The Girl Who Could Fix Anything

June 1, 2021
Grades K-3 Beatrice Shilling, an innovative WWII British aviation engineer, was always a little different. Most kids liked candy; she liked tools. Most university students were boys; she definitely was not. Only daring men raced motorcycles--she not only raced, she won. And when the war started, most women wrote manuals. Not Beatrice: she taught Royal Air Force pilots how to take care of their airplane engines and keep them from freezing up and stalling during combat. This entertaining picture-book biography chronicles her life from childhood through school and apprenticeships, marriage, the war, and the rest of her illustrious career. The droll illustrations often show Beatrice happily tinkering away, surrounded by groups of exasperated men. The text acknowledges that she sometimes made mistakes; the illustrations show her crashing through a bedroom ceiling and fleeing from an engine block engulfed in flames. Back matter includes an author's note and a list of resources. This enjoyable tale works equally well as a read-aloud and a strong addition to Women in STEM collections.

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July 1, 2021

K-Gr 4-An uplifting look at a World War II-and STEM-heroine. Beatrice Shilling was different from the very beginning. Unlike other children she spent her pocket money on tools rather than candy, and she spent so much time building new creations and working on her motorcycle that when she was old enough, she became an apprentice engineer to bring electricity to villages in her area of England. When she went to study engineering at university, Beatrice realized that not only was she the only girl, but she was one of the best in her program. She was also one of the fastest, winning races on her specially modified motorcycle. It wasn't until World War II began that Beatrice was able to truly shine, traveling around the country to fix airplanes for the Royal Air Force. Only Beatrice, the girl who could fix anything, could tackle the biggest problem facing the fleet of the Royal Airforce-and help win the war. This engaging and inspiring read owes a lot of its appeal to Duncan's charming illustrations, featuring a determined, likable heroine. Author Rockliff has created a book that is simple enough for kindergarteners to enjoy while still being interesting for third and fourth graders-no easy feat. Further reading includes a more detailed background of the character, providing needed historical and cultural context. Includes an extensive list of sources. VERDICT A delightful and welcome addition to STEM collections everywhere.-Savannah Kitchens, Parnell Memorial Lib., Montevallo, AL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2021
"Beatrice Shilling wasn't quite like other children. She preferred tools to sweets." From an early fascination with toys, radios, and motorcycles, Beatrice Shilling was entranced by the idea of how things worked, taking apart and reassembling the machines around her. Repeating text tied with comical illustrations allows readers to witness how the young White Englishwoman was atypical for her post-World War I period--few women shared her skills and interests, and most men were not ready to accept her--while mentions of her mistakes show her resilience and how she learned and grew. Supported by a female engineer, she found her calling early and was encouraged to attend university to sharpen her skills, all the while succeeding at motorcycle racing as well as falling in love and marrying. But it was during her time at the Royal Aircraft Establishment during WWII that she truly shone, finding a solution to a fuel-release problem that allowed fighting pilots to maneuver safely. This accessible, tongue-in-cheek depiction of Shilling's life and achievements hits all the right notes and shows a woman flourishing in STEM, the importance of powering through adversity, ways in which science and curiosity can be applied, as well as how women have supported each other to learn and succeed. Duncan's fine-lined illustrations include characters of color among the largely White cast of background characters. An appealing biography that will inspire young scientists and those who may quietly rebel against the status quo. (author's note, sources) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2021
Text and pictures work together to capture the life and spirit of a remarkable woman. As a child in England, Beatrice Shilling (1909-1990) "wasn't quite like" other children, preferring tools to candy. She grew up to be so clever with tools and so interested in fixing engines and machines that at fourteen she bought and rebuilt her own motorcycle; was later accepted to university to study engineering (art shows Beatrice walking into a room full of men as the text states that she "wasn't quite like" the other students); and subsequently got a job in the Royal Aircraft Establishment. During WWII, when it was discovered that Spitfire and Hurricane planes had a fatal flaw in their fuel delivery systems that caused the engines to fail in crucial moments, it was Beatrice who solved the problem. She devised a simple restrictor -- "a little piece of metal with a hole in it" -- that was cheap and easy to install. "When Beatrice roared up on her motorcycle with her bag full of tools, pilots knew they didn't have to worry anymore." The text is lively and succinct, full of vigorous action verbs. The expressive illustrations convey time and place beautifully and are infused variously with humor (such as when apprentice-engineer Beatrice, helping to bring electricity to villages, falls through a ceiling) and drama (as in a stunning double-page spread of London aflame during the Blitz). An author's note stresses the support Shilling received from individual women and women's organizations, enabling her to break through the barriers she faced; a list of selected sources completes the book. Martha V. Parravano

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2021
Text and pictures work together to capture the life and spirit of a remarkable woman. As a child in England, Beatrice Shilling (1909-1990) "wasn't quite like" other children, preferring tools to candy. She grew up to be so clever with tools and so interested in fixing engines and machines that at fourteen she bought and rebuilt her own motorcycle; was later accepted to university to study engineering (art shows Beatrice walking into a room full of men as the text states that she "wasn't quite like" the other students); and subsequently got a job in the Royal Aircraft Establishment. During WWII, when it was discovered that Spitfire and Hurricane planes had a fatal flaw in their fuel delivery systems that caused the engines to fail in crucial moments, it was Beatrice who solved the problem. She devised a simple restrictor -- "a little piece of metal with a hole in it" -- that was cheap and easy to install. "When Beatrice roared up on her motorcycle with her bag full of tools, pilots knew they didn't have to worry anymore." The text is lively and succinct, full of vigorous action verbs. The expressive illustrations convey time and place beautifully and are infused variously with humor (such as when apprentice-engineer Beatrice, helping to bring electricity to villages, falls through a ceiling) and drama (as in a stunning double-page spread of London aflame during the Blitz). An author's note stresses the support Shilling received from individual women and women's organizations, enabling her to break through the barriers she faced; a list of selected sources completes the book.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)