Swept up by the European ballooning craze of the 1780s, American doctor John Jeffries longs to become the first person to fly across the English Channel. But first he has to make his peace with a rascally copilot, keep the balloon from bursting, and avoid crashing into the sea—which may require them to throw much of their clothing overboard. Telling a quirky true story for readers 5 to 8, the Sibert Honor-winning author of Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans uses watercolors and pencils to create expressive, historically-informed illustrations, including some dramatic two-page spreads.