An American Hero: The True Story of Charles A. Lindbergh [Library Binding]

Barry Denenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

A profile of Charles Lindbergh follows his history-making endeavors and reveals lesser-known aspects of his private life, in a biography that invites young readers to decide for themselves what it takes to be a hero.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Charles Lindbergh is fascinating both as a complicated man and as a case study of the problematic nature of "heroes." Lindbergh's famous flight put him in the history books and made him the toast of America. The tragic kidnapping of his child made his name even more familiar. But his peculiar politics and wartime actions, which included Nazi affiliations and leadership of the original "America First" movement opposing war against Germany, added a notorious quality to his fame. Pulling no punches, this biography tells the interesting story of the man and the legends that surround Lindbergh. The well-researched book draws from interviews and includes period photos. (Ages 10 and up)

From Publishers Weekly

Hero-worship as much as heroism comes in for scrutiny in Denenberg's (Voices from Vietnam) hard-hitting and ambitious biography of Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974), one of this century's most controversial Americans. After describing Lindbergh's youth, Denenberg moves quickly to the 1927 transatlantic flight that secured Lindbergh's fame. The author gracefully and surely sketches in the historical context, easily conveying to contemporary readers the thrill and bravado of that long-surpassed technical feat. He demonstrates equal skill in the other major discussions here, the notorious kidnapping of Lindbergh's son and the trial in which Bruno Hauptmann was convicted of the child's murder; and Lindbergh's admiration of the Nazis and his isolationist politics prior to America's entry into WWII. He lays out the most disturbing evidence (of incomplete justice at the Hauptmann trial; of Lindbergh's indifference to Kristallnacht), then respectfully leaves it to the reader to judge. Throughout, he explores the social and economic climate as well as the roles that Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, played in the public imagination, challenging readers to question how men who shape their times are in turn shaped themselves. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 255 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Trade (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590469231
• ISBN-13: 978-0590469234
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,569,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lindbergh, Charles

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An American Hero, March 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: An American Hero: The True Story of Charles A. Lindbergh (Paperback)

This is a fascinating and interesting book, full of hiddenfacts that force the reader to become involved in the book. Togetherwe share his triumphs and tragedies: we are with him when he flies theAtlantic, we are there when he loses his son. A must read for all those who have fantasised of being a hero.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational read, March 31, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: An American Hero: The True Story of Charles A. Lindbergh (Paperback)

This biography about Charles A. Lindbergh covers his whole life from childhood through his eventual depression and death.

Charles Lindbergh lived an interesting life. His first son was kidnapped and murdered. His father was a politician for the state of Minneapolis. His grandpa spent a lot of time with him and also was a great inventer. All of these helped me really get into the book. At certain points I didn't want to put the book down!

I also liked this book because I could relate to him. He was bad in school but turned out to be a hero. He didn't like school, went to collage and didn't do well once again. Then, he went to flight school and found flying was what he really enjoyed. After discovering this interest, Charles Lindbergh soon became a hero. This story was inspirational to me.