courtthebookgirl 's review for:

The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman

4.5

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Well, this book has my whole heart!

Most of you know I’m not a huge reader of historical fiction, but somehow I was immediately drawn to this book - the story of a female navigator/pilot in the 1927 Dole Race. It is a story inspired by true events told by two narrators - the titular Olivia West, our navigator/pilot in 1927, and Wren, a woman in the 1980s who inherits family property in Hawaii and uncovers the tale of the (very real) Dole Race. 

That’s too great a simplification, but I truly believe it’s best to go into this book without knowing too much. It unfolds beautifully between our two strong, unique, captivating narrators who are trailblazers in their own way, in their own time. 

I listened to this on audio, narrated by Jennifer Robideau, and her voice truly made the story come alive. Her voice (and authentic-to-my-untrained-ear) pronunciations of the Hawaiian words, names, and places within added a special touch. I highly recommend the audio and I’ll be checking out more books she’s narrated for sure. 

The story immediately grabbed me and never let go. I was enamored with Livy - a female pilot in the 1920s would be a rarity, and her chutzpah and determination made for a truly memorable character. I absolutely adored ever page of her story. 

The history was fascinating, the nod to Hawaiian culture was beautiful, and this story has it all - mystery, intrigue, suspense, romance, and a nail-bitingly intense story of a trip across the ocean in a small plane. 

I absolutely loved this book and won’t soon forget it. 
4.5 stars.