Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean by Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle (a non-fiction graphic novel)

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean is a 2011 YALSA Best Graphic Novels for Teens selection.  The novel tells the story of Amelia Earhart from the perspective of a budding young female journalist named Grace who lives in Trepassey, Newfoundland, where Earhart, her pilot, and navigator begin their famous flight across the Atlantic.  Through this young reporters eyes, readers see Earhart's determination and perseverance through a number of failed attempts at taking off from Trepassey.  The changing role of women also becomes a strong theme in the novel not only through the character of Earhart, but through Grace and her struggle to obey her mother, who clearly represents the traditional roles of women, and follow her heart toward a career in journalism.  Grace's attachment to Earhart, who represents the power of women to create their own destiny, is easy to understand. The story follows Grace to adulthood, employed by the Halifax Herald, though not yet as a reporter.  Grace is still following the story of her mentor and hero Amelia Earhart continues to share that story with the reader up to its tragic end.  The introduction by Eileen Collins, the first female pilot of a Space Shuttle, and the panel discussions included at the back of the book, provide additional information about the life of Amelia Earhart as well as information about other famous female aviators of her time.

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean would be an excellent text to use with a US History or English or perhaps in a collaboration between both.  Its presentation of the history of aviation and the changing role of women is both simple and profound. The additional information provided in the text through the introduction and panel discussions make it an excellent source for research.  A school library media specialist could provide students with texts on a variety of figures from the time period in variety of formats and include this graphic novel as one of the texts.  Students could then work together to create a final product that addresses the life and accomplishments of these key historical figures and their impact on the world at large.  To take the project beyond a simple biographical report, the school library media specialist could guide students in incorporating a variety of technology to organize and present their information.  Ultimately, the students could participate in a gallery walk activity where they learn about the time period and important historical figures by interacting with their classmates' final projects.  This gallery walk could, in fact, be opened to students in other classes or even from other schools.

Taylor, S. S., & Towle, B. (2010). Amelia Earhart: This broad ocean. New York: Disney-Hyperion Books.