JESSIE: QUEEN OF THE ROAD
By: Lindsay Ward
Published: January 31, 2023
Publisher: Two Lions
Fiction
Jessie, a motorcycle, is a hybrid of numerous women in history that rode motorcycles in the early 1900s for pleasure, for carnivals, and for the war effort. Lindsay Ward was inspired to share their story after telling the story ROSIE: STRONGER THAN STEEL and hearing about women motorcycle riders, including her mom.
Jessie just wants to feel useful and do what she loves, but because she is female, people assume she can’t do the job. She travels all the way across the country, starting each day with the mantra,
Fast and strong,
I won’t be slowed!
In rain or shine,
I’ll forge my road.
As Jessie travels around the country, she runs into other female riders and joins expositions and carnivals performing stunts and tricks. After a crash, it took months for her to get back on the road. But, when she was fixed, another war was looming and finally, they trusted her abilities and allowed her to carry messages and documents back and forth between military bases. When the war was over, she was finally free to explore the country and take many more adventures.
Jessie shares emotions on the page including sadness and frustration after being denied or ignored and joy when she arrives at her destination. You’ll see the excitement as she performs in the carnivals and the laughter as she rides with the other female riders. Jessie is truly Queen of the Road.
Lindsay Ward shares an author’s note at the end of the book about the many women who rode motorcycles and defined the naysayers. A timeline and photos of the women on their motorcycles are included. Ultimately, Ward hopes that young children will be inspired to go after their own adventurous dreams.
Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series as well as Rosie: Stronger than Steel, Between the Lines, This Book Is Gray, Brobarians, Rosco vs. the Baby, and The Importance of Being 3. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play. Lindsay lives with her family in Peninsula, Ohio. Learn more about her online at www.lindsaymward.com.
Check out all the books I’ve shared by Lindsay Ward, HERE.
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Posted Under Book Review, Children's books, fiction, Lindsay Ward, motorcycles, Women's history