Journalist and NPR contributor Keith O’Brien has constructed a fascinating history of five feisty females who piloted airplanes at the dawn of the age of flight. They risked not only their lives but also their reputations, vied with men and won, and made great strides in aviation and the cause of feminism.

O’Brien depicts the remarkable careers of these bold women, who, in their era, rarely saw an article highlighting women’s accomplishments outside the realm of school and social events. Nevertheless, they were daring and determined, and, in some cases, just different enough to be willing to try anything.

"FLY GIRLS may serve as an inspiration --- and an education --- for young women wondering if there are still worlds to conquer, or if the struggle for recognition is worth the cost."

Ruth Elder preceded Amelia Earhart in fame by attempting to pilot across the Atlantic, and though she didn’t complete the trip, she established an endurance record, garnered the nickname “Miss America of Aviation” and had a brief acting career. Earhart, now the best known of the five, was allied with her fellow female pilots in a group, still extant, called the Ninety-Nines for the number of airwomen who attended its first membership rally in 1929.

Florence Klingensmith, a tough girl from a poor Midwestern family, worked her way from studying mechanics (the only girl in a class of 400 boys) to grease monkey to stunt girl to pilot of her own plane, setting a record in loops --- over 1,000 in one foray. Ruth Nichols, a Wellesley graduate and early holder of a pilot’s license, wanted to beat Earhart, eventually becoming her comrade in the skies and the first member of the Ninety-Nines. Louise Thaden worked her way from coal salesman to pilot in a few short years and once challenged Earhart to a wrestling match (Nichols refereed, and Thaden lost). Thaden was the first woman to win the Bendix Race, setting the bar for future female competitors, and had a line of clothing named after her.

These women, who, despite their achievements in the air and on the ground, continually suffered the scorn of male aviators and men in general, were known to express their rationale for flying in challenging repartee: Have you ever seen a man sew on a button or darn a sock? Why does a man want to ride a horse?

O’Brien has carefully woven together a chronology that reveals the intricate connections among these heroines. He constantly reminds us in a myriad of ways of the barriers these women faced and overcame. Just a little less than 100 years ago, even after women had gained the right to vote, there were almost no females who were able to obtain a pilot’s license (some flew without it), and official regulations forbade women to pilot a plane while menstruating. Their individual circumstances were difficult, at times tragic, yet these flying pioneers supported one another even as they sought to outdo their soaring sisters, as true competitors always must.

FLY GIRLS may serve as an inspiration --- and an education --- for young women wondering if there are still worlds to conquer, or if the struggle for recognition is worth the cost.