Families who loved Higher, Steeper, Faster: The Daredevils Who Conquered the Skies by Lawrence Goldstone often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is facing a fear of failure or needs to see that progress often requires making mistakes and starting over. It is perfect for the middle-schooler who feels like things should come easily and needs a real-world example of how 'grit' actually works in practice. This non-fiction narrative explores the high-stakes world of early aviation, where daredevils like Lincoln Beachey used extreme stunts to prove what airplanes were capable of doing. While the book captures the thrill of the era, its core message is about the intersection of courage and engineering. It is appropriate for ages 10 to 14, providing a sophisticated look at history through the lens of calculated risk and the relentless pursuit of innovation. Parents will appreciate how it frames these historical figures not just as thrill-seekers, but as essential pioneers who turned a dangerous hobby into a global industry through perseverance.
