Book Summary
Candace
Fleming writes a compelling biography of Amelia Earhart. The whole story is
here; her life as a child, accomplishments and then
finally her disappearance, recovery attempts and rumors after her disappearance. Newspaper
articles and advertisements help readers accurately date the time and glimpse
into rich cultural history about the role of women at the time.
Reference
Fleming, C. (2011). Amelia lost: The life and
disappearance of Amelia Earhart. New York: Random House.
Impressions:
The
book could be read for pleasure, as the book unfolds her life story with an
easy narrative and plenty of dialogue from people who knew her and Amelia’s
letters and logbooks. The book is certainly worthy of reference material with
plenty of primary source photographs, source notes by chapter, bibliography and
index. The book’s rich depth about the character of Earhart breaks any form of
stereotyping, but to keep readers engaged she uses questioning techniques to
help readers follow along in mystery.
Professional Review:
Gr 4-7--Ho-hum history? Not in Fleming's apt hands. What could be a dry recitation of facts and dates is instead a gripping and suspenseful thriller. Even though readers likely know the end of the story, Fleming makes this book difficult to put down by moving between several accounts of Earhart's disappearance and her chronological life story. Quotes from primary sources are woven so seamlessly throughout that it seems as though the individuals involved are telling the story. The Art Deco-inspired book design and excellent black-and-white photographs help to transport readers back in time. Fleming has made a phenomenal woman accessible to a new generation of readers; she unapologetically shows Earhart as a real person and dispels the mythology surrounding her. Exploring more than just her famous flights, she introduces Earhart's other pursuits. Being a pilot in the early 20th century was prohibitively expensive and Earhart had to be a savvy businesswoman willing to try anything and everything to earn enough money to stay in the sky. With G.P. Putnam, a proficient publicist behind her, she not only influenced the future of popular culture, but also forged a path of opportunity for women to follow. Fame is a business, and Earhart and Putnam worked steadily to achieve it; the legend of Amelia Earhart is a testament to their hard work. This book is splendid. Hand it to everyone.
Acerro, H. (2011). Amelia Lost: The Life and
Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. School Library Journal, 57(3),
179.
Library Uses:
This is a
great book to introduce readers to Earhart. Librarians should be sure to include
this book in any collections about important women in history. The book has
plenty of primary source documents and could be used by teachers needing
examples.
