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Wings and Rockets: The Story of Women in Air and Space
Celebrating the hundredth anniversary of powered flight
From Katharine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers, to Eileen Collins, the first woman commander of a spacecraft, scores of women have played critical roles in our country's history of aviation. Wilbur and Orville Wright, who pioneered powered flight in 1903, knew how much they owed to Katharine. "When the world speaks of the Wrights," said Orville, "they should not forget our sister." Although Katharine Wright was among the first women to ride in an airplane, Blanche Stuart Scott was the first to sit at the controls. To achieve her dream, Blanche overcame sexism and other obstacles. The same can be said of every woman whose piloting career is highlighted here - Bessie Coleman, Amelia Earhart, Jackie Cochran, Ann Baumgartner Carl, Jerrie Cobb, Shannon Wells Lucid, and others. Their stories are sure to fire the imaginations of readers and encourage them to "follow their hearts into the sky" - or anywhere at all.
This beautifully articulated history of American women who broke barriers to achieve an especially satisfying success is enhanced by clever, captivating halftone illustrations.
From Katharine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers, to Eileen Collins, the first woman commander of a spacecraft, scores of women have played critical roles in our country's history of aviation. Wilbur and Orville Wright, who pioneered powered flight in 1903, knew how much they owed to Katharine. "When the world speaks of the Wrights," said Orville, "they should not forget our sister." Although Katharine Wright was among the first women to ride in an airplane, Blanche Stuart Scott was the first to sit at the controls. To achieve her dream, Blanche overcame sexism and other obstacles. The same can be said of every woman whose piloting career is highlighted here - Bessie Coleman, Amelia Earhart, Jackie Cochran, Ann Baumgartner Carl, Jerrie Cobb, Shannon Wells Lucid, and others. Their stories are sure to fire the imaginations of readers and encourage them to "follow their hearts into the sky" - or anywhere at all.
This beautifully articulated history of American women who broke barriers to achieve an especially satisfying success is enhanced by clever, captivating halftone illustrations.
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2003
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Jeannine Atkins
23 books47 followersJeannine Atkins is the author of Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science, Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math, and Little Woman in Blue: A Novel of May Alcott. She teaches in the MFA program at Simmons College. You can learn more on her website at http://www.Jeannineatkins.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 4, 2017
Very inspiring read. It made me want to learn how to fly and be braver when it comes to adversity.
June 25, 2024
Wings and Rockets: the Story of Women in Air and Space, by Jeannine Atkins, with pictures by Dušan Petričič. Straus and Giroux, 2003. 197 pages, hardback.
The author uses imaginative dialogue from these history-setting women to tell their story in a captivating narrative. It’s easy to read and inspirational. I’ve never head of most of the women in the book and I have to wonder how many people have and why not. Atkins tells their story, captures their struggles, their failures and triumphs, in a personal and heartfelt way that doesn’t demand sympathy but leaves me feeling inspired and wanting to keep reading.
I’m reading this and other books as research for the play I’ll be directing. I’m directing “They Promised Her the Moon,” by Laurel Ollstein, for Playmakers Theater in Covington early next year. This play chronicles the story of Jerrie Cobb, the first woman to undergo the same testing and training as what men did to become astronauts for the Mercury space program. My own involvement with the current Artemis rockets and the Space Launch System program is what inspired me to take the yoke of this craft.
The author uses imaginative dialogue from these history-setting women to tell their story in a captivating narrative. It’s easy to read and inspirational. I’ve never head of most of the women in the book and I have to wonder how many people have and why not. Atkins tells their story, captures their struggles, their failures and triumphs, in a personal and heartfelt way that doesn’t demand sympathy but leaves me feeling inspired and wanting to keep reading.
I’m reading this and other books as research for the play I’ll be directing. I’m directing “They Promised Her the Moon,” by Laurel Ollstein, for Playmakers Theater in Covington early next year. This play chronicles the story of Jerrie Cobb, the first woman to undergo the same testing and training as what men did to become astronauts for the Mercury space program. My own involvement with the current Artemis rockets and the Space Launch System program is what inspired me to take the yoke of this craft.
September 12, 2019
A simple yet captivating introduction into the lives of some amazing women. It made me want to learn more! As always, I loved the extras at the end.
June 15, 2010
An easy to read history of women in flight.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews