I'm so glad the author, Naomi Rand, ventured into the unknown to write this literary novel, even after publishing three successful mysteries. While this novel touches on one of the great mysteries of our time... What happened to Amelia Earhart?... it is much more about how lives are intertwined over time and even across generations. I liked the way three narrators were used to tell this story: Amelia, her sister Muriel, and Samantha. The voice of each is believable, and each reveals their deeper questions and challenges as they engage in life. The auxiliary characters are also well developed. I was perhaps drawn to this novel because my mother was an early female pilot, prior to WWII. At one point there were only 99 female pilots in the whole country, and they formed an organization call the Ninety-Niners. When my mom resumed flying after the war, she belonged to this group and participated in races and fly-ins around the country. My dad and brother also became pilots, so I've spent a lot of time in small planes. All this is just to say that I have a sense of how alluring it can be to take off into the air. It provides a unique sense of freedom. In this work of fiction, Amelia has an opportunity to return to life and see how the lives of those she loved have unfolded. And we see how hard it was for Muriel to be the sister of someone as famous as Amelia. In Samantha, we see a bright young woman who could have been a grandchild of Amelia's if other choices had been made. In spite of a difficult childhood, 'Sam' is determined to become a doctor to be a force for good in the world. The whole ensemble of characters are believable, interesting and likeable. The author's own experience of loss is reflected her ability to write about these characters' feelings. Bravo! I highly recommend this novel.

Barbara Sutton

 
It’s an intriguing and ingenious concept for a novel. A half century after disappearing on a globe-circling flight, Amelia Earhart returns to the scene. It’s 1980. She finds a world that still holds hints and flavors of the past, relationships that have taken unexpected turns—and a new generation still intent on coming to grips with her legacy. It’s a gripping novel. It delves deeply into relationships, especially between mothers and daughters, and sisters. I especially enjoyed the New York City of 1980, with its danger and its music, its graffiti-covered subways. Rand brings it to life with crackling intensity. A great and memorable read.

Stephen Baker


A lovely, intimate novel about mothers, daughters, sisters and those who love them, set in several vividly and authentically evoked locations including New York in the 1980s, where Amelia Earhart explores the city's many neighborhoods' riches upon her return. Rand juggles each of the main characters' stories with ease, and the points at which they cross paths reveal truths about love, risks and rewards. Not just for Earhart enthusiasts, the book has its own rewards. A very pleasurable read!
Amy Bedik



As a fan of Rand's Emma Price mysteries, I was excited to read her new work of literary fiction. It did not disappoint. SURVIVING AMELIA brings what I love about Rand's storytelling--expert pacing, strong female characters, emotional honesty--to a deeply moving and beautifully written story of love and loss. I highly recommend this absorbing and imaginative book.

Cynthia Ward

If I had one I'd share it. But if you are a fan of magical realism, read this book. Or, if you're a fan of women's fiction, or coming of age stories.