Nonfiction Monday: First flight around the world by Tim Grove

In the early 1920s air travel was still a dangerous novelty. When a group of military pilots and mechanics set off to circumnavigate the globe, they met hardships and dangers from hostile nations to severe weather and mechanical issues. However, they survived and completed the flight, becoming heroes not just of the United States but of the world.

Their journey had barely begun when one plane of the group crashed in Alaska, barely surviving their adventure in the freezing cold. Rival fliers faced difficulties of their own and yet another plane from the American group was lost in the dangerous air and water currents off Iceland. However, they finally made it home to become heroes - and usher in a new age of flight.

This book details their flight, including dangers, accidents, and the excitement of seeing new places in an entirely new way. Photographs, first-person accounts, and other source documents fill the book as well. It's a riveting story as you follow the fliers through exhaustion, unfamiliar cultures, and various perils. The story also includes mechanical details and context from the history at the time.

Verdict: This is a fascinating read and even though it's a little more expensive than the average narrative nonfiction, I think it's worth the price. It would be a great title to booktalk for the summer. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781419714825; Published 2015 by Harry N. Abrams; Borrowed from another library in the consortium