MOUNTAIN OF FIRE: THE ERUPTION AND SURVIVORS OF MOUNT ST. HELENS, by Rebecca E. F. Barone, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), May 14, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 10 and up)

Learn about the events leading up to and following the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Mountain of Fire, by Rebecca E. F. Barone.

Mountain of Fire is the narrative nonfiction account of the violent volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the story of the people who died, those who survived, and the heroes who fought to raise an alarm.

For weeks, the ground around Mount St. Helens shuddered like a dynamite keg ready to explode. There were legends of previous eruptions: violent fire, treacherous floods, and heat that had scoured the area. But the shaking and swelling was unlike any volcanic activity ever seen before. Day and night, scientists tried to piece together the mountain’s clues―yet nothing could prepare them for the destruction to come.

The long-dormant volcano seethed away, boiling rock far below the surface. Washington’s governor, Dixie Lee Ray, understood the despair that would follow from people being forced from their homes. How and when should she give orders to evacuate the area? And would that be enough to save the people from the eruption of Mount St. Helens?

Includes a QR code for a website featuring eye-catching photos of the eruption. —Synopsis provided by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Books like Mountain of Fire are the way to get young readers excited about nonfiction. From start to finish, it’s an engaging read that makes you want to know more.

Author Rebecca E. F. Barone has meticulously researched the topic, including first-person interviews with some of the scientists and survivors.

Barone’s writing is accessible and full of energy. Her pacing is spot on, building up anticipation with every turn of the page.

As an adult, I was glued to Mountain of Fire, and after describing it to my 10-year-old, it’s on her to-read list. I plan on purchasing a copy — my review is based on a digital advance review copy — and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for older middle readers, young adults or adults. It’s excellent.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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AMERICAN WINGS: CHICAGO’S PIONEERING BLACK AVIATORS AND THE RACE FOR EQUALITY IN THE SKY, by Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, Jan. 16, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)

American Wings, by Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein, tells the story of Chicago’s pioneering black aviators and the race for equality in the sky.

In the years between World War I and World War II, aviation fever was everywhere, including among Black Americans. But what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings?

American Wings follows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto mechanics; Janet Harmon Bragg, a nurse; and Willa Brown, a teacher and social worker. Together, they created a flying club and built their own airfield south of Chicago. As the U.S. hurtled toward World War II, they established a school to train new pilots, teaching both Black and white students together and proving, in a time when the U.S. military was still segregated, that successful integration was possible.

Featuring rare historical photographs, American Wings brings to light a hidden history of pioneering Black men and women who, with grit and resilience, battled powerful odds for an equal share of the sky. —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

American Wings tells the true story of the desegregation of the skies. This fascinating nonfiction read that reads almost like a novel thanks to the fantastic writing duo of Sherri L. Smith (Flygirl) and Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity). Their text has a warm conversational tone that’s got an easy, accessible feel to it.

Though the official page count of American Wings is 376 pages, just over 100 of those pages are dedicated to an authors’ note, source notes, a list of resources, and an index. This book is extremely well researched, and it shows.

With a topic like flight, American Wings is sure to appeal to a large cross-section of readers. And I can see a lot of adults being drawn to it as well. It’s an excellent read.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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