Taking My Life Back: My Story of Faith, Determination and Surviving the Boston Marathon Bombing by Rebekah Gregory with Anthony Flacco

Taking My Life Back: My Story of Faith, Determination, and Surviving the Boston Marathon Bombing by Rebekah Gregory with Anthony Flacco, 230 pages

Rebekah Gregory writes a very emotional book about surviving the Boston Marathon bombing.  Rebekah was watching a friend run the marathon with her young son and another friend.  She was standing behind her son when the bomb went off right behind her.  She saved her son's life by taking the brunt of the blast.  After numerous painful surgeries, she choose to have her left leg amputated.  Faced with numerous life challenges, she is forced to move back home and pick up the pieces of her life.  Rebekah ends up marrying the friend she went to the marathon with, but soon realizes that was a mistake. Fortunately, with her courage and strong faith in God, her story does have a very happy ending including a successful marriage and a new baby.

Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter

Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter, 244 pages

Stronger is about Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman.  Probably the most famous photo from the day of the bombing is of Jeff being pushed in a wheelchair by Carlos Arredondo.  In the picture, on the internet, his legs are blown off from below the knees because the bomb was detonated from the ground.
April 15, 2013 changed Jeff's life forever.  Jeff went to the Boston Marathon to watch his girlfriend, Erin,  run as part of an effort to raise money for charity.  Jeff was at the finish line when the first bomb went off.  He eerily describes how he was face to face with the bomber and saw the backpack.  While Jeff was being rushed to the hospital, he was trying to let people know he saw the bomber.  This book details Jeff's life before and after the bombing and how he has to learn to live again without his legs.  Both his mom and girlfriend, as well as many other family members, and Costco played an integral part in his recovery.  Jeff describes the physical, as well as emotional pain of his ordeal.  Jeff Bauman has become an inspiration not only to Boston, but to all of America.