Joe-Joe's First Flight - Softcover

Tarpley, Natasha

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553113143 ISBN 13: 9780553113143

Publisher: Dragonfly Books, 2008

Synopsis

IT IS THE 1920s and segregation is commonplace in the United States, including in Joe-Joe’s small town of Blind Eye. Joe-Joe’s father works at the local airport, and he’s wanted to fly since the first time he saw a plane in the air. But even though the men who work at the airport were promised flying jobs, the owner refuses to let them fly, and they’ve lost hope that they’ll ever get their chance. Their sadness spreads over the town and forms a cloud so thick even the moonlight and stars can’t break through. But on one magical night, little Joe-Joe takes his first plane ride and he’s got a plan: he’s going to talk to that moon and lure her back to Blind Eye so the townsfolk can be happy again.

About this title

About the Author:

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley is the author of several books for adults and young readers. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

E. B. Lewis is the award-winning illustrator of more than 40 books for children. He lives in New Jersey.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 2-4-Ever since planes began to take off from the little airport in the town of Blind Eye in 1922, Joe-Joe's father has yearned to fly and he inflames his son with that same longing. But despite promises from his boss at the airport, it's obvious that African Americans will not be allowed to take to the air any time soon. Such a pall covers the town because of this injustice that even the Moon remains hidden: "All that lost hope formed a cloud over the town, and now even the moonlight and the stars can't break through." In his imagination, Joe-Joe climbs aboard a plane, flies to the Moon, and brings it home to the cheers of the townsfolk below. Lewis's large watercolor paintings capture the flavor of this period-caps, knickers, cars, flying helmet, and goggles-and the early planes. From a beginning quote by Virginia Hamilton, "They say the people could fly-" to the endnote in which Tarpley elaborates on African Americans' struggle for the right to fly, this is a celebration of the human spirit and the courage and determination of a people to soar. Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger's Fly High: The Story of Bessie Coleman (McElderry, 2001) would extendthis story.
Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dragonfly Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0553113143
• ISBN 13: 9780553113143
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Lewis Earl B.