I got to read this one in advance of publication thanks to NetGalley, so I'm posting this review on, or as close to its release day as possible.
The 1920s barnstormers are not something I know a lot about, but I had heard of them before reading this book. I think I have even seen some old archive footage of wing-walkers doing their daring stunts in the air. Modern health and safety would have shut that stuff down in a heartbeat.
I have always been fascinated by the 1920s and feel like perhaps that's the era I would enjoy traveling to if time travel really was possible. But since I don't have a time machine, instead I can read books set in that time and immerse myself that way. It was a period where women started to find their voices and be heard.
The main character in this book, Grace, is one of those women demanding her voice. She's tough, spunky, daring and unafraid to stand up to the men who try to squash her dreams. Yet she still has an endearing vulnerablility. I enjoyed her journey through this story even when her headstrong nature led to some spectacular mistakes.
The historical detail in this book is well drawn without being self-conscious or didatic as they sometimes can be in historical fiction. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of real-life figures amongst the fictional characters.
The only thing I didn't particularly enjoy about the book was Grace's romance with Henry which felt forced and unneccessary to the story. I know it's YA, but does all YA have to have romance?
So I definitely reccommend this one.
But don't just listen to me. Here's the blurb:
Grace Lafferty only feels alive when she's dangling 500 feet above ground. As a post-World War I wing walker, Grace is determined to get to the World Aviation Expo, proving her team’s worth against flashier competitors and earning a coveted Hollywood contract.
No one’s ever questioned Grace’s ambition until Henry Patton, a mechanic with plenty of scars from the battlefield, joins her barnstorming team. With each new death-defying trick, Henry pushes Grace to consider her reasons for being a daredevil. Annoyed with Henry’s constant interference, and her growing attraction to him, Grace continues to test the powers of the sky.
After one of her risky maneuvers saves a pilot’s life, a Hollywood studio offers Grace a chance to perform at the Expo. She jumps at the opportunity to secure her future. But when a stunt goes wrong, Grace must decide whether Henry, and her life, are worth risking for one final trick.
