Book Review: Three-Eight Charlie

Published by Sue Cook at April 17, 2022

Sue Cook

Note from the editor: Today is the 58th anniversary of Jerrie Mock’s flight – the perfect day to start reading her book, Three-Eight Charlie!

Three-Eight Charlie by Jerrie Mock is an autobiographical novel of the first woman in history to fly solo around the world. This amazing memoir tells of how she made her flight, the locations around the world that she visited, the history of the various stops, and how The Spirit Of Columbus (AKA Charlie) brought her safely to her destination in the history books.

I was 4 years old at the time this flight was made and I heard nothing about the “flying Housewife” from Ohio, or her race with Joan Miriam Smith to become the first woman to fly solo around the globe. I first heard the name Jerrie Mock and her travels when I met her granddaughter, Rita Mock-Pike (yes, our editor-in-chief).

Three-Eight Charlie was an exciting journey for me. I have never considered traveling extensively around the world, but this deeply moving book infuses one with the desire to travel. The imagery that Jerrie uses to describe small things we take for granted, such as a sunrise, made me wish I was a pilot.

It’s an empowering book that gives the message of hope and inspiration to girls, women, and everyone else about achieving their goals.

Jerrie was a multifaceted woman who accomplished a feat of greatness. That greatness should have been shared with generations of children that saw themselves as future aviators. Her story shows that no matter what, with encouragement and support you can conquer the globe.

I am saddened that Jerrie Mock’s month-long flight was never taught in school. You never know what direction that spark of knowledge may have taken

I am sure that in 1964, there were many naysayers. However Jerrie had a very strong support system. Her family helped her enter the record books.

I grew up thinking men go to war and women have babies. In other words, my family would have been among the naysayers.

The magnitude of information I found in Three-Eight Charlie belongs in every school’s curriculum. There’s an uplifting message, combining science, mathematics, history, and geography which could easily be incorporated into any program. The solo flight of Jerrie Mock needs to be taught alongside such names as Amelia Earhart.

Why I never heard the name Jerrie Mock is a mystery to me. Sadly, I lost out on an inspirational hero.

Three-Eight Charlie is a wonderful read, filled with beautiful imagery, frightening situations, and something new to discover with each page turn. If you love inspirational stories, aviation history, or just an exciting read, Three-Eight Charlie is for you.

Addendum: The Spirit of Columbus will soon be on display at the Smithsonian Institute’s new Aviation Building. I would love to see the little Cessna that made it around the world and carried its precious cargo into the record books.

Sue Cook

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Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.