Flying Solo
How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
In 1927, airplanes were a thrilling but dangerous novelty. Most people, men and women, believed that a woman belonged in the kitchen and not in a cockpit. One woman, Ruth Elder, set out to prove them wrong by flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Ruth didn't make it, crashing spectacularly, but she flew right into the spotlight and America's heart. This is the story of a remarkable woman who chased her dreams with grit and determination, and whose appetite for adventure helped pave the way for future generations of female flyers.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
While Amelia Earhart is a household name, Ruth Elder (1902 1977) is not. Cummins, who wrote about trailblazing women in books like Women Daredevils and Women Explorers, stitches together anecdotes about this female aviator, whose (unsuccessful) attempt to cross the Atlantic predated that of Earhart. Throughout, Cummins makes clear the kind of dismissive attitudes female pilots faced. "Most people, men and women, believed that a woman belonged in the kitchen and not a cockpit," she writes. And in 1929, when 20 pilots including Elder took part in an all-women air race, a reporter grouses, "The only thing worse than dames in planes is dames racing planes." While Laugesen's smudgy illustrations don't generate much of a sense of action, Elder and her fellow pioneers come across as plenty heroic. Additional facts and resources wrap up this quick overview of Elder's life. Ages 6 9.
