In this graphic novel style biographical look at Amelia Earhart, readers are treated to the marriage of fact and story. The story starts in a small Newfoundland town. Amelia Earhart, Bill Stultz, and Slim Gordon have arrived in the hopes to make Amelia the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air.
Grace, a girl in town who fancies herself a reporter and publishes her own paper, is shocked and intrigued by Amelia's goal. Grace takes to following Amelia around town, hoping for a scoop and some insight. Once attempt, after attempt to take off fail, many people lose interest in the flight...but not Grace! She actually gets a tête à tête with Earhart and has her questions answered - including why she wants to fly airplanes, how she was chosen for the Atlantic crossing, and what her husband thinks about her flying.
Readers see Grace grow up and follow her own dreams, apparently inspired by Amelia's successes.
The introduction by Eileen Collins (the first female pilot of a space shuttle) sets the tone. Readers are introduced to Earhart through the eyes of someone inspired by her, and Collins lays out the facts of Earhart's life. Ben Towle's illustrations are filled with emotion and give a real sense of time period. The tri-color panels (black, white and blue) instantly pull the reader in and are evocative not only of the triumph of the skies, but the tragedy of the seas. The panel discussions int he back matter deepen the factual content of Earhart's life through quotes, information on women pilots, as well as society in the 1920s and 30s.
Overall, this is a stunning and interesting look into the life and times of Amelia Earhart.
“Risky Business”
Please feel free to forward this report to others whom you think are interested
The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association is to advocate, promote and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library service, and to support those who provide service to this population.
Mission Moment
How Recent YALSA Activities Support the Association’s Mission and Strategic Plan
At their Midwinter Meetings, the YALSA Board voted to approve a proposal that expanded virtual participation in the Association’s process committees. This decision directly supports the Member Engagement goal in YALSA’s strategic plan as it provides more members opportunities to participate in the Association. And, by providing those opportunities, YALSA also meets its mission to support those who provide service to teens. The proposal that was approved by the Board at Midwinter is available on the YALSA web site.
Accomplishments
My focus during January was on YALSA’s Midwinter Meeting in Boston. Prior to the Meeting I worked with YALSA’s Executive Director, Executive Committee, and Board members to finalize Board meeting agendas and supporting documents for each item on the Board agenda. The YALSA Board made several key decisions during their Midwinter meetings and also began discussions on topics that will help shape the Association’s programs, services, and products over the next few years. Documents supporting Midwinter discussions of the Board remain available on the YALSA web site and the YALSA Blog provides an overview of Board discussions and decisions. (You can read the January 16 overview and the January 17 and 18 overview.)
The first William C. Morris/Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award program and reception took place at this year’s Midwinter Meeting. This successful event included the presentation of Awards to the winners and honorees and a video presentation by the winner of the William C. Morris Award, L. K. Madigan. Speeches by four of the five honorees for the Excellence in Nonfiction Award, including the winner of that Award, Deborah Heiligman, were also a part of the event. The Committees that selected the honorees and winners for these two awards worked diligently over the past year in order to make quality choices. I would like to thank Judy Nelson, the Chair of the William C. Morris Award; Angela Carstensen, Chair of the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award; and their committee members for their hard-work and dedication.
In order to answer questions from YALSA members about the Association’s selected lists, YALSA’s Immediate Past President, Sarah Debraski, and I developed a selected lists Frequently Asked Questions document. The document is availab
I planned to post about YALSA’s Board meetings every day of Midwinter. But, as they say, “The best laid plans….”
Following the Saturday 1/16/10 meeting, the YALSA Board met twice more and the hard-working members continued to strategically plan for the Association. Items on the agenda on Sunday and Monday were discussion items. That means that what was discussed was not slated for specific action. Items listed as discussion usually are related to topics that haven’t yet been discussed by the Board and which may need more thought, and perhaps revision, before placed on a future agenda for a specific action. Discussion items can be acted on, but they do not have to be. An overview of topics discussed on Sunday, 1/17/10, and Monday, 1/18/10, follows.
- At both Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting, the YALSA Board receives an update on the Association’s financial health. This update is provided by YALSA’s Fiscal Officer, Mary Hastler, and Executive Director, Beth Yoke. The report at Midwinter included suggestions that help guarantee that during financially difficult times, YALSA remains financially secure. The YALSA Board will continue to consider ways to control expenses and maximize revenues while meeting member needs. The full financial report is available on the YALSA web site.
- Over the past couple of years the YALSA Board has spent some time discussing the possibility of the Association starting a foundation. The reasons for this are multiple and include that a YALSA foundation could help the Association to better manage fundraising efforts. The YALSA Board decided to go forward with an investigation of this concept and has asked me to contact YALSA’s representative to the Executive Board to discuss whether or not it is feasible, within the ALA structure, to continue to explore YALSA foundation possibilities. The document related to foundations which the Board discussed is available on the YALSA web site.
- In the fall YALSA member Sarah Flowers worked with a task force to revise YALSA’s competences for librarians serving teens. Sarah presented the revised document to the YALSA Board and discussed with Board members the changes and decisions made during the revision process. Changes include a simplifying of language and embedding of technology into the entire set of competencies. The Board approved the revised competencies and the update will be released and distributed soon. The revised document is available on the YALSA web site.
- In 2004 a task force charged with coming up with recommendations for use of the William C. Morris Endowment interest funds included in their report that after five years the use of the funds should be evaluated. A draft evaluation report (prepared by an ad hoc committee of the Board, Chaired by Mary Hastler) was presented to the Board. The report included an overview of the ways in which the funds have been spent to date and ideas for future use of the monies. Ideas covered in the document include possible grants and awards for librarians and authors. After some initial discussion, it was determined that the Board needs to spend more time looking at the possibilities and to think strategically about the best ways to s
I am off to Boston to attend ALA's midwinter conference, where I am a member of 2 ALSC Grant Committees. I am looking forward to doing some good work, seeing some long lost colleagues, and checking out this fine city for the first time.
Hopefully there will be some intriguing ARCs to pick up along the way.
See you there?
In this graphic novel style biographical look at Amelia Earhart, readers are treated to the marriage of fact and story. The story starts in a small Newfoundland town. Amelia Earhart, Bill Stultz, and Slim Gordon have arrived in the hopes to make Amelia the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. 
Hey, didn't know about this one. Thanks.