In his grandparents' attic, 12 year-old Ted Rozock finds a pair of riding boots and an army hat, worn in the Spanish-American War. They fit him to a tee and set him on a journey of discovery about his greatgrandfather and the famous man he fought beside in Cuba. Ted immerses himself in the writings of Theodore Roosevelt after a teacher encourages him to present a rip-roaring speech as the Rough Rider for a "History Day" competition. As he gathers a complete "TR" costume and assumes the character he will portray, Ted is inspired to act boldly in his own life and times. His path mirrors that of his hero, who suffered loss and rebounded to greater heights. The seventh grader's string of successes attracts the eyes of beguiling girls and the ire of a whiskered bully. Can Ted meet every modern challenge by staying true to his namesake?
Todd Shorack grew up in a globe-trotting Air Force family with deep roots in the state of Oregon. He graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Todd is married, with two sons. He likes to hang out at the intersection of family and history. While cleaning out a grandparent's attic, family members found antique military clothing that fit the author's son and planted the seed for this story.