Heroes Next Door

Written to help address the dearth of age appropriate material focusing on the Vietnam conflict, Heroes Next Door Hornet 24 gives the middle school and young adult reader a window into the lives of helicopter pilots during that conflict. The book is written with attention to detail, the reader experiences basic training, flight school, and twelve months of life, service, and sacrifice in Vietnam as told by a veteran who lives next door. Matt and Ellie are growing up in an average suburban area, when their next-door shows up with an olive-drab painted Army helicopter. The machinery sparks immediate interest and serves as a conduit to relationship building between the two children and their neighbor, Mr. Ed. Spread over nearly two years the siblings help restore the vintage aircraft and gradually, Mr. Ed shares stories of his training and experiences during the 1960s. Stories from Basic Training gives the reader a sense of the discipline and focus required. Flight...