Customer Reviews

Powder Puff Derby of 1929: The True Story of the First Women's Cross–Country Air Race

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4 star:		(1)
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The highlights of The Powder Puff Derby of 1929 were the portrayals of many great personalities, those who flew and those who didn't, both women and men. The author also combines aviation adventure, travel, history and technical details in the context of a great story.

Almost a third of the book is devoted to what the racers did after the 1929 race, and to what other women have done in aviation up to the present day.

The book intermixes numerous photos of the pilots and their airplanes to coincide nicely with the writing.

A few descriptions appear redundantly in more than one chapter and I wonder if some of the conversations actually happened exactly as they are quoted (specific references are not given). However, these are minor quibbles for an inspiring book.

After finishing The Powder Puff Derby, I read Chuck Yeager's autobiography, and it was fascinating to see him portray some of these same women racers as he knew them many years later. Given everything they accomplished, why aren't they more famous today?

This one is a keeper, and a must for aviation buffs, especially us girls!

Gene Nora has written a facination account of the race. It's well written and packed with interesting facts...these ladies were true pioneers in every sense. A wonderful tribute to those who blazed the trail for those of us who have followed.

Gene Nora Jessen's, "The Powder Puff Derby of 1929" is a book well worth anyone's time. In a concise, fast paced package, Ms. Jessen provides aviation history, women's history and a fine adventure in a well written format. I obtained the book for some background research and was prepared for a typical, soulless small history, filled with facts but little color. Gene Nora disabused me of this idea by providing a gutsy, yet readable, history of the 1929 air race. Then, Ms. Jessen added, at no extra charge, a fine mini lesson in women's aviation, with not only the American highlights, but including women's aviation history worldwide. This was a throughly delightful book and should be required reading for all young women who have even the slightest interest in adventure or aviation.