Fly Girls

Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O'Brien,
338 pages

Everyone knows about Amelia Earhart, that daredevil aviatrix who got lost in an attempt to fly around the world. And while Fly Girls tells her story as a aviation pioneer, it also tells the story of her contemporaries, who were just as daring and outspoken and amazing as their more-famous compatriot. This fascinating book also tells the stories of Florence Klingensmith, Louise Thaden, Ruth Elder, and Ruth Nichols, all of whom were pioneers in their attempts to race against men (Klingensmith and Thaden, the latter of whom beat the boys at a cross-country race when nobody thought she had a chance); cross the Atlantic (Elder); and set speed, altitude, and distance records (Nichols, who held them simultaneously). It also gives much more context to Earhart's well-known story, making it clear that she truly was the outspoken feminist that I've always idolized.

I loved this thrilling and inspiring book, and I thank Keith O'Brien for introducing me to so many new heroines. Extra props to Erin Bennett, who read the audiobook and helped bring all these women back to life.