Charles Lindbergh was widely celebrated for his accomplishments as an aviator, having made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris when he was just 25. He was promoted in the press as a quiet, courageous American hero, a romantic, and, later, a family man who suffered an unspeakable tragedy when his young son was kidnapped and killed. But Fleming is not one to wallow in Lindbergh's glory or tragedy. Through meticulous research, she uncovers details about the man that sharply contrast with his popular image; in truth, he was a controlling, racist, Nazi sympathizer who became a star speaker at "America First" rallies. Fleming is skilled at presenting both sides of this complex man, warts and all, by building his life story through a series of scenes and judiciously chosen quotations. Written with grace and fluidity, it's a hard-to-put down work even without the parallels to contemporary events that will resonate with many young readers, whether or not they know-or think they know-about this popular "hero" of the 20 ^th century. (Age 12 and older)