Charles Lindbergh was widely celebrated for his accomplishments as an aviator, having made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris when he was just 25. He was promoted in the press as a quiet, courageous American hero, a romantic, and, later, a family man who suffered an unspeakable tragedy when his young son was kidnapped and killed. But Fleming is not one to wallow in Lindbergh's glory or tragedy. Through meticulous research, she uncovers details about the man that sharply contrast with his popular image; in truth, he was a controlling, racist, Nazi sympathizer who became a star speaker at "America First" rallies. Fleming is skilled at presenting both sides of this complex man, warts and all, by building his life story through a series of scenes and judiciously chosen quotations. Written with grace and fluidity, it's a hard-to-put down work even without the parallels to contemporary events that will resonate with many young readers, whether or not they know-or think they know-about this popular "hero" of the 20 ^th century. (Age 12 and older)

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Discover the dark side of Charles Lindbergh--one of America's most celebrated heroes and complicated men--in this riveting biography from the acclaimed author of The Family Romanov.

First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; one of the first American media sensations; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics, the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a rich, multi-faceted, utterly spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man. In this time where values Lindbergh held, like white Nationalism and America First, are once again on the rise, The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh is essential reading for teens and history fanatics alike.