West Point Plebe

by Red Reeder

The story of Clint Lane's first year at the United States Military Academy, and his struggle to balance the academic and athletic challenges of being a cadet, as well as living up to the memory of his deceased father, a military hero.

Genres: Fiction, Military Fiction

245 pages, hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Colonel Russell Potter Reeder Jr., who wrote as "Red" Reeder, was an officer in the United States Army. He wrote children's books and military nonfiction.

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled the Clint Lane books as a kid, the stories made all the more exciting since we were stationed at West Point at the time.

I don't really know how best to review this book other than to say that the 7 year old version of me found it perfect and the views of cadet life and of West Point were pretty on target with what I saw and heard around me (caveat, observed then from child's eyed perspective).

Today's West Point has changed in many ways from the era of Clint Lane and the books are undoubtedly dated...but they are worthy of a read and still offer some relevant insights on life at the Academy.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

good look inside. some similar experiences

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The motto of the corps of cadets is DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY."

I enjoyed this first book in the Clint Lane series written by Colonel Reeder. My oldest son attended and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This book was written in 1955. My son didn't attend the Academy until 40 years after this but it was amazing how similar living conditions were, even with the 40 year difference.

I would have liked to read more about the daily lives of cadets. There were brief descriptive passages about daily life scattered throughout the book but it's easy to see that the author's interests lie in the sports, especially football and baseball, at the Academy.

This was a fun read, though, bringing back many memories of my son's plebe year. Not all the memories were easy ones but plebe year helps mold the cadets into future leaders in our military.

I'm now off to read "West Point Yearling (West Point Stories Book 2)" about Clint Lane's yearling (sophomore) year at West Point.

This series was written for young people but adults with interests in West Point or the military should enjoy these stories as well.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a tame older look at a West Point Plebe year.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book as a boy and was thrilled to read it again 50-plus years later. Reeder's hero, Clint Lane, is far from perfect, which makes for an unusually strong story in a boys book from the '50.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written for young people and it is from the 50’s, but I still enjoyed it. The descriptions are authentic and the characters are engaging. I’m a sucker for books about West Point. I am intrigued by its history and culture. My son is a cadet.

[Angel Giacomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Used it for research into West Point.

[Donald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was nine or ten wanted to reread it my opinions have changed a great deal lol no longer my cup of tea

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book and the series that really got me reading. Years later as a teacher I was use my experience with this series when confronted by parents concerned that their child hating to read. “You just have to find them a series that interest them, for me it was a series about a young man at West Point and once hooked they won’t stop.”