AMELIA LOST: THE LIFE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF AMELIA EARHART

by Candace Fleming and Lettering by Jessica Hische

Fleming, Candace and Lettering by Jessica Hische. 2011. AMELIA LOST: THE LIFE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF AMELIA EARHART. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375945984.

Plot Summary:

The life and loss of Amelia Earhart, the most famous male or female pilot of all time is vividly depicted in Candace Fleming’s stunning portrayal of the awe-inspiring aviatrix. The story begins on the morning of July 2, 1937 with the frantic search for Amelia’s airplane within the vast Pacific Ocean, while rescue crews anxiously listen for any sign from the adventurer’s radio call sign KHAQQ. Starting the story at Amelia’s final fatal flight and moving throughout her rambunctious life, Ms. Fleming reveals the truth, myth and mystery about the most recognized pilot in aviation. Discover how even Amelia herself perpetuated some of the myth that surrounds her legend today. This excellently written biography will inspire young and old readers alike, giving them a glimpse into the life of Amelia Earhart and the time in which she lived.       

Critical Analysis:

Candace Fleming is the writer of many biographical, historical picture, novels, and picture books for children of elementary and middle school age. Ms. Fleming has written about other famous individuals such as Abraham and Mary Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, P.T. Barnum, and Eleanor Roosevelt, so she is no stranger to the research and dedication needed to write award winning biographies for children. She has diligently cited her bibliographic sources which are listed in a bibliography and divided into source notes by chapter. She also lists credits to the numerous photographs, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, and maps used throughout the biography.

The book has a very logical layout, but does not follow a direct chronological order of events. Even though the information jumps from different time periods in Amelia Earhart’s life, it is seamless and enhances the suspense of the story. The book uses a table of contents, dramatically written subheadings per chapter, page numbers and an index so the reader can easily find specific information within the book.    

The design of the book is well done with its numerous septa photographs of Amelia Earhart and other important individuals in her life. Many other documents and maps help the reader better understand Amelia’s life and the era in which she lived. These items include an image and explanation of Morse code, hand written letters by Amelia and others, news clippings, advertisements and cartoons featuring Amelia, and her marriage certificate.

The story is excitingly written in a dramatic fiction-like novel style that begins in medias res. The story begins with rescue crews awaiting Amelia’s arrival on the Pacific island of Howland and her dramatic call for help during her final fatal flight. The story then jumps back through the periods in Amelia’s life that lead her to that perilous point in time.  

Review Excerpt:

Winner of the 2012 Golden Kite Award for Non-Fiction. This award is each year to the most outstanding children’s books published during the previous and written or illustrated by member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

The Kirkus Starred Review stated, “Chapters alternate between the days surrounding Earhart’s fateful crash and her growth from child to trailblazer. The narrative shifts could have been maddening, for suspense reasons alone, but a rhythm is established and the two plotlines gracefully fold into the conclusion.”

The Horn Book Magazine Starred Review boasts, “Fleming’s gripping narrative begins the day the Coast Guard lost radio contact with Amelia Earhart on her doomed flight around the world; by the time the author begins her chronological account of Earhart’s life, readers are hooked. Taut, cinematic, immediate, and dramatic; an exemplary biography adventure.” 

Elizabeth Bird of the School Library Journal touts, “Infinitely readable, even for those of the reluctant persuasion, Fleming melds fact and great storytelling together to bring us a tale as compelling as it is devastating. Not all great stories have happy endings and sometimes it’s more interesting when they don’t. Highly recommended.”

Connections:

Many biographies have been written about the famous, charismatic, adventurer, Amelia Earhart. Some excellently reviewed titles are AMELIA EARHART: THE LEGEND OF THE LOST AVIATOR by Shelley Tanaka and illustrated by David Craig and WHO WAS AMELIA EARHART? By Kate Boehm Jerome and illustrated by Nancy Harrison and David Cain. These two books are great additional resources for elementary and middle school children needing to do research on the life and times of the most recognized aviator of all time.

Personal Response:

I, like everyone else in this country, grew up learning about the great and amazing achievements in avionics by Amelia Earhart. However, this book reveals so much more than the tiny bits of knowledge gleaned in my youth. Reading about how Amelia and husband George Putnam’s influenced the development her mythos shed a brighter light on the mystery and allure of the famous aviatrix. The book does an excellent job of widening the reader’s field of vision by including other important people of the day and the revelation that over 100 women were also piloting airplanes during the time of Amelia Earhart, but they remain in obscurity. An exciting read from cover to cover with a great pace and excitement in the writing. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes planes, biographies, stories about influential women or specifically about Amelia Earhart.

References:

The Horn Book (2011). Horn Book Fanfare 2011. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com/2011/12/choosing-books/recommended-books/horn-book-fanfare-2011/

Kirkus Reviews (2010). Amelia Lost: The life and sisappearance of Amelia Earhart book review. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/candace-fleming/amelia-lost/

Ms. Yingling Reads (2011). Amelia Lost: The life and sisappearance of Amelia Earhart book cover. Retrieved from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJE6ccEf0QjkEYkkFmuoEyhbOfu5UJjaTM-M1f7MAgvGHymGXdtEtoLCgFUOthxuHDEq1EalFu-SGKMKtsL3wypcMdbvEtJ1dw4m7c0-J2CE3S1QEps1ctwz1-ntj22sIrVdkUSXaEq36/s1600/amelia.jpg

School Library Journal (2011). Review of the day: Amelia lost by Candace Fleming. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2011/02/03/review-of-the-day-amelia-lost-by-candace-fleming/#_

Society of Children’s Book Writers (2012). Breaking news: The 2012 golden kite award winners and the 2012 Sid Flesichman award winners! Retrieved from http://scbwi.blogspot.com/2012/03/breaking-news-2012-golden-kite-award.html