Book Review: The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Aviation Girls

Reviewed by Tomi Alo

Learn about the evolution and dynamics of flying in this enlightening story collection. 

How do birds fly? What happens during each graceful flap of their precisely formed wings? How have aircrafts evolved through the years and how much do they mimic the physics and design of birds?

In The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Aviation Girls, readers journey along with some resilient, intelligent female protagonists and discover the history of flight across time periods. These fascinating stories blend thrilling adventure with scientific curiosity. 

The book contains nine short stories, each completely different from the one before, but with common themes like female empowerment, innovation, ingenuity, courage, and exploration. Each tale encourages young readers to be more inquisitive, chase after their own answers, and approach challenges head on. 

The adventures in this collection begin with a mythological tale: “How Birds Fly.” This story, told from a bird’s point of view, is about a Capuchin monkey in danger of being devoured by a panther, but a coalition of birds (from various species) comes together to save it. This entertaining story introduces readers to intricate bird science, teaching principles of aerodynamics while also imparting a message of teamwork against a common enemy. The fable sets the stage for the rest of the collection, each story exploring various aspects of flight through the eyes of resourceful, intelligent women and girls.

My favorite story in the collection, “The First Manned Flight,” is set in 18th-century Germany and introduces us to Anke—a sharp, headstrong young pilot with a fiery personality. Anke is a contradictory character but in a good way. She is lazy, bratty, and frequently argues with her siblings; however, she is deeply protective of them. After her older sister is taken, Anke jumps into action and attempts a risky journey in her kite-like war aircraft to save her. 

During this flight, we get a glimpse into the scientific process of flying an aircraft: trial and error, recalculating, and understanding the forces of nature like gravity and drag. Anke is constantly pushing the limits of her war kite, struggling to control her flight path as she navigates the air currents. She learns firsthand how lift can only take her so far before gravity inevitably pulls her back down. As the situation becomes more desperate, Anke’s quick thinking and improvisation with her latest invention reflect her resourcefulness and determination.

We don’t only spend time exploring aviation on earth. We also get jetted off to space in “Murder on Moon Colony Saraswati.” This story follows two astro-botanists, Mahi Jaat and Saanvi Yadav, along with their friend Dhruv Masal, as a murder mystery unravels secrets within their moon community. Durwood’s imaginative spin of an electromagnetic colony and technological works, like magnetic aircraft and fields, are brilliant. The Adventures of Ruby Po and the Aviation Girls explores technology and innovation with a captivating lens and sparks the curiosity of readers in STEM subjects.

Despite the complex nature of some of these topics, Durwood’s dedication to clarity for young readers is ever-present. The author’s notes and commentaries from other academic experts at the end of each story add great appeal. These extra explanations shed light on Durwood’s creative process and offer important insight.

The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Aviation Girls would be an excellent choice for young adults who enjoy engaging adventure stories and for teachers who want them to explore the science beyond the surface.

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