Eddie Rickenbacker: Boy Pilot and Racer

Young Patriots

by Kathryn Cleven Sisson

Other titles in the Young Patriots series include Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer (1882859022, 1882859049), Juliette Low, Girl Scout Founder (1882859081, 188285909X), and James Whitcomb Riley, Young Poet (1882859111, 1882859103) ''Each book [in the Young Patriots series] allows a child to understand that children aren't so different from one another and that they can grow up to do amazing things. This series portrays ideal role models from a childs perspective.' - Bob Spear, Heartland Reviews 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 ''push mobile,' 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 Eddies first auto racing victory. Included are fun facts about Eddie Rickenbacker's life and the America he grew up in.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Heidi Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is obviously a children's book. My kids (ages 5, 7, and 8) enjoyed it. They liked the stories of Eddie's childhood especially. And they were amazed that he was a real person. I will be looking for more books in this series. It was just long enough to teach my kids, but short enough they didn't get tired of it.

[Steven Yoder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a children's book about Eddie Rickenbacker written shortly after he died. It focuses the first half on his childhood and the last half on his racing, flying and survival experiences.

[Abram · Rating 4 out of 5]

From this book I recently read that Eddie Rickenbacker had saved up enough money to buy a second-hand bike. When he got the bike, its frame was all bent up and all crashed looking. He still bought the bike and took it to the blacksmith which was his friend. He was named and was one of Eddie friends so he fixed the frame of the bike with no charge and gave it back to him. Later that day he saw a balloon called a dirigible and asked his friends if they would like to fly in a balloon like that. They all said that they would be too scared to fly in something that high off of the ground. Eddie said that he wouldn't be scared and that he wished he could fly. So that night he couldn't stop thinking about flying. Then he got a smart idea to buy a big umbrella that he saw at the second-hand store, and put it onto his bike and ride off of his neighbors' barn. Hopefully the umbrella would take him off into the sky. Well, the next day, he tested it with some of his friends and when he went off of the barn, the umbrella turned inside out and he fell straight to the ground. The owner of the barn came rushing out and told them to get off of her lawn and also said that she was going to call their parents. When he got home, his mom was mad and told him to promise her that he would never do something that stupid again. He agreed but could hardly believe it himself. A couple of days later, he saw a poster saying that a circus was coming to town. He asked his mom if they could go, but his mom said no because she needed every cent she had to buy them grocerys. After he asked, he felt bad because he knew that his mom needed all of the money she could get and that she couldn't use even a penny on something else. He decided that if he wanted something, he would have to buy it himself. So he started to do arrands for people and saved up enough money to go. His mom also saved up enough so that they could ride the horse-drawn cart to it. When they got to the circus parade, there was so many people waiting, but his mom found them a good spot to where they could all see the parade fine. In the parade, Eddie saw a cart that wasn't being pulled by horses, which was called and automobile. He was so exited when he saw it, that when he got home, he got the Horsehead gang together and they made their own which they named a pushmobile. They then created a racing track out in his dad's field. They eventually found enough people who were willing to build their own and race. This led to races which cost a penny to enter. A couple of days later he found the champion at marbles and challenge him to a battle. He won the first round, the one after that, and the one after that. He took all of Bill's marbles. He got so mad, that he jumped on Eddie and started to punch him and kick him. His dog came and was biting on Bill's leg. His dad broke up the fight and they went home.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie Rickenbacker was one adventureous guy. He was willing to 'try anything and everything' guy. An inspiration.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was another book Christian and I read for Knights of Freedom. Like I said, it was okay.