Reviewed by: Taking Off: Airborne with Mary Wilkins Ellis by Emily Arnold McCully Elizabeth Bush McCully, Emily Arnold Taking Off: Airborne with Mary Wilkins Ellis; written and illus. by Emily Arnold McCully. Ferguson/Holiday House, 2022 [40p] illus. with photographs Trade ed. ISBN 9780823449668 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780823452781 $11.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 5-8 yrs Mary Wilkins caught the flying bug at age eight, when she witnessed the aerial stunts of Cobham's Flying Circus near her hometown in England. Fortunate that her parents supported her dreams of becoming a pilot, Mary eventually earned her license and flew for the pure pleasure of it. At twenty-four years old, Mary was able to put her skills to new use, applying in 1941 to the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), an organization of civilian pilots who delivered new war planes from factory to airfield in support of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Women pilots, of course, faced common dangers associated with flying untested machines of every given make with no model-specific training, while also navigating skepticism and outright derision due to gender. At one point Mary lands a massive Wellington bomber only to be greeted by a suspicious ground crew: "'I'm the pilot!,' she said. They didn't believe her and searched the plane." Mary's story has broad appeal for readers who enjoy a targeted shot at the patriarchy, as well as kids drawn to the thrill of war stories. McCully's ink line and watercolor artwork sports an airy translucence that invites viewers to project themselves into the skies, and end notes, with a photograph of Wilkins, continue her bio with post-war activities. Source notes and additional resources are also included. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois