{"id":30390,"date":"2016-06-13T23:56:59","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T03:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30390"},"modified":"2016-06-13T23:56:59","modified_gmt":"2016-06-14T03:56:59","slug":"review-of-fearless-flyer-by-heather-lang-and-raul-colon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30390","title":{"rendered":"Review of Fearless Flyer, by Heather Lang and Ra\u00fal Col\u00f3n"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fearless_flyer_large\"<\/a>Fearless Flyer<\/p>\n

Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine<\/em><\/p>\n

by Heather Lang
\nillustrated by Ra\u00fal Col\u00f3n<\/p>\n

Calkins Creek (Highlights), Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 2016. 40 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Did you know that in 1916, the person to set the American longest nonstop flight record was a woman? This picture book tells the story of Ruth Law, an early American aviator.<\/p>\n

100 years ago, flying was dangerous and primitive. The pictures speak volumes, with Ruth Law bundled up in layers of coats with only her feet protected from the elements, steering the plane using two levers. She navigated with a little scrolling six-inch map she strapped into her lap. She had to hold the right lever with her knee while she turned the knobs on the map box.<\/p>\n

Early on, the book explains why Ruth Law was so successful:<\/p>\n

Few aviators dared to fly cross-country in their flimsy flying machines. If an engine had trouble, by the time the aviator realized it, there was often nowhere to land.<\/p>\n

Ruth had a secret weapon. She knew every nut and bolt on her machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could anticipate what would happen to the motor by the sound of it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The text in this book is straightforward, interspersed with quotes from Ruth. The story is of her plan to fly from Chicago to New York City and to show that what men can do, a woman can do.<\/p>\n

Ra\u00fal Col\u00f3n\u2019s beautiful pictures evoke the time period beautifully. By seeing pictures, you realize just how early in the history of aviation were Ruth\u2019s adventures. Her record-breaking flight happened in November 1916.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t have a radio or any instruments but a compass. She didn\u2019t even have a cockpit. With two levers and a map box perched on a rickety-looking set of wings, Ruth Law broke the boundaries of what could be done.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sky was my limit and the horizon my sphere. It\u2019s any woman\u2019s sphere if she has nerve and courage and faith in herself. She\u2019s got to have faith in herself.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I expect this picture book will inspire more girls and boys to take to the sky.<\/p>\n

heatherlangbooks.com<\/a>
\nboydsmillspress.com <\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/fearless_flyer.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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