Rider in the Sky: How an American Cowboy Built England's First Airplane - Hardcover

John Hulls learned to fly when he was a teenager and has been flying ever since. A scientist, he works on planes, race cars, and other things with wings.
David Weitzman has shown his talents for depicting mechanical wonders in many books, including Model T.: How Henry Ford Built a Legend, which he also wrote.

Grade 6-9-This lively, engaging, but ultimately flawed biography tells the story of Samuel Cody. Born in 1867 in Texas, Cody was a flamboyant showman. His "Wild West" show, the Klondyke Nugget, was a huge success both in America and in England. While in England, Cody pursued a lifelong passion for kite building, eventually becoming the first person in history to create a controllable man-lifting kite. He built and flew the airship Nulli Secundus in 1907, and made the first airplane flight in England in 1908. In 1909, he made a world-record cross-country flight with the first passengers in England. Hull chronicles his subject's progress with that of two fellow Americans, Orville and Wilbur Wright. His accomplishments are impressive, as he was largely self-taught, and are a testament to willpower, determination, and imagination. The book is full of archival black-and-white photographs. The author states that he did most of his research over the Internet, and was able to access many primary sources and talk to many people and visit museums and libraries. One wonders why he did not cite these resources in the text. He also states that all the dialogue between Cody and Colonel Capper (a British Army officer, skilled engineer, and lifelong supporter) was "a figment of my imagination." None of the photos are credited. Unfortunately, the engaging writing style and interesting subject matter is overshadowed by a lack of proper documentation.
Jennifer Ralston, Harford County Public Library, Belcamp, MD
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