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Amelia Earhart: Young Aviator
Using simple language that beginning readers can understand, this lively, inspiring, and believable biography looks at the childhood of Amelia Earhart. Illustrated throughout.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2000
About the author
Beatrice Gormley
45 books30 followers Born in Glendale, California, Beatrice grew up in Southern California. After graduating from Pomona College, she worked in publishing near San Francisco. There she met and married Robert Gormley, and they moved to Massachusetts. They have two daughters.
Since age 9 Beatrice had wanted to become a writer. But it wasn't until after her children were born that she really focused on her writing. In 1981 her first book, Mail Order Wings,was published. Since then she's written many popular novels and biographies for young people. Her most recent books are Second Lives, a novel of humans and other animals, and the biography Joe Biden: Our 46th President.
Since age 9 Beatrice had wanted to become a writer. But it wasn't until after her children were born that she really focused on her writing. In 1981 her first book, Mail Order Wings,was published. Since then she's written many popular novels and biographies for young people. Her most recent books are Second Lives, a novel of humans and other animals, and the biography Joe Biden: Our 46th President.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 8, 2020
One of the better written COFA books. I got wrapped up in it, as an adult, and felt like we got a wonderful glimpse of Amelia Earhart's personality and spirit as well as her many accomplishments. I would love to read her autobiography one day. I had tears in my eyes as I finished this.
That said, an early chapter book supposedly focused on Amelia's childhood and targeted to young children, I'm not sure it is entirely successful. Only about 1/3 of it is about Amelia's childhood. The chapters on Amelia's childhood are engaging and provide a glimpse into her courage and ingenuity, her belief that girls should be able to do what boys can, her sense justice and compassion, and her early interest in the "Flying Machine" she saw at the World's Fair as a young girl. All of these certainly do play out into her adult years, from her time in nursing and social work to her deeper mission to break barriers for women especially in the world of aviation. However, the chapters also dwell on her parents' unhappy marriage and her father's drinking problem – while certainly a part of Amelia’s life and made me appreciate her cheerful disposition even with such difficult parts in her childhood, I noted some reviewers felt it was given too much focus for the targeted age range. Also, the dangers of flying are not downplayed and the deaths of many pilots are mentioned. Again, this may be fine for some children, but for other children it might be a bit too disturbing and inhibit their enthusiasm for flying rather than encourage it. I wouldn’t want a sugar-coated biography but just be aware that I do think this one is perhaps better suited to upper elementary whereas most of the other COFA I have encountered are spot-on for the earlier grades . It also does get a bit bogged down in narrative and information--I found it engagingly told but all the famous people she meets, the press meetings, her will-she/won't-she marry one day... all that is not really what most young children are wanting to read about, they want the flying bits ;-) That said, I'm grateful this book is part of the series and, while I did skip over a few parts here and there, my seven-year-old loved what we read and wants to read it again. It was important to me that he see that women were also a part of the early days of aviation. I would recommend this to the older elementary set with the caveat that that, regrettably, there's no Bibliography, not even a list of Earhart's own works (which are mentioned in the story itself but not separately).
NOTE: The book I read is by Beatrice Gormley. Apparently there is an earlier COFA titled, Amelia Earhart: Kansas Girl.
That said, an early chapter book supposedly focused on Amelia's childhood and targeted to young children, I'm not sure it is entirely successful. Only about 1/3 of it is about Amelia's childhood. The chapters on Amelia's childhood are engaging and provide a glimpse into her courage and ingenuity, her belief that girls should be able to do what boys can, her sense justice and compassion, and her early interest in the "Flying Machine" she saw at the World's Fair as a young girl. All of these certainly do play out into her adult years, from her time in nursing and social work to her deeper mission to break barriers for women especially in the world of aviation. However, the chapters also dwell on her parents' unhappy marriage and her father's drinking problem – while certainly a part of Amelia’s life and made me appreciate her cheerful disposition even with such difficult parts in her childhood, I noted some reviewers felt it was given too much focus for the targeted age range. Also, the dangers of flying are not downplayed and the deaths of many pilots are mentioned. Again, this may be fine for some children, but for other children it might be a bit too disturbing and inhibit their enthusiasm for flying rather than encourage it. I wouldn’t want a sugar-coated biography but just be aware that I do think this one is perhaps better suited to upper elementary whereas most of the other COFA I have encountered are spot-on for the earlier grades . It also does get a bit bogged down in narrative and information--I found it engagingly told but all the famous people she meets, the press meetings, her will-she/won't-she marry one day... all that is not really what most young children are wanting to read about, they want the flying bits ;-) That said, I'm grateful this book is part of the series and, while I did skip over a few parts here and there, my seven-year-old loved what we read and wants to read it again. It was important to me that he see that women were also a part of the early days of aviation. I would recommend this to the older elementary set with the caveat that that, regrettably, there's no Bibliography, not even a list of Earhart's own works (which are mentioned in the story itself but not separately).
NOTE: The book I read is by Beatrice Gormley. Apparently there is an earlier COFA titled, Amelia Earhart: Kansas Girl.
January 16, 2020
It is about amelias chirldhood and how she grows up! (Her nickname is Mille)
June 18, 2010
Remember falling in love with biographies after reading this one, my first. I think I read back in junior high but there are many updated versions as well. Inspiring!
May 23, 2012
MCL. When she flew across the ocean she ate hard-boiled eggs and hot tomato juice. I would pick something different to eat, but it probably kept her from being hungry.
March 31, 2021
Biographical Nonfiction
6th grade reading level
This is a biographical book about Amelia Earhart. This character in history is one who many students have heard of, but may not know much about. Her life holds the key to many important life lessons and great characteristics of personality, such as courage. It can be an encouraging story for young readers who want to set goals and want to grow to achieve great things, and it makes it even better that it is a true story. I love the book and love all the value it has for young readers who will also be engaged in this adventurous Biography.
6th grade reading level
This is a biographical book about Amelia Earhart. This character in history is one who many students have heard of, but may not know much about. Her life holds the key to many important life lessons and great characteristics of personality, such as courage. It can be an encouraging story for young readers who want to set goals and want to grow to achieve great things, and it makes it even better that it is a true story. I love the book and love all the value it has for young readers who will also be engaged in this adventurous Biography.
November 6, 2020
Book for children ... but there is nothing wrong with that.
July 25, 2021
Turtle: great! Return to library.
February 1, 2023
Interesting to read about this accomplished woman. She seemed to be constantly striving for the next record and I wonder if she was ever truly content or happy.
May 23, 2025
Really liked this. It was written well for middle-level readers and I actually learned more about Amelia Earhart from it, too.
October 9, 2023
I had to read it for school so idrc 😭
December 9, 2009
This story is a biography about one of the most famous women in American History during the 1930s. Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, across the united states and was also the first person to talk on a two way radio while flying. She was a hero to many women in how she always encouraged women to gain a career and follow their dreams. Her main goal was to fly solo around the world. She didn't make it, for her plane crashed instead. Her memory still lives on. this book tells her life story as if she were narrating it herself. The book is also very informational.
June 30, 2013
Purchased for niece, thought I might as well read it first myself. This is a delightful and inspiring book for young readers. Not only does it describe Earhart's accomplishments, it gives details of her difficult childhood and challenges she had to overcome. throughout her life. I very much enjoyed this book.
August 6, 2009
I don't like non fiction very much... but this was a pretty good book.
May 21, 2012
I really Liked this book. It was really good but until I read this I didn't know she had so many family troubles. But it was a good book.
January 1, 2014
It was a really good book. I liked it because it was really interesting to learn about Amelia Earhart.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews