The New York Times Book Review - Sarah Harrison Smith
McCarthy's googly-eyed portraits make Skelton's story amusing as well as inspiring.
Publishers Weekly
McCarthy has made a career out of picture-book biographies of unexpected subjects, and this thoroughly inspiring portrait of Betty June Skelton (1926–2011) reveals a woman who embodies a “need for speed.” Direct quotations from Skelton fill her story with personality. She was obsessed with flying from an early age, and she made the newspapers for a solo flight on her 16th birthday—never mind that her father had already plopped her into a cockpit four years earlier. “It wasn’t quite legal then so I couldn’t tell anybody,” she recalled. Skelton went on to break records on land, sea, and air, and she even had a shot at becoming the first woman in space. In McCarthy’s succinct prose and wide-eyed acrylic cartooning, Skelton comes through as a woman eager to break barriers and try anything. Ages 4–8. (June)
From the Publisher
DAREDEVIL, • starred review
Ever hear of Betty Skelton? Most people haven’t, yet this woman was a whirling daredevil who liked to go fast and broke records in aviation and auto racing.
In the 1930s, most girls played with dolls, but not Betty: She was obsessed with airplanes, and at age 16, she soloed. She wanted to be a commercial pilot and fly in the Navy, but she was laughed at. So she became a stunt pilot with her dog, Little Tinker, by her side and no shoes on her feet. In 1951 she broke an altitude record. Then she traded planes for race cars and drove into a new career, breaking the women’s record at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a speed of 315.74 mph. those challenges weren’t enough for Betty, and she went on to driving a stunt boat. What was next? She trained to be an astronaut, but NASA wasn’t ready to send a female into space. Even so, Betty had “proven that women could do it as well as men.” The acrylic cartoon illustrations play up Betty’s spunk and derring-do with McCarthy’s trademark googly eyed expressions. Her achievements are stated in the straightforward narrative, but the author allows readers to tap into her personality through use of quotes: When Betty flew higher than Mount Everest, she said: “My feet darn near froze to death.”
McCarthy has spun an adventurous story about this little-known woman, highlighting her groundbreaking triumphs with respectful whimsy. (“Fun Facts,” additional quotes, timeline, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo
In the early 1930s, Betty Skelton lived with her parents near a navy base in Pensacola, Florida where she watched the naval airplanes fly overhead. Her dream was to fly an airplane. She did so at the age of twelve (although it wasn't quite legal), and she flew solo at the age of sixteen. She became a stunt pilot and retired in the early 1950s. Betty wasn't finished with her daredevil lifestyle. She became a race car driver and broke the women's speed record. She became the first female boat jumper even though she couldn't swim. She was the first woman invited to train with the Mercury 7 astronauts. The upbeat, conversational writing style reflects Betty's derring-do attitude. She wasn't deterred when told women didn't do those things. She found other ways to fulfill her dreams. The cartoon-style illustrations make this child-friendly and inviting. McCarthy varies the illustrations, sometimes making them look like photos in an album (the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah); sometimes adding smaller illustrations on the page (the astronaut tests, stunts on water skis); and sometimes just a wordless, double-page spread (Betty flying solo). This variation adds greatly to the reader's understanding of Betty's feelings and her accomplishments. The back matter includes Fun Facts, a Timeline, Betty Quotes, and a Selected Bibliography. This picture book biography informs the reader about a not-too-distant past when Betty was defying traditional gender roles. It is an excellent choice for readers. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
School Library Journal - Audio
02/01/2015
Gr 1–4—Betty Skelton grew up in the 1930s during a time when airplanes were still very new—and very exciting. She was intrigued by flight from an early age and lived for adventure. When Betty set a goal, such as learning to fly, she didn't let anything slow her down—especially not the idea that girls shouldn't fly airplanes. This thrilling biography highlights Betty's accomplishments not only in the air, but on the racetrack, in the water, and training with NASA's Mercury 7 astronauts. Susie Berneis's spirited narration perfectly complements Betty's adventurous story. As she describes Betty's many accomplishments, the roar of engines and the whirr of propellers echo in the background. VERDICT Students will be amazed by all that Betty did, and this story of a lesser-known aviation and auto-racing pioneer will be a wonderful addition to biography collections.—Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA
Kirkus Reviews
Ever hear of Betty Skelton? Most people haven't, yet this woman was a whirling daredevil who liked to go fast and broke records in aviation and auto racing. In the 1930s, most girls played with dolls, but not Betty: She was obsessed with airplanes, and at age 16, she soloed. She wanted to be a commercial pilot and fly in the Navy, but she was laughed at. So she became a stunt pilot with her dog, Little Tinker, by her side and no shoes on her feet. In 1951 she broke an altitude record. Then she traded planes for race cars and drove into a new career, breaking the women's record at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a speed of 315.74 mph. Those challenges weren't enough for Betty, and she went on to driving a stunt boat. What was next? She trained to be an astronaut, but NASA wasn't ready to send a female into space. Even so, Betty had "proven that women could do it as well as men." The acrylic cartoon illustrations play up Betty's spunk and derring-do with McCarthy's trademark googly eyed expressions. Her achievements are stated in the straightforward narrative, but the author allows readers to tap into her personality through use of quotes: When Betty flew higher than Mount Everest, she said: "My feet darn near froze to death." McCarthy has spun an adventurous story about this little-known woman, highlighting her groundbreaking triumphs with respectful whimsy. ("Fun Facts," additional quotes, timeline, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
