Preorders are now being taken for a new children’s book, Fly, Girl, Fly!, which tells the story of Shaesta Waiz, the youngest woman and first Afghan-American to fly solo around the world in a single-engine airplane.
Inspired by Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world, Shaesta said she faced many challenges before following her dreams and accomplishing a similar goal for herself. Born in an Afghanistan refugee camp, she came with her family to make a new life in America in 1987. As the book tells the story, she overcomes gender stereotypes and her fear of flying before becoming the first in her family to go to college.
After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Shaesta founded Dreams Soar, a non-profit organization with the mission to inspire the next generation of STEM and aviation professionals.
The global solo flight was the first phase of Dreams Soar’s worldwide efforts to inspire and empower the next generation, specifically young women and minorities, according to Shaesta.
Her story spread throughout the general aviation industry in anticipation of her 2017 crossing of five continents, making 30 stops in 22 countries across nearly 25,000 nautical miles. Many aviation companies rallied behind the project by providing fuel, maintenance, parts, logistics, security, and support along the way to help make Shaesta’s dream of flying around the world and motivating young people come true.
“I am thrilled to have my story come alive in this beautiful new book to further inspire young girls to follow their dreams,” Shaesta said. “Thanks to author Nancy Roe Pimm and Beaming Books for making it all come together. They have been a joy to work with. I am still so grateful for everyone in the aviation community that helped make my trip of a lifetime such a success. I hope you all enjoy the book and share it with all the children in your life.”
Fly, Girl, Fly! author, Nancy Roe Pimm, also wrote The Jerrie Mock Story: The First Woman to Fly Solo around the World. The book is illustrated by Alexandra Bye.
It is available on Amazon or from local bookstores and advance orders are being taken for Sept. 22, 2020, shipments. The hardcover book sells for $18.99, while the Kindle edition sells for $10.99.
Shaesta will donate all profits from the book to the Dreams Soar organization.
So sick and tired of your overt, non-white, female agenda. Give it a rest already.
Ron, I can’t speak for GA News as I’m just a reader, but I did work in marketing and communications. Publications run a mix of original content and submitted press releases. This is almost certainly content from a submitted press release, not some sort of agenda by GA News. GA News publishes plenty of content about white males too. I am sure if you wrote a book about aviation for children and submitted a press release, the GA News staff would share it as well. They are supportive and passionate about just about everything in aviation and getting more people involved.