Amelia lost The life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart

Candace Fleming

Book - 2011

Tells the story of Amelia Earhart's life-- as a child, a woman, and a pilot-- and describes the search for her missing plane.

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Subjects
Published
New York : Schwartz & Wade Books c2011.
Language
English
Main Author
Candace Fleming (-)
Edition
1st ed
Physical Description
ix, 118 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 25 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9780375841989
9780375945984
Contents unavailable.
Review by New York Times Review

A sock monkey is the titular character in this tale of boy, cat and toy. Working with his wife, Eileen, who makes her picture book debut, Marc Rosenthal places hugely appealing retro-cartoon illustrations against a spare backdrop. As boy and cat tussle over Bobo, fundamental preschooler emotions - desire, fear, frustration, despair - will play for appreciative giggles. ELMER AND THE RAINBOW Written and illustrated by David McKee. Unpaged. Andersen Press USA. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 9) Elmer the out-of-the-ordinary patchwork elephant, a paragon of diversity for the preschool set and a major star in Europe, shines in a new tale of munificence and collaboration. Here, Elmer aims to give his own colors to an inexplicably colorless rainbow. With its conflict-free resolution, "Elmer" serves as a kind of antidote to the controversial "Rainbow Fish," in which a multihued fish is loath to share. Generosity, in Elmer's world, is not a zero-sum game. THE TROUBLE WITH CHICKENS A J.J. Tully Mystery. By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. 119 pp. Balzer & Bray. $14.99. (Middle grade; ages 8 to 12) Spot-on humor and a clever story ensure this latest from Cronin will be a favorite among middle-grade readers. The plot thickens as the hero, J.J. Tully, a former search-and-rescue dog with the world-weary voice of a retired P.I., confronts a family of chickens and an "inside" dog, Vince. Trouble indeed, sweetheart - but worth it. AMELIA LOST The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. By Candace Fleming. Illustrated. 118 pp. Schwartz & Wade Books. $18.99. (Middle grade; ages 8 to 12) Black-and-white photographs and elegant typography give this gorgeously produced book an appropriate period feel, while alternating chapters - one set following Earhart from childhood, the other tracking her final flight - provide historical context as well as vivid pacing. But though Fleming allows Earhart her glamorous due, she also strips her of myth, giving readers the accuracy they deserve. BLESS THIS MOUSE By Lois Lowry. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 152 pp. Houghton Mifflin. $15.99. (Middle grade; ages 9 to 12) Lowry, a two-time Newbery medalist, offers a winning fable about a parish of church mice. "Bless This Mouse" feels like an old-timey classic, but Mouse Mistress Hildegarde, though devout and resolute in caring for her wards, casually mentions "X-rated DVDs" (not that she would watch) and calls her nemesis a liar. No church lady, she. DEADLY By Julie Chibbaro. Illustrated. 293 pp. Atheneum. $16.99. (Young adult; ages 12 and up) Paced like a medical thriller, "Deadly" is the rare Y.A. novel in which a girl's intellectual interests trump adolescent romance. A 16-year-old Jewish tenement dweller in 1906 New York pines away days at a finishing school on scholarship and nights helping midwife young mothers. When she quits school to assist the Department of Health and Sanitation in its pursuit of "Typhoid Mary," she is awakened to nascent opportunities for women in science.

Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [March 13, 2011]
Review by Booklist Review

Drawing on her training as a historian and her considerable writing talents, Fleming (The Great and Only Barnum, 2009) offers a fresh look at this famous aviatrix. Employing dual narratives straightforward biographical chapters alternating with a chilling recounting of Earhart's final flight and the search that followed Fleming seeks to uncover the history in the hype, pointing out numerous examples in which Earhart took an active role in mythologizing her own life. While not disparaging Earhart's achievements, Fleming cites primary sources revealing that Earhart often flew without adequate preparation and that she and her husband, George Putnam, used every opportunity to promote her celebrity, including soliciting funds from sponsors. The use of a gray-tone background for the disappearance chapters successfully differentiates the narratives for younger readers. Frequent sidebars, well-chosen maps, archival documents, and photos further clarify textual references without disturbing the overall narrative flow. Appended with a generous bibliography and detailed source notes, this is a book most libraries will want both for its fascinating story and as an illustration of how research can alter historical perspective.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In a stirring account of an American icon, Fleming (The Great and Only Barnum) seeks to portray the Amelia behind the mythology-some of which, she explains, was perpetuated by Earhart herself. Chapters alternate between the tense search for the pilot's missing plane and a chronological progression through her life, complemented by b&w photographs and other materials smoothly incorporated into the book's crisp Art Deco-inspired design. Readers learn about Earhart's free-spirited early childhood, first inclinations toward flying, and other pursuits, which included medicine, writing, and fashion. An overview of the era's social and political climate, particularly as it pertained to women, should help readers grasp the significance of Earhart's accomplishments. Some anecdotes evidence a cutthroat nature (after Earhart and her husband have a fellow aviator's lecture tour canceled, the aviator recalls, "my friendship for Amelia quickly waned"). This honest depiction of Earhart's professional and personal life forms a complete portrait of a complex woman, making her final doomed flight (and a reproduction of a teenager's notebook transcription of what may have been Earhart's last radio transmission) all the more affecting. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-7-This captivating biography of a brave, talented, and savvy celebrity examines both the myths (some Earhart perpetuated herself) and the facts about a woman whose boundless ambition fueled her determination to fly around the world. This riveting look at an aviatrix who soared high in pursuit of her dreams is solidly grounded by impeccable scholarship, insightful writing, and well-chosen period photos. (Mar.) (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

The book's title references newspaper headlines run on July 3, 1937, one day after Earhart lost radio contact with the coast guard ship Itasca. Fleming begins her gripping narrative aboard that ship, which was helping guide Amelia to tiny Howland Island for refueling. After a cliffhanger chapter-ender -- "in the radio room...the other crew members sat listening to the mournful sound of that static.' Where, they wondered, was Amelia Earhart?" -- the text backs up to explore Amelia's early life. Fleming has mined the wealth of Earhart research to present reader-friendly details, from baby Amelia's first photo to her 19067 report card to a humorous anecdote (in Amelia's own words) about her dog, James Ferocious. Iconic images and stories about the flier are also included -- and sometimes deconstructed -- as Fleming describes the behind-the-scenes publicity machine that was working hard to keep Amelia in the spotlight. Interspersed with the chronological main text are thought-provoking short chapters about civilians who claimed to have picked up Earhart's mayday calls. Fleming also periodically cycles back to the Itasca's frantic efforts at communication and the U.S. Navy's failed search-and-rescue operations -- reminders to readers about the desperate immediacy of the situation as it was unfolding. The book's structure and scope, along with the story's inherent drama, provide a taut, cinematic backdrop for the history of Earhart's doomed flight. Appended are a bibliography, a list of websites, source notes, and an index. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

The most intriguing part of Amelia Earhart's life is often thought to be the way it ended. A mysterious disappearance and an unsolved rescue mission is a powerful story on its own. But Fleming digs deeper and shows readers why everyonefrom young girls who looked up to her to the First Lady of the United Statescared so much for this daring woman pilot. Chapters alternate between the days surrounding Earhart's fateful crash and her growth from child to trailblazer. The narrative shifts could have been maddening, for suspense reasons alone, but a rhythm is established and the two plotlines gracefully fold into the conclusion. The author also astutely reminds readers that Earhart had a public image to uphold and "took an active role in mythologizing her own life," so even excerpts from Earhart's published works can never be completely trusted. Handwritten notes, photos, maps and inquisitive sidebars (What did Earhart eat during flight? Tomato juice and chocolate) complete this impeccably researched, appealing package. A stunning look at an equally stunning lady. (bibliography, Internet resources, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

ON THE MORNING OF JULY 2, 1937, the coast guard cutter Itasca drifted on the Pacific Ocean, waiting... listening.... Hundreds of miles to the west, the famous female pilot Amelia Earhart was winging her way toward Howland Island--a narrow spit of coral sand just to the west of the ship. On this tiny dot of land, a handful of laborers had hastily built a runway just for Earhart, because she needed a place to land and refuel during the last leg of her around-the-world flight. But finding Howland Island from the air was a difficult task. Only two miles long and a half mile wide, Howland sits in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. "Only the most highly skilled and experienced fliers could ever have spotted it," remarked one sailor aboard Itasca . This was the reason the cutter was standing by. The crew hoped to help Earhart by making the island easier to spot. At midnight, searchlights had been switched on, serving as a beacon for the plane in case it picked up a tailwind and arrived early. At dawn, the ship's boilers had taken over, belching out thick black clouds of smoke as a visual signal. Meanwhile, the ship's radio stood ready to send and receive messages. Chief Radioman Leo Bellarts himself had checked to make sure the transmitters and receivers were working properly. Earlier it had been agreed that Earhart would send her radio call letters--KHAQQ--and any other necessary flight information on 3105 kilocycles (similar to a radio channel). In this way, plane and ship hoped to stay in contact. But Itasca didn't hear from Earhart until 2:45 a.m. "Cloudy and overcast," she calmly reported. The rest of her message was lost in static. For the past several hours Itasca had been sending Earhart the Morse code letter "A"--another aid to help guide her to the island. But if she heard this signal, she didn't respond to it. Around four a.m. a radioman from the coast guard's San Francisco division sent a message to Itasca . "Have you established contact with the plane yet?" he asked. "[We've] heard her," replied Radioman Third Class Thomas O'Hare, "but don't know if she hears us." Itasca went on sending and listening. Just before five a.m. they heard Earhart again. "Partly cloudy," she reported before her voice was once again lost in static. Tense, Bellarts leaned closer to his radio set. For more than an hour, he and the other radiomen heard only the scratching of empty air waves. Then--   6:14 a.m.: " ITASCA , THIS IS KHAQQ. . . . WANT BEARING. . . . WILL WHISTLE IN MIKE."   Earhart then announced she was about two hundred miles away and started whistling into her radio's microphone. Itasca's crew was surprised. The ship did have a direction finder that could pick up radio signals and determine where they were coming from. But their finder was unable to pick up the radio frequency Earhart was broadcasting on. Now, as she whistled into her mike, they realized the horrible truth--they could  not help her! Remembered Leo Bellarts, "I was sitting there sweating blood because I couldn't do a darn thing about it." Then Earhart stopped transmitting. For thirty minutes, radio operators tried making contact with her. Then, suddenly, she was back on the air, stronger than ever.   6:45 a.m.: "PLEASE TAKE BEARING ON US. . . . I WILL MAKE NOISE IN MIKE. . . . ABOUT ONE HUNDRED MILES OUT."   What could Itasca's crew do? For nearly an hour, radiomen frantically sent signals and messages, praying she could hear them. Crew members knew the plane had been aloft for nineteen hours now, and Earhart's fuel was running low. Along the ship's deck and on Howland Island itself, sailors gazed upward, their ears straining for the distant rumble of plane engines. "It was past dawn and the sky was partly cloudy," remembered one crew member. "The Itasca . . . [sent] out huge clouds of smoke while we lined the runway and sat out in lifeboats and the official greeters waited anxiously at the reception spot. All eyes gazed fondly, proudly, eagerly over the horizon. We believed we were about to see history in the making--the first woman to fly around the world, but she didn't come, and she didn't come." And then her voice broke through the static.   7:42 a.m.: "WE MUST BE ON YOU, BUT CANNOT SEE YOU. GAS IS RUNNING LOW. BEEN UNABLE TO REACH YOU BY RADIO. WE ARE FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,000 FEET."   Earhart's radio signal was so strong, Bellarts believed she had to be directly overhead. He stepped out of the radio room and listened, convinced he would hear a plane motor any second. He didn't.   7:58 a.m.: "KHAQQ CALLING ITASCA . WE ARE LISTENING BUT CANNOT HEAR YOU. . . ."   Bellarts knew this meant trouble. By now Earhart should have reached the island. But obviously she could see neither Howland nor the ship with its billowing smoke. This could mean only one thing--Amelia Earhart was lost.   8:00 a.m.: "KHAQQ CALLING ITASCA . WE RECEIVED YOUR SIGNALS BUT UNABLE TO GET A MINIMUM. PLEASE TAKE BEARING ON US AND ANSWER ON 3105. . . ."   Bellarts now knew with certainty that there was something wrong with Earhart's radio. She still did not know that they could not get a bearing on 3105 kilocycles. All they could do was go on sending radio signals. "We were trying everything," Bellarts later said. "We tried stuff that actually is not in the log. . . . Really, I mean it. We was frantic." Then--forty-five anxious minutes later--she was back:   8:45 a.m.: "WE ARE ON LINE 157-337. WE WILL REPEAT MESSAGE. . . . WE ARE RUNNING ON LINE NORTH AND SOUTH."   The fear in Earhart's voice made Leo Bellarts's skin prickle. "I'm telling you, it sounded as if she would have broken out in a scream. . . . She was just about ready to break into tears and go into hysterics. . . . I'll never forget it." Seconds turned to minutes. Minutes became an hour. But the sky above Howland Island remained empty. And in the radio room, Leo Bellarts and the other crew members sat listening to the "mournful sound of that static." Where, they wondered, was Amelia Earhart? Excerpted from Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.