Frances Finkel and the Passenger Pigeon
Fran grew up learning about avionics in her father’s maintenance shop at Seal Rock Airport in Oregon. At 17, she’s logged over 2,500 hours of flight time. The aviation business in the 1940s is booming, and Fran is eager to go out into the world to prove herself as a pilot, but her mother left after Fran’s twin brother died, so she’s held back by the additional responsibilities of running the household and caring for her younger brother.
Frustrated with her situation, Fran flies to the wilderness to be alone and winds up rescuing an injured pigeon that she trains to deliver messages. Shortly after her act of kindness, her chance encounter with a stranded pilot in need leads to an exciting journey and the opportunity to fulfill her destiny.
Frances Finkel and the Passenger Pigeon is a coming-of-age story intertwined with themes of family, loss, new friendships, finding out where you belong, and searching for love.
Praise for Frances Finkel and the Passenger Pigeon
“Mahoney throws light on the neglected contributions of female pilots in World War II. She conveys not just the importance of the work, but also its dangers and, often, its tremendous fun…” — Kirkus Reviews
“It’s brilliant to have books that shine a light on strong female lead characters and even better when these books are based in part on the female history and participation in the war, something not always taught in schools.” — LoveReading (UK)
“…A fabulous combination of an aviation professional using her aviation knowledge to create a unique work of fiction that showcases her writing skills and imagination. [Mahoney] has managed to use layman’s terms such that no reader will feel lost in the narrative which is deftly executed.” — Hollywood Book Review