Ski Soldier: A World War II Biography

Gr 4-8--As a seven year old, Peter Seibert became obsessed with skiing when he discovered on old pair of skis in his family barn. Little did he know that his passion for the slopes would take him halfway around the world from the battlefields of World War II to a world-renowned ski resort in Vail, CO. At 18, Pete enlisted in the 10th Mountain Division. After rigorous and often brutal training, he led his platoon in a successful stealth attack on the overlook held by German soldiers in northern Italy. However, Seibert was severely wounded by mortar fire during the attack against Mount Belvedere, a strategic German stronghold, and spent years recovering from his wounds. He struggled to walk so that he could once again ski. His story is told in brief lyrical passages composed of short groups of lines and accompanied by numerous photos, quotes, and maps. VERDICT A true story of valor, stamina, and dedication. Seibert's exciting biography will appeal to fans of sports and adventure stories.--MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY

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"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