Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America

Description: Born to Fly is the gripping story of the fearless women pilots who aimed for the skies--and beyond--as told by three-time National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin.

Brief description: Bijou Karman is an artist and illustrator from Los Angeles. She graduated with Distinction from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Bijou is inspired by nostalgia and a love of print and bright colors. She spends most of her time working on illustrations for editorials, books, and advertising, but also works in gouache to create paintings centered around fashion. She has illustrated How to Dress by Alexandra Fullerton, What Would Boudicca Do? by E. Foley and B. Coates, and the covers of the Penguin Classics editions of books by John Steinbeck and Iris Murdoch.

Review Quotes:

A 2020 ALSC Notable Children's Book
"Above all, Sheinkin makes the Derby pilots' passion for the sky so contagious, even a white-knuckle flier's heart can't help but soar." -- The New York Times

★" Sheinkin's story-like narration puts readers right in the action, making them gasp and cheer along with the fliers... This book soars as it details these often overlooked figures from history." --Booklist, starred review

★"Born to Fly is full of emergency landings, nail-biting finishes and (probable) acts of sabotage; when there isn't an archival photo to capture a moment, Bijou Karman's unpretentious line art fills in the gaps." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

★" Sheinkin's thorough research and attention to detail make the era come alive for readers." --School Library Journal, starred review

★"Soaring past boundaries." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"Suspenseful, informative, and remarkably uplifting." --Kirkus

"With immediacy and vivid detail, Sheinken's thoroughly researched account of these daring women will capture the imagination of contemporary readers." --Publishers Weekly

"Lively and engaging." --Horn Book

"Sheinkin is a history writer of unusual gumption and no shortage of nerve. Born to Fly is a real barn burner." -- Shelf Awareness