Famous for his pioneering flight from New York to Paris, Charles Lindbergh was lionized in his lifetime. Fleming’s well-researched biography is a rags-to riches story that doesn’t side-step Lindbergh’s Nazi sympathies and white supremacist activities, but rather portrays the path of eugenics pseudo-science paired with disinformation that he followed to get there.
As a teen, I preferred reading nonfiction, including biographies, and I remember how one-sided these stories were. I appreciate Fleming’s portrayal of Lindbergh for the riveting episodes of his flying career and insight into his personal life. I also appreciate her honest portrayal of his mistakes and failures.
The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh is the 2021 winner of the Young Adult Library Services Association’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.