Flying Cars

Flying Cars: The True Story
Andrew Glass
Clarion Books, 2015 118 pages
Grades 4-7
Non-Fiction

Glass presents a well-researched and documented account of the history of the flying car. Not the stuff of science fiction, this unbelievable convenience has been conceived, assembled, and tested by many brave inventors since the turn of the last century. Glass begins with a brief history of the airplane and traces how the imaginations of many dreamers went further to design a plane that you could then convert to an automobile that could be driven to where you need to go. Many such inventions were tabled during WWII, only to resurface after the war in hopes that veteran pilots would want to return to the skies in a more domestic capacity. The idea never “took off" and no inventor or company found a way to make it economically feasible. Glass leads the reader into the present, where engineers are still working to develop flying cars, both in an industrial setting and privately. Extensive back matter includes an interesting author's note, glossary of terms, index, bibliography, websites for video footage, and source notes.

Flying cars? I picked this book up quite by accident, began leafing through it, and, before I knew it, I was hooked. The fact that the technology for flying cars has been around for more than one-hundred years is amazing to me. The splashy photographs that can be seen on nearly every page prove it. This book is sure to entice a wide cross section of readers. It contains history, engineering, and sociology, providing something for everyone. Beyond this, it is written in a conversationally narrative style, making it fun to read. Budding scientists will appreciate the concepts behind these flying mechanisms, yet Glass doesn't delve so much into the technology to bore a lay-person. With enough content for reports, Flying Cars will be enjoyed both for school purposes and recreationally. There is an obvious STEM connection, so teachers will find this title useful, while students will simply find it fun. The interesting photo on the cover will lure in readers (it worked for me) and the design of the interior, as well as the writing of the compelling subject matter, will keep them turning pages. A well-researched and crafted piece of non-fiction for kids and proves that learning can be interesting and enjoyable.