Amelia Earhart: The Sky's No Limit (American Heroes)

Amelia Earhart: The Sky's No Limit (American Heroes)

Named to the New York Public Library's Best Books for the Teen Age 2006 As a tomboy growing up in Kansas, Amelia Earhart delighted intrying new and risky things, once even building a roller-coaster in hergrandparents' backyard. In her 20s she fell in love with flight whilewatching an aerobatics exhibition and grew even more enthralled when shetook her first airplane ride.At age 24 she earned her pilot's wings and 1928 took part in thetransatlantic Friendship flight. Her willowy build, wholesome smile, andtousled blonde hair invited comparison to the celebrated pilot CharlesLindbergh, and Lady Lindy charmed the public with her unassuming manner.In 1937, Earhart wed publisher George Putnam, who managed her careerand promoted her zealously, ensuring her status as the world's best-knownaviatrix. The next year, she soloed the Atlantic, afterward receiving theDistinguished Flying Cross and began championing the efforts of womenthroughout the world to explore careers -- especially in aviation --traditionally held by men.Tragically, just days before her fortieth birthday, Earhart, hernavigator Fred Noonan, and their plane vanished en route to tiny HowlandIsland in the Pacific Ocean as they neared the end of their round-the-worldjourney. President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the greatest land andocean search ever undertaken but no trace of the missing flyers or theircraft were ever found.To Amelia Earhart, even the sky was no limit to those with thecourage to test new boundaries.