This month will see the release of Heather Stemp’s third and final book in her Ginny Ross series Beyond Amelia. Each of these three Middle-Grade/Young Adult novels can be read as a stand alone, but readers who enjoy historical fiction may enjoy reading the entire series. With this in mind, my review will start with Best Books for Kids and Teens 2014 Selection Amelia and Me (August 2013), followed by Under Amelia’s Wing (April 2020), and conclude with Beyond Amelia (April 2024).
After reading about Amelia Earhart in her friend’s scrapbook, twelve year-old Ginny Ross decides to become a pilot. It’s 1930 and luckily, the airstrip in her hometown of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, is a popular launching point for intrepid aviators setting out on transatlantic flights. But how will Ginny’s dream take flight when her mother—and society in general—so fiercely believes a woman’s place is in the home? At the height of the Great Depression, the Ross family certainly can’t spare any money for flying lessons, and Ginny will need a mentor if she is ever going to make it out of Harbour Grace.
Based on the real girlhood of author Heather Stemp’s Aunt Ginny, Amelia and Me is a big hearted story of determination, grit, and adventure. Readers will love the archival photos of Amelia Earhart and her plane, along with the interesting historical details skillfully weaved throughout the book.
So much of our history ends up lost, but in writing Amelia & Me, Heather Stemp has recorded a piece of her family’s fascinating heritage for future generations to enjoy.
This Middle-Grade novel depicts what it was like to live during the Depression years in Newfoundland: people with little or no money had to pay for their purchases at the Ross store with fish or wild game they had trapped, the hardships of being forced to quit school early to work and help support the family— a time period that is hard for many of us to imagine, but is brought to vivid life in this novel.
This story also records the beginnings of the aviation industry, during a time when crashes happened regularly and women pilots were unheard of. Ginny Ross, the author’s aunt, was a determined young lady with dreams of becoming a pilot and Amelia Earhart quickly became her idol. Amelia & Me records the adventures of Ginny in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, a popular launching point for transatlantic flights in the 1930s.
I would have loved to have read this book when I was a middle grader because Amelia Earhart was in it. As an adult, I enjoyed this book for its history, and because Amelia was in it. I loved that there were actual pictures of the people in the book included, bringing the characters to life for the reader.
Under Amelia’s Wing is the second book in the Ginny Ross series by Heather Stemp.
It’s 1936, Ginny is now 16 and is at Purdue University to study mechanical engineering, and following her dreams of becoming a pilot like her idol Amelia Earhart.
The quotes in the story: “Most people think engineers and pilots should be men”, and “If you’re going to be a trailblazer, you have to get used to people who think differently from you,” sums up what Ginny’s first year was like. While reading about Ginny’s battles with rigid gender stereotypes, I cheered her on; knowing these battles were based on true events, I gave a fist pump. The visits and motivational speeches by Amelia Earhart in the story would be inspiring to anyone reading this.
“Each of us has to find her own path and stick to it no matter what.”
Featuring historical photos of Amelia’s time at Purdue University (1935–37), this STEM-friendly novel will appeal to anyone who has suffered from imposter syndrome and has had to prove their worth—to others and themselves.
Beyond Amelia is the third and final installment in Heather Stemp’s Ginny Ross series.
It’s 1940 and Europe is at war with Hitler. The U.S. is neutral but everyone believes that Roosevelt will find a way to help Britain.
All of Ginny’s friends, including her boyfriend Matt, have all enlisted or gotten jobs supporting the war effort with the important goal of stopping Hitler from invading Britain. After earning her engineering degree and getting her pilot’s licence, Ginny is still at Purdue University crop dusting farmers’ fields and sending money home to her family in Newfoundland. She wants to stop Hitler as much as the boys do, but the US Army Air Corps won’t accept female pilots. When Ginny discovers that a new ferry service is looking for experienced pilots to fly new bombers from Saint Hubert, Quebec in Canada to Newfoundland and then across to Britain, Ginny begins to form a plan.
“If it’s a male pilot they want,” I whispered, “it’s a male pilot they’ll get.”
With the help of the family she boards with, Ginny creates her disguise by altering men’s clothing and making a padded vest. Then Cap, Ginny’s flying instructor cuts her hair and teaches her how to walk like a man, pee standing up, and how to defend herself. Then she boards the train and heads to Canada as Jimmy Ross. Once there she begins training on the ins and outs of the new bombers. Over the next couple of months, Ginny/Jimmy faces many challenging and dangerous situations living in a man’s world during a war — dangers she never anticipated before joining.
Beyond Amelia was a wonderful conclusion to the Ginny Ross series. The story brings to light a part of Canadian history I had previously been unaware of, the Canadian Pacific Railway Air Service. It is quite evident that many hours of research were put into the writing of this story and I liked the inclusion of pictures of the Hudson bombers at the end of the book.
Based on the true history of the heroic Ferry Command, Beyond Amelia is an exciting, suspenseful story about the sacrifices so many young people made to turn the tide in a terrifying war.
Heather Stemp’s paternal roots lie in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. After 30 years as an English teacher, she retired to research her family history, discovering her Aunt Ginny’s friendship with Amelia Earhart in the process. As a result, she began writing the Ginny Ross Series. Amelia and Me was shortlisted for the 2014/2015 Red Cedar Award. Under Amelia’s Wing was shortlisted for the 2021 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the 2022 Red Maple Award. When not writing, Heather loves traveling with her husband, Don, and spending time at the cottage with her grandchildren and grand dogs.
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing (April 16, 2024)
Paperback 7.75″ x 5.25″ | 256 pages
ISBN: 9781774712702
Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an engaging cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader and her reviews cross over many genres.
