The Horn Book Guide

BIOGRAPHIES

Cummins, Julie

Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart

32 pp. | Roaring Brook | July, 2013 | Trade ISBN 978-1-59643-509-4 $17.99

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Malene R. Laugesen. In 1927, inspired by Charles Lindbergh, Elder took off in the American Girl for Paris. When the plane crashed into the Atlantic, Elder (after her dramatic rescue) became a celebrity. The second half of Cummins's picture book biography recounts Elder's airplane racing adventures. The text captures the feel of the era while pastel illustrations capture the lofty feeling of flying. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013