Aim for the Skies: Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam Smith's Race to Complete Amelia Earhart's Quest

by Aimée M. Bissonette, Doris Ettlinger (Illustrations)

When she was seven years old, Geraldine (Jerrie) Mock took her first airplane ride. She decided then and there to be a pilot. Growing up, she was inspired by radio broadcasts detailing the travels of aviatrix Amelia Earhart. Joan Merriam was 15 when she took her first plane ride in 1952. She got her pilot's license before she could even drive a car. And like Jerrie, Joan too was inspired by Earhart and wanted to circle the globe, following Earhart's exact route. Years later, when both women begin to plan their dream flights, they are completely unaware of each other, and coincidentally pick the same time to depart. But when the media gets word of their plans, the stage is set for the race of a lifetime. This picture book retells the extraordinary story of the 1964 air race between Americans Geraldine Mock and Joan Merriam Smith, the first two women to fly around the world.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Aviation, Travel, History

32 pages, ebook

Published September 15, 2018

About the author

Aimée Bissonette was born the sixth of seven children. She grew up with her suitcase never fully unpacked - her family moved many times and she attended 8 different schools before graduating from high school. Aimée earned her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and her Law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. She has worked as an occupational therapist, teacher, lawyer, and small business owner. In addition to her books for children, Aimée has published a book for K-12 teachers and administrators on the legal issues associated with technology in the schools. She lives with her husband, family, and dogs in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Amelia Earhart's name is known to just about everyone, the famous aviator never completed her ambitious goal to fly around the globe. Two other women--Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam Smith--did despite the odds against their success. Both fell in love with flying at an early age, and eventually set out to accomplish their goals, one following Earhart's path and one charting a different course. Of course, the media got wind of their plans and turned them into a race even though the women originally had no idea that the other one had the same ambitions. Weather, equipment failure, and political turmoil caused problems along the way for each pilot, but eventually Jerrie finished first. Joan decided that while winning might have been important, perhaps what mattered most was to finish, something she set her heart on doing in order to honor the woman who had inspired her flight. This is a fascinating story that needed to be told with an Author's Note that describes some of the sexism of the times and how the press treated the women's stories. The softly-colored illustrations provide readers with a glimpse into the preparation and the actual flights, astonishing feats of determination and endurance, way back in 1964.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of two women who are not widely known, trying to accomplish what Amelia Earhart did not.

[Susan Latta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story about an unintended race. Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam are not as well known as Amelia Earhart, yet their feat was more daunting. They flew in smaller planes, each alone, (Amelia had navigator Fred Noonan with her) and became the first two women to fly around the world. Neither knew the other was planning this flight, but once they found out, the race was set. Jerrie completed her mission ahead of Joan, but Joan was thrilled she finished following Amelia's route. They both followed their dreams.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, but in a way it mirrors the obnoxious journalism of the mid-1960s, when the story takes place. By couching the book's cover text in terms of the "race" to do what Amelia Earhart had died attempting, it diverts the reader from the real situation. There was no "race" until the press began to push the idea, it was just that two women both decided to do similar things, to fly solo around the world. They had different backgrounds, were flying different routes, and in very different aircraft. They happened to pick the same month of the same year, and thus the "legend" was born.
Jerrie Mock flew around the world, solo, and completed her journey in a shorter amount of time, so she was deemed the "winner" of this race, but Joan Merriam Smith flew the much longer route that Amelia Earhart had planned. The difference of thousands of miles is hard to ignore.
A fun read for kids interested in flying and in fulfilling their dreams. Adults can get something out of it as well.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent picture book about the around-the-world race between these two pioneering women pilots, which was won by Jerrie Mock. Gorgeous watercolor illustrations and maps. The author's note points out how unfortunate it was that their flights began so close to each other that the media turned it into a "race," because really they both were major accomplishments, and had different planes and circumstances to overcome. Joan's flight was longer than Jerrie's, and through tougher weather. Includes a bibliography of books about the two women. For an excellent longer biography of Jerrie Mock, try The Jerrie Mock Story: The First Woman to Fly Solo around the World.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly around the globe solo. I liked how these women were inspired by Earhart. They wanted to fly around the world, like Earhart had tried to do, and they succeeded. Jerrie just did it first. Neither woman set out to make it a competition, but media got hold of the story and couldn’t help running with it. Despite women being successful pilots for decades already, still the media had to remark upon their sex, call them “housewives” off on this incredible endeavor, comment on their fashion choices. The storytelling here was sufficient, though I didn’t really feel the personality of either woman really came to life in the story. Still, I’d never heard of either of them before and I am really glad we could read this and certainly recommend it to those looking to learn about lesser-known aviation pioneers.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today (October 11th) is International Day of the Girl; how fitting that I read Aim for the Skies today! A story about a dream realized when two young women attempt to follow in the path of their idol Amelia Earhart. But what makes this story so intriguing is the two women, Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam Smith, attempt to replicate Earhart's flight at the same time but unbeknownst to each other. This book joins a growing list of quality literature featuring girls, women, and dreams all tied together with persevering mindsets!

[Cheryl Neer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned of Jerrie Mock from the display at the Columbus, Ohio airport. Aim for the Skies is both a well written and well-illustrated informational book about these pilots who dared to do what no one since Amelia Earhart tried. Thankfully, they were both successful. Sadly, Joan Merriam Smith died in a plane crash in 1964 just a year after these historic flights.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this Kindle versions were great. The text on my Kindle Ap was so small that I couldn’t read it, even after taping on it to make it a little larger. It may be better on a computer. Who knows?

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

STEM, girl power, and drama in a beautiful nonfiction picture book!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved learning about these two amazing women!