The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen

"The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen" by Kenneth Ward is an adventure story set during World War I. Two American boys named Ralph and Alfred get mixed up in the war while in Belgium and France. They are inspired by the planes they see, and decide they want to become airmen. The story begins with Ralph and Alfred in Antwerp during the chaos of the war's early days. They are excited and interested in flying after seeing a Zeppelin, and they face challenges like being stuck in a foreign city without any money, while trying to find their families. As they become part of the army and then the flying corps, they become heroes when they rescue other airmen, and they learn about the dangers of the war. Overall, the book is about adventure, bravery, and wanting to find your place when everything is falling apart.