{"product_id":"9780544365605","title":"Rise : A Soldier, a Dream, and a Promise Kept","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe unforgettable story of a young soldier who survived one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan and lived to pursue his dream of playing Division I college football \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, Daniel Rodriguez was an unlikely recruit for the gridiron. But on the battlefield, under the daily rain of sniper fire, he made a promise to his best friend. “When I get out of this shithole, I’m going to play college football.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDaniel had joined the army just weeks after graduating from high school, having recently suffered a devastating loss. At age nineteen he had no idea what war really was; he just wanted to get out of town. Almost immediately, he was deployed to Iraq (and would later serve in Afghanistan). And he grew up fast — stopped sleeping, started smoking. Killing became second nature. He fought in the infamous Battle of Kamdesh and for his bravery he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. But his best friend was not so lucky. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgainst all odds, Daniel returned home — broken, but still alive. Stuck in the clutches of PTSD, Daniel remembered that fateful promise to his friend and knew he had to make good on it. He embarked on a grueling training regimen and when he posted a video of his efforts, it went viral overnight. By some mix of grit, determination, and the power of the Internet, he earned a spot on the Clemson University football team. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA powerfully delivered narrative of a young soldier, his unlikely dream, and how he found his way out of darkness, \u003ci\u003eRise\u003c\/i\u003e is inspiring, quintessentially American, and will resonate with anyone who has ever fought for what they what they wanted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Houghton Mifflin Harcourt","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47013346541808,"sku":"9780544365605","price":18.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780544365605_p0.jpg?v=1763712447","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780544365605","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}