Here are a few things you need to know before you read. The words in bold are important terms, places, or people to know.
What is this story about?
This story is about a woman named Amelia Earhart.
She was born in 1897.
She dreamed of being a pilot, or a person who flies planes. But that wasn’t easy in the early 1900s.
Why was it difficult for Earhart to become a pilot?
Back then, there weren’t many female pilots. But Earhart knew she could do it.
She got her pilot’s license when she was 24.
Soon she was one of the most famous women in the world.
Why was Earhart so famous?
As a pilot, she set many records.
In 1932, she became the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1935, she became the first person to fly alone across the Pacific Ocean.
Back then, flying over an ocean was dangerous.
Why was flying over an ocean dangerous?
In the 1930s, flying was still new.
Planes had many problems. The engine could fall out or the fuel tank could catch on fire.
If those things happened over the ocean, the pilot would die.
In 1937, Earhart began her most daring trip yet.
She wanted to be the first woman to fly all the way around the world.
She started her trip on May 20 in California.
Her plan was to fly across the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and Asia before reaching the Pacific Ocean. She would end up back where she started, in California.
How did Earhart find her way?
She had a navigator with her. A navigator’s job is to help the pilot find their way.
Earhart’s navigator was named Fred Noonan.
They also had a radio to talk to people on the ground.
