Ski Soldier - by Louise Borden (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Ski Soldier is a true-life adventure that tells the 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.

Review Quotes

"Borden's insightful biography, written in verse form, is highly readable and distinguished by the generous collection of period black-and-white photographs that illustrate it. It's a treat for both ski buffs and military history fans." -- Booklist

"(T)old in brief lyrical passages composed of short groups of lines and accompanied by numerous photos, quotes, and maps... A true story of valor, stamina, and dedication. Seibert's exciting biography will appeal to fans of sports and adventure stories." -School Library Journal

"In spare, brief free-verse lines that will enable readers' eyes to slide effortlessly down the pages, Borden relates the story of a boy who grew up skiing...(a)n accurate, high-interest narrative focused on a mature topic but written at an accessible reading level is a rare gem. Many period photographs are included...as is excellent backmatter. A fascinating and inspiring tale." - Kirkus Reviews

"(A) unique story of mountain soldiers that fans of World War II will find intriguing...(E)ducators and librarians seeking nonfiction titles with appeal to reluctant readers and history fans should add this book to their shelves." -VOYA

"This biography is easy to read...(T)he life of Pete (and) the brief glimpse of the 10th Mountain Division is unique and interesting, as are the views of some of the men comprising the Division." - School Library Connection

"(The) storytelling (is) concise and the reading experience swift...Readers in search of a compact biography for report writing or a lesser-known story from World War II may want to give this consideration." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Louise Borden is the author of thirty books for children. A lifelong reader and traveler as well as a former bookstore owner, Louise has spoken in hundreds of schools across America and lives with her husband Peter in Cincinnati, Ohio.