Eddie Rickenbacker
 Kathryn Cleven Sisson
 (Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
 2003 Patria Press
 ISBN: 188285912X

Boy Pilot and Racer.

This is another book in the Young Patriots Series written many years ago & reissued with really neat illustrations by Cathy Morrison, & edited by Harold Underdown (I had to include him just because his name is so delightful!)

In this Centennial of Flight -- this book for juveniles offers a look at how Eddie Rickenbacker, an Ohio farm boy with Swiss roots, grew up to become a World War 1 Flying Ace, a founder of our commercial aviation, a pioneer racecar driver & the owner of no less than the famed Indianpolis 500 Speedway.

I love the description of Eddie's first attempts to fly -- nowadays we'd have politically correct warnings slathered all over the place. Suffice to say: Don't try this at home! Just remember that the airplanes Eddie Rickenbacker flew were made of wood & cloth, & parachutes were yet to be invented!

A riotous read about the life & times of an American patriot. Eddie Rickenbacker: Boy Pilot and Racer was written by Mrs. Sisson who was a lifelong member & Vice Regent of the Boca Raton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also served as a vice president of the National League of American Penwomen, & was a member of the Women's National Book Association. Her books include: Black Hawk, Young Sauk Warrior; John Hancock, New England Boy & Famous American Patriots for Young People, which earned Mrs. Sisson the Dolly Madison Award from the Sons of the American Revolution.

The Young Patriot Series of fictional biographies for young readers was originally published 80 years ago. Patria Press, & in particular Florrie Binford Kichler, who fits into the title of heroine quite ably, is recreating these classic tales, giving children of today an opportunity to look back at America's unsung heroes & heroines, & to learn not just what they achieved as adults, to also see what they were like as children. Ms. Kichler writes: “To me, these books are a chronicle of the best of America's past. Recreating this series for the children who are the best of America's future is the fulfillment of a childhood dream.”

Travel back in time with the other Young Patriots from this series:
Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer
William Henry Harrison, Young Tippecanoe
Lew Wallace, Boy Writer
Juliette Low, Girl Scout Founder
George Rogers Clark: Boy of the Northwest Frontier
Mahalia Jackson: Gospel Singer and Civil Rights Champion
James Whitcome Riley, Young Poet & many more!
(09/21/03)

Rebecca