Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming

Amelia Lost, by Candace Fleming, retraces the life and last flight of Amelia Earhart.  There has been much interest recently in Amelia Earhart, particularly as yesterday, July 2, was the 75th anniversary of her disappearance in the Pacific.  In addition, a well-funded expedition is looking for the remains of her plane off a small island.

Everyone thinks they know about Amelia Earhart, but reading about the details of her life, interspersed with sections chronicling the events of her last day, readers will quickly realize they know the myths, but not the true story of Amelia Earhart.

Candace Fleming's vast research provides information about people and events, both the good and the bad, providing the reader with chances to make his or her own judgment about Amelia. This approach provides a glimpse into the difficulties a woman faced in being taken seriously in a profession dominated by men. Amelia had to make calculated decisions to continue to fly and there were doubts about Amelia's piloting skills at critical times in her career.

There is no question that she was a role model for women, and the feats she achieved taught women they could do something other than get married and be a housewife.  Fleming provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse that reminds us that Amelia was a human being, not a myth, and helps the reader understand the context of the time and culture in which Amelia Earhart lived.