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A review by benedorm
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming
4.0
It's a good children's biography, one that makes excellent use of chapters that intercut Amelia's life story with her disappearance and its immediate aftermath. The structure goes a long way toward keeping the story interesting for a young reader -- no mean feat, given that we already know even before picking up the book that Amelia won't be found.
I've heard some buzz around this book as a possible Newbery medal contender, and in fact, I read it as prep for the Maryland Mock Newbery. Though it's quite good at what it does, it doesn't in any way deserve to win, not in a year that also produced Breadcrumbs and Junonia. It tells a good story, but it doesn't transcend the story it tells, which is what makes something a "distinguished literary contribution" to me. I'd recommend it to a kid who likes true stories, especially one who likes strong female figures, and I'd do that without question. But I wouldn't give it a medal.
3.5 stars
I've heard some buzz around this book as a possible Newbery medal contender, and in fact, I read it as prep for the Maryland Mock Newbery. Though it's quite good at what it does, it doesn't in any way deserve to win, not in a year that also produced Breadcrumbs and Junonia. It tells a good story, but it doesn't transcend the story it tells, which is what makes something a "distinguished literary contribution" to me. I'd recommend it to a kid who likes true stories, especially one who likes strong female figures, and I'd do that without question. But I wouldn't give it a medal.
3.5 stars