
By Steve Sheinkin, Bijou Karman (Illustrator)
Fearless women pilots race across America in a daring 1929 air derby.
In 1929, a daring group of women pilots, including Amelia Earhart, compete in the first women's air race across America. As they navigate the skies, each faces personal challenges and the thrill of breaking new ground. Marvel Crosson, Louise Thaden, and Elinor Smith join Earhart in this high-stakes race, pushing the limits of aviation and their own courage. With the nation watching, these pioneers risk everything to claim victory and redefine what women can achieve. Will they soar to triumph or crash under pressure? Discover the grit and glory of these trailblazers in a race for the ages.
From New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Award recipient Steve Sheinkin, Born to Fly: The First Women’s Air Race Across America is the gripping true story of the fearless women pilots who aimed for the skies–and beyond.Featuring illustrations by Bijou Karman. Just nine years after American women finally got the right to vote, a group of trailblazers soared to new heights in the 1929 Air Derby, the first women’s air race across the U.S. Follow the incredible lives of legend Amelia Earhart, who has captivated generations; Marvel Crosson, who built a plane before she even learned how to fly; Louise Thaden, who shattered jaw-dropping altitude records; and Elinor Smith, who at age seventeen made headlines when she flew under the Brooklyn Bridge. These awe-inspiring stories culminate in a suspenseful, nail-biting race across the country that brings to life the glory and grit of the dangerous and thrilling early days of flying. From Steve Sheinkin, the master of nonfiction for young readers who expertly unraveled the infamous story of whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and the impeachment of Richard Nixon, comes the untold story of fearless women who dared to fly. This title has common core connections. A 2020 ALSC Notable Children’s Book Also by Steve Sheinkin: Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous WeaponThe Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & TreacheryMost Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam WarThe Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil RightsUndefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football TeamWhich Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You About Westward ExpansionKing George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You About the American RevolutionTwo Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You About the Civil War
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