Starred Review ALA Booklist (Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Starred Review Before Amelia Earhart or Bessie Coleman took to the skies, Sophie Blanchard flew hot-air balloons over mountains and through the clouds, making a name for herself as the world's first female pilot and one of the most daring aeronauts of any gender. As a child in a French village during the eighteenth century, Sophie dreamed of becoming a balloonist, despite the common opinion that women were not fit to fly. She would prove them wrong, eventually marrying daredevil balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard, who supported Sophie's aspiration. In 1805, Sophie made a solo balloon flight, becoming the first woman to navigate the skies on her own, and forging herself an illustrious and daring aeronautical career. Smith tells Sophie's inspiring story with a buoyant sense of wonder, fitting for a woman who was happiest in the air. Her accomplishments and passion for flight are brought beautifully to life by Tavares' soft ink-and-­watercolor illustrations, which make expressive use of shadow and light, casting brooding clouds over solemn scenes and amplifying joyful moments with blue or golden skies. A concluding author's note offers information on early ballooning, as well as Sophie's tragic death, which isn't mentioned in the main text. Sophie's bravery and commitment to following her heart makes this an uplifting biography that proves the sky's the limit when pursuing one's dreams.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

In 1805, Sophie Blanchard became the first woman to fly solo in a hot-air balloon. Her daring exploits are recounted in lively, informative prose, while Tavares's ink and watercolor illustrations depict both the elegant French society that frowned upon Blanchard's high-flying aspirations and the boundless views visible to her from the sky. An author's note sets Blanchard's accomplishments in historical context. Bib.

Kirkus Reviews

A fascination with hot air balloons has hit late-18th-century Paris, and young Sophie Armant dreams of joining those bold aeronauts. Sophie especially admires the daredevil Jean-Pierre Blanchard, who, with John Jeffries, was the first to cross the English Channel in a balloon. Sophie, however, is told that "Women were made of weaker stuff. Their place was on earth." But she meets and marries Blanchard, and they fly together until his death, when she begins to fly alone, becoming the first woman pilot. Toward the end of her career, Sophie reflects on the limits the world puts on women and realizes that "There is a limit. And that limit is the sky." Smith's prose—rich, poetic, and strong on active verbs—is a fine match for Tavares' gorgeous ink-and-watercolor illustrations, which focus on Sophie and the skies, his palette pairing Sophie's moods with the colors of the skies. The other stars—the balloons themselves—are dazzling, with intricate lines, rich colors, and swelling bags ready to go aloft. His strong, monumental style and steady lines give even the most perilous-looking of Sophie's aerial perches comforting stability—even as she sets off fireworks from the air. An author's note adds information, including a note on Sophie's tragic death. A beautifully told story of a young woman with lofty aspirations. (illustrator's note, bibliography) (Picture book. 5-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Writing with dry humor and keen attention to detail, Smith (Small Wonders) recounts the story of Sophie Blanchard, whose childhood dreams of flight came to fruition after she grew up and married showman Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a famous balloonist. Tavares (Crossing Niagara) smartly matches the story-s emotional highs and lows to a palette of bright lemon yellows, reflecting Sophie-s midflight joy, and stormy grays and blues that underscore the danger of the ascents (Jean-Pierre fell from a balloon during one flight, sustaining injuries he eventually died from). Smith and Tavares emphasize Sophie-s determination to achieve her dreams; in a closing spread, she soars over a crowd and gazes across a sunlit ocean, a symbolic reflection of not only her successes but those of all trailblazing women who tested convention. Ages 6-9. Illustrator-s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gr 1-4 Ever since her youth, Sophie Blanchard (17781819) dreamed of flying. After she met and married her husband, the famous balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard, she was able to fulfill this dream. Her daring knew no bounds. Blanchard flew solo over the Alps and became a legend at Napoleon's court. The work ends with her gazing from her balloon at a beach from her childhood and reflecting on her cultural impact: "Now, she realized, she had lifted the spirits of thousands along with her." This amazing tale of the first female pilot is illustrated in ink and watercolor, with the changing sky becoming a character itself. VERDICT A story that needs to be shared. Pair this with Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger's Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman to demonstrate that girls can reach their dreams. Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN