She knows her biplane “Jenny” inside and out. Although she is only 18 years old, she is all daredevil up in the sky when she performs her stunts in 500 feet above the ground. Grace is part of “The Soaring Eagles” barnstorming team.

Nostalgically set in the 1920’ Midwest USA, Grace, a spunky female barnstorming girl ahead of her time, will make your heart soar. Gratitude sent to North Star Editions - Flux for allowing this pre-release made available. This ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Before that could happen though, they'd have to hustle up some extra shows to make the bucks. She figured that if they made to the Expo, they'd be a shoo-in with that new trick for first place. Grace felt that she had to come up with a new trick that no one else had done before.

It also meant their close knit group would be staying together. That meant steady employment for The Soaring Eagles. First prize winner would receive a one-year contract with highly recognized Palm Coast Studios of California. The only thing standing in her way, their way, was the $400 entry fee. The best Barnstormers from around the country would be competing. The 1922 World Aviation Exposition in Chicago was just over two months away. There was just as great a risk of engine failure as there was for human error. During the early years of barnstorming, there were no government rules or regulations. The ones that stayed on top drew the crowds, made the money. Grace was always in search of new tricks to outperform the others. Two other members, Nathan and Daniel, rounded out their team with another plane.īack in the day, barnstorming like many other businesses had its competition.

They performed stunts and tricks to wow many audiences across Nebraska and neighboring states. Her Uncle Warren was the pilot of a World War 1 army surplus plane known as a 'Jenny'. The headliner of the troupe known as 'The Soaring Eagles'. Lincoln, Nebraska, summer of 22', eighteen-year-old wing walker Grace Lafferty, is the star of the show. The author set me back in my chair with an ending that would not let go. A welcome relief being easily swept away in a narrative so easy to follow. There were no digressions to different scenes or time periods. From chapter to chapter, the compelling tale remained focused, never straying from the storyline. Time of speakeasies, home run King Babe Ruth and silent movie star Douglas Fairbanks. Amy Trueblood took me on a whirlwind adventure of barnstorming post World War 1.

Across a Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood