Amelia and Me

January 15, 2021

Gr 5 Up-Stemp tells her aunt Ginny's story of meeting and being inspired by Amelia Earhart. In the 1930s, Ginny Ross and her family live above their mercantile store in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, Canada. Her hometown is the starting point of many early transatlantic flights and the perfect place for eighth grader Ginny, who loves airplanes and dreams one day of becoming a pilot herself. Her dream is supported by many-her aunt and uncle, her friends, and her beloved Papa (grandfather)-but her mother violently tries to dissuade her. Ginny is literally slapped down by her mother's obstructionist ways. Despite these obstacles, Ginny secretly learns as much as she can from both her mechanic uncle and the airport supervisor. When tragedy tears apart Ginny's family, she feels no choice but to pursue her dream by meeting Amelia herself in Boston. This adventurous journey has a positive, lifelong impact on Ginny. Confident and determined, she returns home to chase her dream of becoming an "aviatrix." This is the first book in a series about Ginny Ross and her experiences meeting Amelia Earhart and breaking barriers regarding women's place in aviation in the 1930s. The family photos of Ginny, Amelia Earhart, and other historical details are remarkable. The infrequent, mild profanity is the only hesitation to recommending this to strong late-elementary readers. VERDICT Ginny is a spirited protagonist who does not allow others to stand in her way of achieving her dream. Readers will fly high with her.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area Dist. Lib., Holt, MI

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2021
Ginny must overcome a number of obstacles if she wants to become an aviatrix like Amelia Earhart--the biggest one being her own mother's resistance to her dream. Set in early 1930s Newfoundland, this novel is based on the author's own family history. Twelve-year-old Ginny has been learning everything she can about engines and planes from her Uncle Harry. What she really wants more than anything is to fly. Her Papa supports her goal, as do her friends. Her mother, however, forbids it. Not only is there no money for lessons as the family struggles through the Great Depression, but her Mom believes that flying is for men. She's barely swayed by the example Earhart is setting. After Papa's sudden death, Mom tells Ginny she must quit school and go to work. Desperate, Ginny journeys from Newfoundland to Boston, then New York, to find her hero. After finally meeting Earhart, Ginny plans her path forward, building up to an illuminating heart-to-heart with her mother. The characters and events are richly drawn and ring authentic; the dialogue is enriched by regional and period expressions. The hurdles faced by Ginny, a girl who wants to live outside the accepted gender norms of the day, are well illustrated. Readers will be eager for the next chapter in Ginny's story. Characters default to White. Highlights a plucky role model for the ages. (map, glossary, photos, photo credits, author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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