Girl on a Motorcycle is a poetic look at the strength one woman, Anne-France Dautheville, had have to beat the odds and find a place (or in this case the world) she was most happy. Anne-France wanted to find a place where she belonged and was able to be free.
This is the true story of Dautheville, who was the first woman to ride a motorcycle around the world. Each place she goes (flying to Canada first, heading to Alaska, Japan, and other nations) has beauty, hardships (having to push the bike up
hills, fixing flats, and falling. A lot.) When she finally comes home, she has filled her passport and has memories of fantastic far-off places and people. Amy Novesky, via the afterwards, is an avid fan. And in a wonderful fangirl moment, she knew she had to write about this person. A person who sold her motorcycle when she was in her 70’s. (However, I somehow figured, she would be 90 and still riding, helmet on, and trying to add to her adventures).
Gorgeous illustrations by Julie Morstad are the contradiction of being packed and open at the same time, compliment the text. For the older child as, there is little traditional action and longer text/story. An author afterwards adds to the story and includes photographs.
When I found this book, I was thinking it would be a story that just praised Dautheville, giving an artistic, hyperbolic tone. And, while, yes, there is no question about the fangirl admiration, Novesky has given us a longer picture book memoir/biography of a person who made history, but not necessarily in a way we usually think important. The afterwards with the extras and photographs are probably my favorite part of the book, and I greatly enjoyed the entire piece. I do wonder however, who took most of the pictures as Dautheville was to have traveled solo.