Flying Girl

The Flying Girl is a novel written by L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books. It was first published in 1911 under the pseudonym "Edith Van Dyne."

In the book, Baum pursued an innovative blend of genres to create a feminist adventure melodrama that put him decades ahead of other progressive writers.

The novel tells the story of Orissa Kane, the sister of Stephen who is working on a new kind of biplane that he thinks will be a vast improvement over the other models. The main character, 17-year-old Orissa, provides financial support and help for her brother Stephen Kane and their blind mother through her office job, while her brother concentrates on his invention.

This is a wonderful book for any classroom interested in teaching STEM, the history of early 1900's Los Angeles, or even early women's rights in America. This is an adventure novel that suggested, long before anyone thought of it, that women could pursue the same daring adventures as men and do them just as well--if not better.