Ski Soldier: A World War II Biography

by Louise Borden

Ski Soldier tells the true story of Pete Seibert, a ski soldier severely wounded in World War II who went on to found the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado.

Ever since he first strapped on his mother's wooden skis when he was seven, Pete Seibert always loved to ski. At 18, Pete enlisted in the U.S. Army and joined the 10th Mountain Division, soldiers who fought on skis in World War II. In the mountains of Italy, Pete encountered the mental and physical horrors of war. When he was severely wounded and sent home to recover, Pete worried that he might never ski again. But with perseverance and the help of other 10th Mountain ski soldiers, he took to the slopes again and fulfilled his boyhood dream--founding the famous ski resort in Vail, Colorado.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, World War II, Sports, Poetry, Middle Grade

175 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

There were already two Louises in my family when I was born: my mother and my grandmother, Nana, who lived with us when I was growing up. So early on, I was given the name Leezie. This is a name that my family still calls me. Years later, my niece was born and also named Louise. Then there were four of us with the same name! Louise is a fine name to have except that people often spell it incorrectly. Sometimes my mail is addressed to Louisa, or Louisie, or Lewis, or Lois. Leezie is also tough for people to spell. Names and their pronunciations have always interested me, so writing about a teacher named Mrs. Kempczinski was a natural thing for me to do.

I grew up in a house at the top of a steep street in Cincinnati, Ohio, the kind of street that is a big challenge when you are pedaling uphill on your bicycle. My two sisters and I used to ride our bikes down, down our street, and then to the local dimestore to buy candy bars or meet up with our friends. But coming home, we had to pedal up our long hill. (This was before mountain bikes!) Pedaling slowly up my street may be where I learned perseverance, something all writers need when they are working alone at their desks.

Writing picture books came much later—after studying history in college, getting married, and raising three children. Even though I didn't grow up to be a composer, I like to think that my picture books are almost songs because the sound of words and the poetry of my style are so important in the texts that I write. I work very hard at my desk, revising and revising and revising, trying to find just the right words that will be beautiful or fun to read.

Reviews

[Alex Baugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

After finding a pair of his mother's old skis in the family barn, 7-year-old Peter Seibert quickly taught himself how to ski and immediately decided there was nothing better in the world than gliding through snow on skis. At 9, Pete got brand new skis for Christmas, and also made a new life-long friend who also loved to ski, Morrie Shepard.

Pete was a skillful skier, spending as much time on the slopes as possible, entering and winning all kinds of races, all while still in high school. He was a 17-year old senior in high school when the United States entered World War II, too young to enlist. He knew it was only a matter of time before he would join the army and defend his country, especially after he heard that they were looking for skiers to form a specialized unit of ski troops.

Pete finally enlisted in May 1943, joining the mountain troops that had been created earlier. He was now part of the 10th Light Division (Alpine). Day after day, Peter and his fellow soldiers trained with the best instructors that could be found, many of them already his skiing heroes. Their training was harsh and intense, but eventually the 10th Mountain troops found themselves in Italy. Though much of Italy had already been liberated from the Germans, they still has a tight hold in the northern Apennine Mountains. The 10th Mountain Division has orders to break through this German line. This would be no mean feat - the Germans were high up the mountains, and the Americans had to stealthily climb up during the night. After successfully accomplishing what they set out to do, the 10th Mountain Division were given orders to attack the German stronghold at Mount Belevdere, part of the treacherous Riva Ridge. But it was on this mission, that Peter was seriously injured by a mortar attack.

With his left arm almost cut in half and his right leg sliced open, Peter was sent home to recuperate. As he achieved milestones in his recovery, one thing remained constant in his mind - he would definitely ski again, and if he could ski, he could race. So it's no surprise that Peter was part of the 1950 Olympic ski team or that he and his friend Earl Eaton eventually opened the Vail Ski Resort in 1962. Peter Seibert was nothing if not determined to do what he loved best in the world - ski.

You can always count on Louise Borden to find an interesting subject, and write a well researched, very readable book about it (see, for instance, His Name was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue and Mystery During World War II). And that is just what she has done with Ski Soldier. Written in blank verse, she introduces young readers to one of the unsung, but very important people that helped the United States win World War II.

Not only is Peter Seibert's personal life well represented, so is his life as a skier and a soldier, so the reader gets a really well-rounded picture of this brave man. He was the embodiment of the themes of courage, resiliency, perseverance, and determination. Borden also includes lots of black and white archival photographs, many from Pete's personal life. Back matter includes more about Pete Seibert, as well as the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division, and a long list of sources for further exploration.

Ski Soldier is a biography that will be of interest to anyone who likes history, WWII, or just reading about a courageous man.

This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete Seibert grew up in Sharon, Massachusetts when downhill skiing was just taking off. He became a ski racer as a teenager and enlisted in Army in 1943 to join a division of the Army that trained soldiers to fight on skis. As part of the 10th Mountain Division, Company F, he helped capture a 5,000-foot peak mountain from the Germans. Although he was injured in the war, Pete Seibert went on to start continue racing after the war and eventually opened Vail Ski Resort in 1962. This nonfiction book in verse is a well-written, interesting account of an obscure part of WWII. The book includes a timeline, an extensive source list, as well as a short section on the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division (one of its other illustrious members was Bill Bowerman who cofounded Nike!).

This book was fascinating! I never knew about the 10th Mountain ski soldiers of World War II so I enjoyed reading that history, as well as a brief history of the start of downhill skiing in America. The frequent black and white photographs in the book are a fabulous addition -- students will be amazed to see soldiers in snowshoes and on skis. The section of the book devoted to the 10th Mountain Division's unconventional training exercises was probably my favorite -- the army brought in instructors who had climbed K2 and other huge mountains to teach rock climbing. Soldiers also learned how to build snow caves and stay safe in a blizzard. The verse aspect of the book was well done and a good medium for this topic, especially for the parts of the book that express the awe Pete Seibert always felt when skiing.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise Borden's free form verse take on the Biography of Peter Siebert, one of the Original Creators of Vail Resort in Colorado, is a really strange book. It's essentially a 170 page children's book. On the one hand, I love the idea of making a WWII Memoir/Biography so accessible to readers of all ages- on the other- I would really prefer a real book for an adult reader. Raised a skier and outdoorsman in rural New England, Peter Siebert grew up in the 20s and 30s to love the mountains, but respect their power. When WWII came, he volunteered for service in the special unit being raised to master Mountain/Winter Warfare-the US Army's 10th Mountain (LEGENDS Here in Colorado)Division. In the last year of the War- his unit fought in Northern Italy, breaking the last few German Defense lines with Mountain Climbing assaults that were more deftly executed than even the German Mountain Troops understood. Wounded in an attack, and told walking would be an achievement, Siebert came back to Colorado where the Division had trained- and became a Ski Champion again. Then he parlayed the Ski/War Hero role into the creation of Vail Resort.

It's an impressive story. I'd like to get the real scoop- not have to read between the lines of a poetic epic story. Will a 6 year old really last for 150 pages? At about the 60 page mark- the longest of the Childrens book format one generally sees, I tired of the style, and began to yearn to be treated like an adult. I'm eager to see what others think- but the style just got old fast, although the art direction and wonderful Period B/W pics and sketches are really great. The story is compelling, the goofy style -not so much.

With a perfect style for small children , no expressed adult themes, and zero gore, this is a great book for any Junior reader over about 6, but the length of the book and some of the vocabulary may be challenging. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast this contains a few gems- but most of y'all won't want to be treated like a 6 year old for 15o pages to glean them. The Pics and Sketches are great- but there is simply not enough meat on this bone and better places to get the few useful notes. This is an anomalous book- not sure where it belongs or who should be reading it.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A free verse biography of Pete Siebert who grew up loving skiing and joined a special division of the US military that included men with skiing and mountaineering experience. Siebert was so good at skiing he actually instructed others in his division before they were shipped off to Italy for WWII. During a daring attack, Siebert was severely wounded and was told he may never walk again. But he persevered through rehab and went on to join the 1950 US Olympic team, and after that created the Vail ski resort.

Being in free verse, this biography is a relatively quick read. But it is amazing to hear about Siebert's feats, his amazing recovery, and it is a little mind-boggling to think that one man created Vail with the help of some friends. I've never read a biography of a skier before and it was interesting to learn more about the history and development of the sport and how it was used in WWII. What really made this book stand out though was the presentation. There are photographs on almost every single page spread, and the book is put together in an aesthetically beautiful way. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. Highly recommended to WWII buffs, skiing lovers, curious readers, reluctant bio readers, and beautiful book lovers.

Notes on content: I don't remember any language issues. If there was any, it was mild and in quotes. No sexual content. Siebert's war injuries were somewhat described, but relatively tamely for war stories, and the injuries/deaths of some of the other soldiers in his division were also related. Other deaths and injuries in the war are mentioned but none in detail.

[Cole Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to review Ski Soldier, a biography by Louise Borden. Ski Soldier details the journeys of Peter “Pete” Seibert, a lifelong skier, World War II veteran and founder of the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado. Pete first skied when he was seven, and promised himself at thirteen he would father his own ski resort. He fell in love with the sport on the hills of Sharon, Massachusetts, skiing day and night.

Pete’s father took a job in Bartlett, New Hampshire near the end of the 1930s, and Pete became a fierce competitor in ski races there. In 1941, he heard of a man named Minnie Dole who was recruiting outdoorsmen to become soldiers. Pete spent a year at school before he could enlist, and reported for duty on July 12, 1943.

Pete trained at Camp Hale in Colorado and by late 1944, he was a sergeant. His troops became the 10th Mountain Division, and their commander sent them overseas to Italy. Pete and his men helped win the Battle of Riva Ridge on February 19th, 1945. Pete was was severely injured by shrapnel from mortar fire in a later skirmish and taken to a hospital back in the United States to recover.

Seventeen months and countless surgeries later, Pete came home to Sharon but soon moved to Aspen, Colorado. He began to ski again despite his injuries, and qualified for the 1950 U.S. Ski Team. In 1955, Pete married Betty Pardee and they had three children: Calvin, Peter Jr. and Brant. On March 19, 1957, Pete and his friend Earl Eaton climbed a large peak near Camp Hale. He opened Vail Ski Resort on the mountain in December 1962, fulfilling his dream after conquering his wartime afflictions. Pete passed away on July 15, 2002 from esophageal cancer.


Ski Soldier by Louise Borden is a superb book, and expertly written in verse. It was written to tell the life story of one of World War II’s unsung heroes, Peter Seibert, and accomplishes its mission completely. Louise Borden explains Peter’s ever-growing love of skiing when she writes, “Skiing! To seven-year-old Peter Seibert, there was nothing else like it in the world” (13). She also details Pete’s war experiences with words such as “He’d survived the hardest training ever. He was now a true mountain soldier” (57). Pete’s recuperation after World War II is depicted when Borden states that “The long war in Europe was over, but Pete’s mission to heal his wounds was not” (125). Louise Borden delves deep into Pete’s life and chronicles it perfectly.

Borden also introduces the theme that resilience makes anything possible, with examples including, “Fighting the pain, he could sit up: a small step in his mission to recover… Pete refused to picture a future without skis”(124). The tone of the book is enthusiastic and uplifting. Louise Borden shares this when she describes Peter’s belief that “He would never lose his gratitude that he could ski on his scarred legs and with a numb left hand” (141). I enjoyed reading Ski Soldier as much as I felt the author enjoyed writing it.

Ski Soldier was extremely well-written, and Peter Seibert’s determination to found his ski resort was something I identified with while reading the book. If I could alter Ski Soldier in any way, I would describe the creation of Vail Resort more in depth. Borden’s book also includes multitudes of pictures, lift tickets, sketches, maps and more. They provide excellent visuals of the events in Ski Soldier, but do a poor job of enhancing the book’s message and theme. I would recommend this book to anyone ages 10 and up. It includes plenty of battle descriptions for war lovers, ski races for athletes and an exceptional plot for the casual reader. In summary, Ski Soldier is a first-rate biography and a book for anyone’s shelf.

[Lauren K.]

There are so many things I never knew about World War II. This book talks about one of those things that so many people don’t know about the war. This book is about the unsung heroes of the mountains in Italy.
It starts with Pete Seibert, a young boy living in America. When he found his mother's old skis in the shed, skiing became his favorite thing to do. He would ski with his younger sister, Christine. He had dreams of opening his own ski resort. Then the war started. Life went on as usual in America until the president announced they were at war with Japan. Pete wasn’t yet old enough to enlist, so instead he continued his schooling. He joined many sports teams, including a ski club. He won many ski races. Then Pete turned eighteen. He then enlisted in the 10th Mountain division, a division created for scouting the mountains.
Pete was a high climber in the ranks, eventually going from learning to teaching people how to ski. He trained hard and then was eventually sent out with his men to an unknown place. When they arrived, they found themselves in Italy.
Pete and his men used their skills in the mountains to attack a German base. They won, but at the cost of many lives and Pete’s kneecap. Afraid he might never ski again, Pete returned home after many years. With many surgeries, Pete finally was able to ski once more. He opened a ski resort in Vail, Colorado. It became a very famous resort.

I think the book was very good, it was written in verses, but still very interesting. Usually I don’t like biographies, but this one peaked my interest. I wish there was more detail about what happened in the war, more about what Pete did in Italy. All the same, I found it very interesting and powerful. It showed Pete’s resilience and his ability to get back up again after hardships. One of my favorite quotes from the book is,“The mountain had healed him, and someday he would find a mountain of his own” (Bourden 148.) That quote is my favorite because Pete almost died in the war in the mountains, but the mountains healed him, they would be there because skiing was his future. It is a very powerful quote.
Another quote that I liked from the book is, “He was now a true mountain soldier” (Bourden 57.) I like that quote because it shows he is ready and he is going to go to the mountains with hope and experience. It shows the character is ready to start the challenge. It’s like a wake up moment.

Overall I found the book to be very interesting and inspiring, and I would recommend it because it is a very easy read but yet it still puts so much into so little pages.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louise Borden’s, Ski Soldier, offers an intriguing point of view of World War II as it describes how a young man, Pete Seibert, grows up surrounded by skiing and uses his skill set when the world is in need. The story begins with Pete’s childhood and his journey through learning how to ski. The memoir continues by describing how Pete joined a ski patrol in the army to fight for America with some of his personal idols as countless professional skiers also joined this patrol. The memoir articulates Pete’s and the patrol’s movements throughout the war. Arguably the best and worst aspect of this memoir is that it is written in verse, this means the story is both concise and not as descriptive as it could be. Beyond that, it is important to understand that although this story describes Pete Seibert’s life through World War II, it also describes the events of World War II and how they impacted Pete’s journey with the Ski Patrol. Someone who may love this book is someone who enjoys the history of WWII but wants to learn a different aspect of the war as Ski Patrol offers a new perspective of what occurred on the battlefield. A reoccurring theme that was present in this memoir that resonated with me was the idea that Pete used something that he loved to help others. Overall, I loved this book and the vivid imagery and real photos made me feel as if I was a long side Pete as he trudged through the snow in Italy and fought to help others.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Seibert founded the famous ski resort in Vail, Colorado - but first he was a kid in love with skiing. This easily readable biography covers Peter's life from his first discovery of skis at age seven through his time in World War II with the 10th Mountain Division and then his successful ski resort. Archival photos are scattered through the book, sometimes as background, sometimes as a feature. The images show Peter with his family, classmates, and fellow soldiers. There are also a few pen and ink sketches by Wilson Ware, an officer in the 86th Regiment, who also served in Italy during WWII.

This is a book that is very accessible. The text is sparse, a bit like free verse poetry, with plenty of blank space on the page. For those who are intimidated by dense text, this will be a welcoming look. The photos show plenty of action on the ski slopes and also scenes of the men during their military training and deployment. Readers interested in sports and military history will enjoy this story that combines both, showing how Seibert's love of skiing aided him in a way to serve his country and then gave him a reason to stick with his physical therapy when he returned home.

Highly recommended for middle grades and up, especially those studying World War II. I read a review copy provided by the publisher.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ski Soldier : A World War II Biography by Louise Borden 176 pages. NON FICTION Calkins Creek 2018 $17.95 Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (war violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Pete Seibert was very athletic, excelling at most sports including football and tennis, but his real passion was skiing. Still in high school when the United States entered WWII, Pete enlisted in the US Army when he turned 18, joining an elite group of mountain troops called the 10th Light Division (Alpine), eventually shipping out to Italy where his platoon took an important stronghold away from the Germans.

Borden has given us a non-fiction text in verse, so the pages read quickly and there is lots of room for pictures and documents. The format will be appealing to a reader inexperienced with non-fiction, and the subject - - Skiing and war - - is exciting.

Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and unusual verse biography of Peter Seibert who went on to build Vail ski resort in his post-war years and to be important in the development of the ski industry in this country.

The book's main focus is on Pete's early years when he first fell in love with skiing - then a very rare sport among Americans - and then his time in the 10th Battalion Mountain Division during WWII where he was badly wounded. Particularly interesting is the picture of skiing in its American infancy as a sport where there were no chair lifts or tows and skiers WALKED up the hills to ski down! The story too of the formation of the ski soldiers and the Mountain division and their heroic fights in Italy is especially riveting.

Solidly researched and documented, this unusual biography is packed with really wonderful archival photographs. Great for ski or military buffs.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were so many things about this book to like: the verse format for a nonfiction biography, that it's a World War II story that most people are intrigued by, that it focused on the love of the sport of skiing which is not usually a hot topic of books, and explaining how the 10th Mountain Division of which Siebert joined and fought fought back against Hitler's German army then after receiving significant injuries, still went on to make a name for himself opening ski resorts in Vail, Colorado.

It had intrigue, war, personal story, voice, and was swift. I learned a lot and also had a personal connection since my husband was 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum and was deployed to Bosnia (which is mentioned in the notes at the back about the history of the division itself). It's an easy story to get in to and stay engaged with.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a well-written and interesting biography of a man who used his passion for skiing to help fight in some important battles in WWII. Good maps and background to help readers appreciate difficulties faced and overcome in the process. After the war, he helped found the ski area in Vail, Colorado which I found fascinating and I also appreciated that he did not let his injuries sustained in the war keep him from continuing to pursue his passions and dreams.
My big question is why was this written in poetry format? It did nothing to help tell the story, did not add to the ambience or feel of the narrative. It made me think there was not enough material about him to flesh out the story and needed fewer words per page.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The poetry is lackluster, I don't feel like I actually know much about Pete Seibert besides "he loves skiing and mountains", and I think the text could be awfully confusing for the target audience. In Virginia, students don't cover WWII until 6th grade and I don't think they cover it in the kind of depth that would allow them to understand the Italian Campaign. With the focus on Pete and how he is sent home early after being wounded, the war ends up being an afterthought.

Both of his eyes were bandaged,
and he was given shots
eight times a day.
Time blurred by in a fog of penicillin
until Pete woke up in a hospital
in Livorno. (122)

Since when has penicillin been psychotropic?

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ski Solider tells the story of Peter Seibert who grew up skiing in Sharon MA and would go on to join the elite unit of the 10th Mountain which would be a ski unit fighting in Italy in World War II. This short biography (only about 10 sentences per page max) covers his life and training and hist time in World War II. Pete would be injured fairly early in the battle. Like most of the soldiers in the 10th mountain they returned to the states and started pursing ways to make skiing a job creating ski runs across the country most notably where they trained at Aspen and Vail. Overall short and to the point but not as much detail as I had hoped. If you want a more thorough history of the 10th mountain, check out The Winter Army.

[Dee Kohler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography told through verse,primary source images, newspaper clippings, post cards of the life of Pete Seibert. Pete grew up in Sharon, Ma in the 1930s. Taught himself to ski with a pair of old skis originally belonging to his mother. He became an expert skier and dreamed of moving to Colorado and skiing the Rockies. But When Pete was finally old enough to pursue his dreams World War II had broken out and Pete went off to war. Very interesting story about a man that pursued his dreams against physical disabilities, obligations to his country and eventually founded and built Vail, Colorado. Great for World War II buffs, skiers.

[Steve Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 10th Mountain Division based out of Camp Hale near Leadville has gained significant attention - rightly so - in recent years. It's an interesting and amazing part of Colorado history. I hoped for more from this story about Pete Seibert that turned out feeling like the story of a privileged East Coast elite. He did proudly serve our country and was badly wounded fighting the Germans in Italy during World War II. But his life obsession, to ski and ultimately open the first ski resort in Vail, is also the story of privilege that most of us would never have the opportunity to pursue. I do plan to seek more opportunities to learn about the 10th Mountain ski soldiers.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in verse, this is a fascinating look at Pete Seibert, pioneer skier and member of the 10th Mountain Division--a division of soldiers who fought on skis during WWII. He was badly wounded in a key battle in the mountains of Italy, but he returned from the war, struggled to heal from his wounds, returned to skiing and eventually founded the Vail Ski Resort, with the help of some of his 10th Mountain ski soldiers. Especially interesting to me, an avid skier at Park City Mountain Resort--recently acquired by the Vail Corporation.

[Teresa Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of Pete Siebert, former army soldier and cofounder of the Vail ski resort. An avid skier, Pete joined the Army in order to be part of the 10th division, which specialized in mountain warfare. This division opened up the Apennine mountains in Italy after surprising the Nazis with a midnight climb up the rocky face of Riva Ridge. In spite of losing his kneecap in the battle, Pete fought his way back to the slopes and even qualified for the 1950 Olympics. Due to its sparse writing style, middle school readers could enjoy it.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting biography of Pete Seibert. Pete was a skier before skiing was much of a thing. Then he fought in World War ll as a part of the 10th Mountain Division. They fought on mountains with skis and were a vital part of taking Italy from the Nazis. It was great to learn about a part of the war that was unfamiliar to me. History buffs will love this. Bonus: it’s written in verse so it is a real quick read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m super enjoying YA narratives told through poetry. What I especially enjoyed about this book were the pictures and drawings. They added background and depth and made the story even more relatable. Through the pictures, one comes to imagine the strength and resiliency these soldiers must have and through the main character’s journey and dreams, the reader comes to appreciate the awe of the snow and mountains.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it gives details of missions during the war. The soldiers are pretty amazing and did brave things. I also liked that the book gave the dates and times of the mission and had photographs from 1939 to 1945. If you like to know about World War II, this would be a great book for you. (reviewed by 6th grader, Jasmin)

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for a 10-15 year old who does not love reading, but likes war stories (and skiing). I learned a decent amount in the 90 minutes it took me to read this biography in verse.

It's not poetic in language, but the formatting is in the style of poetry, so it makes the book easy to read for a kiddo.

[Adam Wiederholt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good for anyone who likes a WWII style of book. It is written in a poetry fashion while not being poetry at the same time. I very much recommend this because it is a very interesting book.

[Stephanie Gillogly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! As a 10th Mountain Division Veteran turned teacher, this book is perfect to share with my students (who are mostly military-connected). Plus, it has the added bonus of resilience as a theme.

[Marty Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy reading overview of Pete Seibert's life. 10th Mountain Division veteran and founder of Vail Ski Resort. Not an in-depth treatment of WWII or the early days of US skiing. For what it is, worth a read.

[Linda Yeatts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the verse novel format and the great primary source images. I have a hard time with remembering facts like names and dates so this one was a little heavy with these. Had a hard time keeping Riva Ridge peak names straight. Really a beautiful story or following your dream through adversity.

[Terry Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating biography-in-verse of Pete Siebert, who fell in love with skiing when he was a seven year old kid in MA. He went on to join the 10th Mountain Division in WWII and later founded the Vail ski resort. Fabulous photos and documents related to this extraordinary life.

[Abigail Krom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique biography of an incredible hero and man. I had never known about the ski soldiers' role in world war II before this book. Such a unique collection of resources, quotes, pictures and poems to describe this man's life.

[Amber Kuehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louise Borden is the queen of non-fiction for middle grade! Written in such a poetic narrative, I gobbled up this unique true story about a World War II ski soldier!

[TNewman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, very interesting to learn about the ski soldiers during WWII. Also interested to learn what they did after the war.