Elinor Smith was six when she first went for a ride in a rickety flying machine, and she was just sixteen when she earned her aviation license in 1928. But not everyone thought that girls should fly. When male pilots and newspapermen mocked her, Elinor decided to perform an aerial maneuver they thought was impossible: flying under all four bridges that span New York City's East River.

At the age of 17, Elinor Smith became the youngest pilot in the United States. Many people thought women shouldn’t fly. In 1928, after a bet with a male pilot, Elinor flew under all four bridges in New York’s East River. Author’s Note, Bibliography.

This was an excellent book of the life and achievements of Elinor Smith. Before reading this book I didn't know who Elinor Smith is. It was very cool to learn that she was just six years old when she found her passion for airplanes and flying. The fact that men didn't think that women should fly didn't surprise me for that time period, but I love how Elinor didn't listen to them and she followed her dream. Also, the book shows how when you strive for greatness it will achieve. People were telling her that she couldn't fly under the bridges in New York because no one has done I before. She proved all of them wrong and she went under all three without anything happening. She was soo nervous that the department of Commerce was going to take her pilots license away, but all they did was suspend it and told her to stop flying under bridges. Folded in the same envelope was a handwritten note asking for an autograph. She knew in her heart that it was all going to be all right. I love this story because it shows how one girl never gave up on her dreams and she achieved greatness in the end. ( )

Fantastic biography for kids who are in the "girls can't do ___" / "boys can't do ___" stage. Elinor started flying as a child, competed against (and beat) the men in her field, and still holds flight records in the U.S. ( )

As a young girl, Elinor Smith had the dream of flying planes. Her parents knew what it was to have a dream. They enabled her to live her dream. At the age of 16, she was the youngest person (girl or boy) to receive their pilots license. After the public learned of Elinor Smith, they were not accepting of her recent life endeavor. Elinor didn't waiver from her beliefs, she did what any strong woman would do, prove a man wrong. Elinor did something risky which could have ruined her career, but Elinor and her pilots license were safe. I enjoyed reading about the life of Elinor Smith because I love to learn about those who dreamed to do something and then had the determination to do it. ( )