Radio Rescue
Barasch (Old Friends) identifies the hero of this story as her father, who in 1923 at the age of 10 became the youngest licensed amateur wireless radio operator in the United States. The book gets off to a bit of a slow start as Barasch describes the important role that wireless radio played at a time when telephone connections were difficult to make, but it builds to a climactic finish, in which the boy and his radio help to rescue a stranded family in hurricane-pummeled Florida. Writing in the boy's voice, the author conveys the young New Yorker's dedication to his hobby, how he obtains his "ham" license on his second try, purchases the necessary equipment and sets up his own home station with the help of an older neighbor boy and fellow operator. The author concisely describes this method of communication, which kids in today's high-tech world are likely to know little about. A heartening story for aspiring historians and technophiles. Ages 5-up. (Oct.)Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.