In a just released children’s book, Jack Knight’s Brave Flight by Jill Esbaum, the nonfiction story follows a little-known story of how air mail almost didn’t get into the postal system. In the early days of aviation, mail traveled more commonly by train. Looking back on history, we can see how inefficient that was. Jack Knight, in 1921, was part of a group of early aviators who set out to prove that lawmakers should not cut funding for the U. S. Air Mail Service. Lawmakers considered the fact that mail at the time had to be flown in daylight hours and crashes were common.

Jack took off straight into a blizzard without modern tracking devices without adequate fuel and dependent on lights from airfields to guide him in. When the workers on those fields went home for the night and lights were turned off, the mission was in danger.

This true story makes a good read for a young reader who likes nonfiction and an even better read for sharing aloud with an adult who can remember how the postal service has changed over the years and knows how dependent on it we have become. A final surprise problem as Jack lands his plane will tickle the young reader, and probably the old one as well.

Abundant back matter adds to the information in the author’s note, historical pictures, and a short historical time line. The book is a natural for children who love nonfiction and for inclusion in school and public libraries.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for providing me the digital copy in exchange of honest review.

Jack Knight's Brave Flight is an engaging book with intriguing writing style, realistic illustrations, and timelines. It provides a lot of information regarding the history of Postal Transportation Service and how Jack Knight changed the fate of air mail by flying in highly challenging, adverse weather condition. He left for Omaha from North Platte, Nebraska at 10:44 p.m. After reaching his destination, he realized that he was the only pilot flying. Others were stuck in snowstorm. He risked his life with broken nose in freezing temperature to reach Chicago and was considered a hero for the rest of his life for his act of bravery! The writing is enjoyable, creating a suspenseful environment every now and then. The illustrations are also wonderful. Great book.

Cute book. I enjoyed learning about this historic flight mail race, that I had no prior knowledge too. And I know my children would find this interesting too. I felt the story could have been strengthened with a little more depth of emotion and just a more drawn out anticipation of whether Jack would make it or not. But cute, appropriate pictures and i appreciate the historical information at the end.

This well written and illustrated picture book gives young readers not only a daring adventure story, but also a look at the past when air travel and mail delivery were very different. Jack Knight, a pilot, was part of a team of pilots flying coast to coast overnight to deliver mail and prove that it was possible to do it effectively. Unfortunately for everyone, the weather was hazardous and other pilots were sidelined by crashes or exhaustion. It was up to Jack Knight to get the mail through. Readers will learn about the plane he piloted, the reason for the flight--to show Congress that air mail delivery was effective --was the motivation for Knight's heroic efforts. It's a great story and a good slice of history too! Back matter includes both an author's and illustrator's note, historical photographs, a bibliography and a timeline.