REGIONAL BESTSELLER
Now a documentary narrated by Common, produced by Grant Hill, Dwyane
Wade, and 9th Wonder, from filmmaker Mary Mazzio
The moving true story of a group of young men growing up on Chicago's
West side who form the first all-Black high school rowing team in the
nation, and in doing so not only transform a sport, but their lives.
Growing up on Chicago's Westside in the 90's, Arshay Cooper knows the
harder side of life. The street corners are full of gangs, the hallways
of his apartment complex are haunted by drug addicts he calls "zombies"
with strung out arms, clutching at him as he passes by. His mother is a
recovering addict, and his three siblings all sleep in a one room
apartment, a small infantry against the war zone on the street below.
Arshay keeps to himself, preferring to write poetry about the girl he
has a crush on, and spends his school days in the home-ec kitchen
dreaming of becoming a chef. And then one day as he's walking out of
school he notices a boat in the school lunchroom, and a poster that
reads "Join the Crew Team".
Having no idea what the sport of crew is, Arshay decides to take a
chance. This decision to join is one that will forever change his life,
and those of his fellow teammates. As Arshay and his teammates begin to
come together to learn how to row--many never having been in water
before--the sport takes them from the mean streets of Chicago, to the
hallowed halls of the Ivy League. But Arshay and his teammates face
adversity at every turn, from racism, gang violence, and a sport that
has never seen anyone like them before.
A Most Beautiful Thing is the inspiring true story about the most
unlikely band of brothers that form a family, and forever change a sport
and their lives for the better.
