Born to Fly

July 1, 2019
In August 1929, a talented group of female aviators spearheaded women's rights when they participated in an all-woman nine-day, cross-country air race that kicked off in California. Henry Ford had remarked, "I pay our women well so they can dress attractively and get married." The women were fighting centuries of bias, but all of them were primarily interested in becoming successful fliers; changing the public's opinion of women's capabilities was a secondary outcome. Marvel Crosson, Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, Ruth Nichols, and others were among the 99 (nearly all white) licensed female pilots in 1929; the other 8,901 were men. Flying opportunities for women of color were even more sharply limited. (Only African American Bessie Coleman is mentioned in this account.) Sheinkin is a master at finding and following narrative hooks, as when he recounts the already highly controversial Women's Air Derby, which became even more so when a pilot was killed in a crash that may have been caused by someone tampering with her plane. Although Sheinkin covers much of the same ground as Keith O'Brien's Fly Girls (2019), this effort explores the 1929 race in detail, using that microcosm to reveal the lives of several of the early female fliers. Fascinating prose, a large number of period photographs augmented by Karman's illustrations, and outstanding backmatter round out an engaging and enlightening presentation. Well-rounded collections should include both of these excellent resources. Suspenseful, informative, and remarkably uplifting. (Nonfiction. 11-16)

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Starred review from September 1, 2019

Gr 5-8-Using a collected biographical approach, Sheinkin presents the history of early American aviation and the changing role of women in society, culminating in the Women's Air Derby of 1929. Women made up a small percentage of pilots in the 1920s, and societal norms prevented them from competing in air races until the 1929 derby. The 20 women who participated in the derby came from all walks of life. Most Americans recognize the name Amelia Earhart, but Sheinkin introduces many other female pilots, including Marvel Crosson, Ruth Elder, Bobbi Trout, and Pancho Barnes, who all took part in the daring and fearless days of flight in its infancy. Flight races were particularly intense for spectators and participants alike as the inherent danger usually meant that at least one pilot died per race. While women received the right to vote in 1920, the facade of female frailty was still a widely held belief in 1929 and used to justify protesting the all-female air derby that stretched from Santa Monica, CA, to Cleveland. The question of sabotage, engineering design flaws, and interpersonal relationships made an inherently difficult undertaking exponentially more dangerous for all the pilots in the 1929 derby. VERDICT Sheinkin's thorough research and attention to detail make the era come alive for readers. Fans of Keith O'Brien's Fly Girls will greatly enjoy this book. Highly recommended for all middle school libraries.-Susan Catlett, Green Run High School, Virginia Beach

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 2, 2019
In this riveting account, Newbery Honor author Sheinkin (Bomb) introduces 20 American pilots who flew in the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, from Santa Monica, Calif., to Cleveland, Ohio. How the women deftly handled weather, accidents, fires, exhaustion, and far too many chicken dinner banquets are among the accounts. Even threats of sabotage, scorn from the media, and sexual discrimination failed to dissuade the determined flyers from crossing the finish line. Pilot Marvel Crosson,who lost her life in the race, wrote that she had given her all to proving that “women are the best pilots in the world.” Later forming the first organization of women pilots, playing important roles in WWII, and setting speed and endurance records, these pioneering aviators also inspired future pilots, including astronauts Sally Ride and Linda Godwin. Historical photos and Karman’s realistic drawings bring to life famous women, such as Amelia Earheart, along with lesser-known flyers. With immediacy and vivid detail, Sheinken’s thoroughly researched account of these daring women will capture the imagination of contemporary readers. Ages 10–14.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
Grades 6-9 *Starred Review* Scrappy, determined, and fearless. That's what the 20 fliers, including Louise Thaden, Pancho Barnes, Ruth Elder, and Amelia Earhart, who entered the Women's Air Derby in 1929 had in common. Award-winning author Sheinkin (Undefeated, 2017) sets the stage for this first female transcontinental air race, from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio, with brief stories of the fliers' formative years and profiles of Bessie Coleman and other pioneering aviators. The heart of the book, however, is the tension-filled race. In addition to the sexism surrounding the event, there was extreme risk. Without modern GPS, autopilots, and control towers, fliers navigated with road maps, their own sight, and plenty of nerve and luck. The race was punctuated with a fire aboard a wooden plane, crack-up accidents, unbelievable repairs, sabotage, and even death. Sheinkin's storylike narration puts readers right into the action, making them gasp and cheer along with the fliers. Period photographs and illustrated scenes heighten the interest. While rivalry drove the women's ambition, the author also emphasizes how their determination in a male-dominated society drove their camaraderie. Concluding chapters follow the fliers' lives after the race, explain why readers often remember Amelia Earhart above others, and impart the impact they had on future women in aviation and in space. This book soars as it details these often overlooked figures from history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)