Famous Women of the Air
Spotlighting women who conquered flight and space
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Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America’s Heart By: Julie Cummins One woman’s journey to prove that women belong in the cockpit too. |
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Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton By: Meghan McCarthy An introduction to the life of the mid-twentieth-century aviation and auto racing pioneer describes her fascination with vehicles during childhood and the daring achievements that earned her the title, “First Lady of Firsts. |
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Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart By: Candace Fleming Amelia’s story, told between alternating chapters about her childhood and trying to find her missing plane. |
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Women Aviators: 26 Stories of Pioneer Flights, Daring Missions, and Record-Setting Journeys By: Karen Bush Gibson Profiles the lives and careers of twenty-six women who were pioneers in the field of aviation. |
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Fly High!: the story of Bessie Coleman By: Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger Discusses the life of the determined African American woman who went all the way to France to earn her pilot’s license in 1921. |
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Sally Ride: Life on a Mission By: Sue Macy Sally Ride was more than the first woman in space–she was a real-life explorer and adventurer whose life story is a true inspiration for all those who dream big. Most people know Sally Ride as the first American female astronaut to travel in space. But in her lifetime she was also a nationally ranked tennis player, a physicist who enjoyed reading Shakespeare, a university professor, the founder of a company that helped inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in science and math, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From Sally Ride’s youth to her many groundbreaking achievements in space and beyond, Sue Macy’s riveting biography tells the story of not only a pioneering astronaut, but a leader and explorer. |
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Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream: The True Story of the “Mercury 13” Women By: Tanya Lee Stone What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape, any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronauts is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age. |
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Mae Jemison: Trailblazing Astronaut, Doctor, and Teacher By: Linda Barghoom The first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison has broken barriers in science and medicine to become one of the most admired women worldwide. This fascinating book describes how Jemison refused to let anyone stand in the way of her dreams. She became a doctor and worked in the Peace Corps until NASA invited her to join the astronaut program. Today, she is an important advocate for science in education–especially for girls and women. Jemison also continues to push scientific research to improve life in developing countries. |
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To the Stars! The First American Woman to Walk in Space By: Carmella Van Vleet Kathy Sullivan wasn’t interested in the same things as most girls, nor was she interested in the types of jobs that a girl was expected to have as an adult. Instead, she was interested in maps and flying. Told in alternating pages about her childhood dreams and accomplishing those dreams as an adult |
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Ellen Ochoa By: Annie Buckley Profiles the life and achievements of Ellen Ochoa, discussing her education, her inspirations, and her work for NASA and as an astronaut. Includes a time line, a glossary, and a list of resources. |
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Women in Space: 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures By: Karen Bush Gibson Spotlighting pioneer women who reached for the stars. |