Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2015 Gr 5–8—This gripping, well-designed title details the United States' 1924 successful attempt to become the first nation to circumnavigate the globe by flight. The U.S. Army sent four planes; other nations, eager to make their marks, took up the challenge as well. The journey began on April 6, 1924 in Seattle and concluded on September 9, 1924, when the Chicago, the only one of the four American planes that made the entire trip, landed back in Seattle. This volume recounts the story of the Americans' adventures, detailing hardships, such as harsh weather and mechanical breakdowns. Despite the obstacles they faced, the crew of the Chicago achieved the goal, learning about different cultures and becoming goodwill ambassadors along the way. The writing is accessible, while the composition and page layout are extremely attractive, featuring tons of maps and historical photographs, and are sure to captivate readers through the stunning use of color. The back matter is thorough and includes an itinerary based on the official report of the flight. VERDICT Offering a look at a lesser-known historical event, this beautiful, well-written book is an essential addition for all collections.—Patricia Ann Owens, formerly with Illinois Eastern Community Colls., Mt. Carmel - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 05/01/2015 The United States claimed bragging rights (fairly or unfairly) for the Wright Brothers’ 1903 “first flight” and then promptly lost ground, so to speak, to other nations in developing strategic applications for air transportation and travel. In 1924 the United States Army Air Service entered into competition with Great Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, and Argentina to make the first air circumnavigation of Earth. A fleet of four biplanes, each with a pilot and mechanic, took off from Seattle on what was hoped to be a four-month adventure, and nearly six months later landed victorious in Seattle, missing two of the original planes but, happily, none of the crew. Grove recounts the flight, drawing heavily from a journal kept by flier Leslie Arnold and from hundreds of photos taken en route. The result is a nonstop true action/adventure tale replete with crashes into mountains, mechanical failures over oceans, strandings and rescues, heartening incidents of international support and cooperation, and nerve-wracking moments of uncertainty fed by political conflict. The mission, designed to be a technological feat, quickly became a diplomatic success as well, with the weary fliers continually stalled by foreign dignitaries and enthusiasts eager to laud the travelers’ undertaking, when they simply wanted to fix their planes, beat the competition, and go home. The book design deserves some acclaim as well, telling a edge-of-the-seat story in a research-friendly format, with well-placed maps (an opening world map sports chapter references), bold-colored recaps of such salient information as planes and fliers with photos, and the dates and fates of international competitors. A bibliography lists key primary sources, endnotes cite quotations from text and sidebars, a glossary covers important aviation terms, and an official itinerary with dates, landings, miles flown, and pontoon/wheel changes allows readers to track progress against a map. Readers who followed Bly and Bisland’s 1890 round-the-world race in Matthew Goodman’s adult book Eighty Days will want to see what circumnavigation looked like three decades and one world war later. EB - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 05/01/2015 In April 1924, four open-cockpit planes, each with a pilot and a mechanic and all the supplies they could carry, took off from Seattle and headed westward to embark on a groundbreaking circumnavigating flight, which ended up taking 150 days to complete. The four pilots, without the aid of radios or radar, faced damaging weather and dangerous flight conditions as they made the 26,345-mile trek, beating out other countries attempting the same record. Based in large part on the flight journal of one of the mechanics, the narrative engagingly describes their grueling trip, which was marked by crashes, engine failure, injury, and navigational woes, but also warm welcomes from foreign governments and goodwill diplomacy on the part of the flight crews. The plethora of historical photos, maps, primary documents, and accounts from the flight crew about their experiences, laid out on eye-catching pages, help enliven the story of this incredible feat. Though the tone is occasionally dry, especially considering the thrilling topic, kids interested in all things aviation related will likely be enthralled. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

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