamilton wants the reader to understand that she is still the same person she was before the accident.