Reach for the Sky: How Two Brothers Built an Airplane in Chinatown
By Evelyn Sue Wong
Illustrated by Sarah Ang
As the Great Depression brought families and cities to their knees, Robert Shun Wong and his younger brother Tommy dreamed of flying. Money was tight, racial discrimination was high, and times were tough. But in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, the two brothers built a single-seat plane – a Pietenpol Sky Scout. Pushing the boundaries of their world, Robert and Tommy were soon flying beyond their wildest dreams!
This inspiring true story, by Robert’s daughter Evelyn Wong, tells of the pioneering years in aviation and the incredible contributions made by the Chinese Canadian community. Reach for the Sky invites young readers to test their limits and set their eyes beyond the horizon.
Canadian and US orders accepted here.
International orders please contact info@plumleafpress.com
$24.95
Additional information
| Weight | 1300 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8.5 × 10 × 0.5 cm |
| Specs | 8.5in x 10 x 0.5 in, 1 gr, 40 pages |
Larry Milberry, Canadian Aviation Historian, Author, and Publisher –
Reach for the Sky is the true, spellbinding story of revered Canadian aviators Bob and Tommy Wong. Beautifully written and illustrated, it will inspire readers of all ages!
Arlene Chan, Award-Winning Author and Chinese Canadian Historian –
A unique and true family story, set in Vancouver’s Chinatown during challenging times, Reach for the Sky will be certain to captivate and inspire a new generation of dreamers.
Alison Acheson, The BC Review –
Reach For the Sky: How Two Brothers Built an Airplane in Chinatown, by Evelyn Sue Wong, illustrated by Sarah Ang, shares the full extension of a passion that started with building model airplanes in the 1930s, and ended with engineering and serving as test pilots for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The brothers, Robert and Tommy Wong, trained over 8000 pilots.
Such focus, such dedication! The story is set in Vancouver, with Sarah Ang‘s double-page spread of a map, on which I can find my own home! It brings both the era and the city’s Chinatown to life for the young reader, as does the back page material which is rich with archive photographs and author’s note.
This adds another layer to the story, a story that can be shared with any grade level in elementary school as the questions and explorations of the text can age accordingly. There are so many opportunities for learners to enjoy and ponder their own passions, and what the world might both offer and ask of them.
Dr. Larry Swartz, Dr. Larry Recommends –
Evelyn Sue Wong tells an inspirational story, based on real experiences set in Vancouver’s Chinatown. The art work captures home and community and the eventful journey of two inventive Chinese Canadians.