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Book Summary: This book gives the reader a look at what happened the night that Amelia Earhart took Eleanor Roosevelt up in an airplane after being invited to the White House for dinner. Based on actual events, the author describes the view of Washington, D.C. from above, with all the monuments lit up and shining bright for them to see. After landing back at the airport and heading back to the White House, Amelia and Eleanor decide to sneak off for a ride in Eleanor's car, which she knows how to drive.
APA Reference of the book: Ryan, P. M. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
Impressions: This story is one that has an almost magical quality to it, at least for me. As a kid, Amelia Earhart was one of my heroes, even though I didn't personally have any ambitions about becoming a pilot. This story shows a different side of both Amelia and Eleanor, and shows that while they both could be serious, each had a mischievous side and knew how to be playful. The illustrations in the book help lend an air of excitement to the story, which slowly unfolds as the reader gets to see what the characters might have seen when flying that night. The unexpected twist at the end of the story with the women sneaking off to go for a ride in Eleanor's car shows how alike they were in pursuing skills that weren't necessarily considered feminine at the time. Overall, I think the book gives insight into two of the most influential women in the United States at that time, and shows that even historical figures, who are often portrayed as overly serious, knew how to have fun.
Professional Review: "In this sparkling picture book based on a true incident, Ryan (Riding Freedom, with Selznick) proves that Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt truly were "birds of a feather." Friends in real life, America's First Lady invited the "First Lady of the Air" to dinner at the White House in 1933. Eleanor, inspired by Amelia's descriptions of Washington viewed from her plane at night, accepts the pilot's offer of an after-dinner flight over the capital. Before dessert can be served, and over the protests of the Secret Service agents, the two are off to the airport and up in the sky, thrilling to the brilliance of the city below. Hewing closely to documented accounts, Ryan's inviting text adds drama and draws parallels between the two protagonists with fictional touches: she places them alone together in the plane (an author's note explains that in fact they were accompanied by two male pilots) and adds a final scene in which Eleanor takes Amelia for a zippy ride around the city in her brand-new car. Selznick's illustrations, black-and-white graphite accented with touches of purple pencil, both capture the vibrancy of his subjects and evoke the feel of a more glamorous era. A brief but compelling slice from the lives of two determined, outspoken and passionate women. Ages 5-9. (Oct.)"
Roback, D. and Brown, J. M. (1999). Forecasts: Children's Literature [Review of Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride by Pam Munoz Ryan]. Publishers Weekly, 246(39), p. 105. Retrieved from: http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Library uses: This book could be used in a display about books from that particular time period. Also, it could be used to discuss the similarities and differences with students between Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt.
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