Don Stanford (1) (1918–)

This is one of a small handful of books from my childhood that I read every couple years. This book, along with the books by Geoffrey Trease, and to a lesser extent, Stephen Meader, are what changed my attitude about history (at that time it was the subject in school I disliked most).
In chapter 6, the day after Jerry and Mike's fight, Jerry describes how his sister Jill told their parents the truth in such a way that they assumed she was lying to exonerate her brothers, when in reality she had carefully engineered events to come out as she wanted, and be excused - I could just picture my sister. That kind of details that a kid could relate to made it a good read. And it made me want to learn more about the historical events (no internet available in those days).… (mais)

From the back and inside cover:

"Junk it!" - the insurance man said.

Hap first saw the red MG in Frenchy's garage. Enormous silvery wire wheels-rakish scarlet body. It had a personality all its own-arrogant, insolent, challenging. When Hap saw the other side he groaned; crushed, caved in.

"It cost you fifty dollars," said Frenchy. Hap's head swam dizzily.

Could he find a way to make the RED CAR sing and race again-for him?
******
"I've only got a hundred dollars," Hap Adams told the bandaged-wrapped racer.

Hap Adams is 16. The one thing he wants most in the world is the wrecked MG sports car.

To Frenchy, the garage owner, he had said, "That car is not junk! I'll work like a horse for you, doing anything you say, if I can buy that car and get it fixed up by fall."

How Hap gets a green light from his father, from Frenchy, and finally from the people of Bullet to buy and race The Red Car is a story for everyone who loves cars.… (mais)

From vintage scholastic cover: Scuba diving! This was flying the way Mike had dreamed about it all his life. This was the unreal sensation of being like a bird, of being able to hang suspended in space, of being able to swoop down and then soar high above again, just by kind of wishing yourself along....But little does Mike guess that the dull-gray box he finds on the bottom of the ocean holds the solution to his knotty problem--a solution that finally unites three warring generations of his family. [uses the word "negro."]… (mais)