Eddie Rickenbacker: Boy Pilot and Racer (6) (Young Patriots series)

America’s World War I flying ace, winner of the Medal of Honor, and racecar driver Eddie Rickenbacker’s first attempt at flight was riding his bicycle off the roof while holding an umbrella. Young Eddie, whose parents were Swiss immigrants, grew up in the Midwest in the early 20th century, worked hard to help support his family, but found time to build a “pushmobile,” experience a thrilling ride in a “horseless carriage,” and come face-to-face with a moving train. Young readers will gasp as he rides a runaway mining cart that jumps the tracks and cheer at Eddie’s first auto racing victory. Included are fun facts about Eddie Rickenbacker's life and the America he grew up in.

World War I flying ace, winner of the Medal of Honor, and racecar driver Eddie Rickenbacker was an adventurous boy who first attempted flight by riding his bicycle off the roof while holding an umbrella. The son of Swiss immigrants, young Eddie grew up in the Midwest in the early 20th century. He worked hard to help support his family, but found time to build a “pushmobile,” experience a thrilling ride in a horseless carriage, and come face-to-face with a moving train. Young readers will gasp as he rides a runaway mining cart that jumps the tracks and cheer at Eddie’s first auto racing victory. Included are fun facts about Eddie Rickenbacker's life and the America he grew up in.

Sarah Nelson 188285912X - Children's Literature

Sisson delivers a pleasing biography of a little known but widely appealing risk-taker. Rickenbacker works hard and plays hard in turn-of-the-century Ohio where he learns tough lessons that will prepare him for his future life of adventure. The biography seems patronizing in places, and at time is reminiscent of tall tale morality as it attempts to draw great moral truths from simple lessons. The charm of the Rickenbacker story, however, supersedes any shortcomings of the telling. Young readers will be mystified by Eddie's attempts to build a horseless carriage, his dangerous simulation of Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment, and his daredevil dash into the burning school building. Sisson presents Rickenbacker's story as an American dream saga: a boy from a large family has big plans and works hard to fulfill them. Rickenbacker's success is a combination of hard work and being in the right place at the right time. Using his skills as an auto mechanic, Rickenbacker plays an instrumental role in early automobile racing and later becomes one of the most decorated fighter pilots in WWI. This volume of the Young Patriots series would be a great addition to an elementary school or classroom library. A fascinating biography about the life of an extraordinary man living in exciting times. 2003 (orig. 1974), Patria Press,

America's World War I flying ace, winner of the Medal of Honor, and racecar driver Eddie Rickenbacker's first attempt at flight was riding his bicycle off the roof while holding an umbrella. Young Eddie, whose parents were Swiss immigrants, grew up in the Midwest in the early 20th century, worked hard to help support his family, but found time to build a #x93;pushmobile," experience a thrilling ride in a #x93;horseless carriage," and come face-to-face with a moving train. Young readers will gasp as he rides a runaway mining cart that jumps the tracks and cheer at Eddie's first auto racing victory. Included are fun facts about Eddie Rickenbacker's life and the America he grew up in A biography of an automobile racer and pilot who contributed a great deal towards the growth of military and commercial aviation in the United States. One afternoon in March 1897, six-year-old Eddie Rickenbacker went to visit his friend Big John in the blacksmith shop.