In 18th-century France, "balloonomania" has fiercely gripped the nation, but all of the pioneering aeronauts are men. A shy girl from a seaside village, Sophie Blanchard is nevertheless entirely devoted to her dream of flight, and in this inspiring true story for readers 5 to 8, she will become the first woman to climb to the clouds and steer her own course. Matthew Clark Smith bring Sophie's story to light after so many years, while Matt Tavares uses ink and watercolor to accurately capture the essence of this exhilarating era.

"Smith's prose—rich, poetic, and strong on active verbs—is a fine match for Tavares' gorgeous ink-and-watercolor illustrations."—Kirkus Reviews