This read is a fast paced non-fiction about the history of ballooning and the life of Sophie Blanchard. Filled with short snappy interludes about flight, it's a read that will entice middle grade and up. Recommended for collections that have high circulation for middle school history buffs.

A few years before the French revolution, a girl named Marie Madeleine-Sophie was born to a peasant family. Despite the war, her family's poverty, and the obstacles of gender-inequality, she would grow up to be one of the most famous aeronauts of her generation.

This middle grade nonfiction title delves into a fascinating aspect of French history that was entirely unknown to me. Because little is known about Sophie Blanchard's childhood, the first 75% of the book focuses on the history of ballooning, the political backdrop of the French Revolution, and the aeronaut who would eventually marry Sophie, Jean-Pierre Blanchard. Therefore, this title is more likely to hook readers who are interested in the history and science of early aviation than those looking for a biography. (Or, since it is a biography, it could be an ideal choice for students who are required to read a biography for class but are more interested in broader histories or science.) Despite the dearth of information about Blanchard's life before her marriage, Noyes makes sure to include mentions of young Sophie's age and family situation at the time of significant historical events to speculate as to how they might have affected her. She also includes interesting and useful asides about the science of ballooning and related history and legends. This book will be a solid addition to middle grade nonfiction collections.

This was a great informational read outlining the science of ballooning as it developed throughout the 1700s. This was told through snappy vignettes of successful and failed attempts at ballooning which made it a quick and interesting read. Although this is a focus on Sophie Blanchard, it tells the stories of many of the beginning balloonists.

It's incredible how much science has changed. People were genuinely concerned that if humans traveled to too high an altitude it may kill them, so animals were sent first. Another story that stuck out to me were the two men who were traveling over the English Channel by balloon and began dropping altitude. They threw everything overboard including their pants to be able to make it to the other side.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical topics, scientific developments, or biographic stories of strong women throughout history.