Sky Pioneer (Direct Mail Edition): A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart

by Corinne Szabo

The legendary spirit and inspiring determination of Amelia Earhart takes wing in this wonderful photobiography. Corinne Szabo uses quotes from Earhart's own writings, duotone photos, and superb maps to transport us back to the world of the sky pioneer who changed the history of women's aviation. The book also includes a detailed map charting the proposed around-the-world route of this American heroine's final flight. The author paints an appealing portrait of a woman unafraid "to do the things one likes best, to speak up for what one believes in, to see life as a great adventure, to be 'true to oneself.'" We meet the woman behind the legend and experience her short, eventful life through a series of amazing photos. With her grace and daring Amelia Earhart has always been a role model for young women. This soaring biography will bring her story to a new generation in the 21st century.

Genres: Biography, History, Childrens, Nonfiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography of aviatrix Amelia Earhart celebrates her determination, her adventurous spirit, and her skill as a record-breaking pilot with quotations, excerpts from her journals, and pictures from throughout her life.

Maps show Earhart’s final journey; theories regarding her disappearance, a chronology, and a bibliography are also included.

Published by special arrangement with the National Geographic Society, this oversize paperback book with its larger typeface is a leveled reader for grades five through seven, ages nine through twelve.

Highly recommended for readers interested in aviation history, women pilots, biographies, famous women, and/or Amelia Earhart.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another picture-book biography of strong women...this time Amelia Earhart. For my purposes, this book probably has too many words and not enough illustrations. Illustrations are all black-and-white photos...some of Amelia, some contemporary photos.

I learned that she was Eleanor Roosevelt's friend. I like that idea. I learned she taught at Purdue University (Screw Purdue...I'm an IU fan), as a mentor to young women who wanted to follow her trail, and her final plane was built at Purdue.

The mystery of her disappearance is simply reported, with no speculation...and Amelia's own words end her story:

"Please know I am quite aware of the hazards.
I want to do this because I want to do it.
Women must try to do things as men have tried
When they fail, failure must be but a challenge to others."

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed the mystery of Amelia Earhart. This is different from all the others because it has old photographs. You can see how she developed over time. She was amazing for the time, when what women could do was limited. She really was a pioneer. The newness of flight shows in all the ticker parades and events. They were setting records. I highly recommend this photobiography.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accompanied by numerous photographs, Sky Pioneer: A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart relates the story many of us know parts of. She truly was an American pi0neer and legend.

Includes an Afterword, Chronology, Selected Readings, Illustration Credits, and Index.

[Melissa Ganka-Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to add this to my school library! As a Hoosier, I was surprised to learn that Amelia had such a strong connection to Purdue University in Indiana. I liked the use of photographs over illustrations in this book.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia Mary Earhart (1897–c. 1937) was an American aviation pioneer and author who was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, receiving the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this record. She set many other records and wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences. During an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937 in a Purdue-funded Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean along with her navigator Fred Newman while trying to make Howland Island. This photobiography does not focus on the usual fascination with Earhart's disappearance but chronicles her life and accomplishments.

At an early age, Amelia Earhart showed herself to be adventurous and daring, but her interest in flying did not develop until she worked as a nurse in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. An illuminating collection of archival photos along with a detailed narrative biography and italicized quotes throughout from Earhart's own writings make up this inspiring visual account of Amelia Earhart's life and times. The final section includes nearly full page, clear maps showing her final journey across the continents, and an afterword discusses the theories about how and why she vanished. In the back there are also a chronology of Amelia’s life, a bibliography for further reading, and an index for easy reference.

The most accepted theory for Amelia’s disappearance has been that the flight had ended in the Phoenix Islands, now part of the Republic of Kiribati, some 350 miles southeast of Howland Island, possibly on Gardner Island, now Nikumaroro. After this book was written, it was reported on Oct. 28, 2014, that new research strongly suggests that a piece of aluminum aircraft debris recovered in 1991 by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) from Nikumaroro does belong to Earhart’s twin-engined Lockheed Electra. The evidence remains circumstantial, but Earhart's surviving stepson, George Putnam Jr., has expressed support for TIGHAR's research.

[Amy Brown (amylikestoreadalot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart! This is a book for kids, but I really enjoyed it. Lots of pictures and info on Amelia! I learned that her parents used to travel a lot for her Dad's job and leave Amelia and her sister with their grandparents. But they had a great childhood...lots of play and outdoor fun. She hasn't exactly looked attractive in many of her pictures, but she looked good in the ones in this book. Very happy! I also found out she was proposed to before she was married, by a very handsome man, but she turned him down because he didn't want a working wife. She had many jobs before flying became her full time job. I enjoyed reading this!

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good photobiography of Amelia Earhart. It pays tribute to her accomplishments as a pilot, while glossing over some of the less savory aspects of her life. She married Putnam for money, while he married her for fame. She was not the most talented woman flyer of her generation, and was forced to work with inferior navigators such as Fred Noonan because nobody considered able to accomplish a flight around the world. Still, it's an interesting book and the photos and illutrations are first rate.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a photobiography of Amelia Earhart. I love all of the photos throughout this book and the detailed information about Amelia Earhart's life. This is one of those books with a lot of great information that would need to be broken up into much smaller chunks. If you were to read the entire text in one sitting it might be a little overwhelming for a student and for the teacher.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I've always had an interest in Amelia Earhart and I learned a lot of interesting information from this book. Having real photographs made it so much more real and interesting.

[Ilura]

Everything about Amelia Earhart is just amazing. Why did she even have to disapeer? Everyone loved her.

[Cortney Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book with excellent pictures about AmeliaEarhart. I liked how it had quotes of Amelia's along with information of how she came to love flying.

[Sruthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was pretty interesting. I had to read it for school.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures, captions, quotes, and text on each page could have made this book feel cluttered, but they all flow together and inform each other so well that it works perfectly.

[Brianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think its a good book

[Tisya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was very short and brief. The author didn't even seem to have researched the topic or even care.

[Mrsculpepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

loads of pictures and plenty of backstory before Amelia's famous last flight made a really engaging book.

[Karen]

Try to combine bookshelf to look at different ways different authors look at strong women.