Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer

By Traci Sorell and Natasha Donovan

An American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award Honor Picture Book

Mary Golda Ross designed classified airplanes and spacecraft as Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's first female engineer. Find out how her passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work.

Cherokee author Traci Sorell and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan trace Ross's journey from being the only girl in a high school math class to becoming a teacher to pursuing an engineering degree, joining the top-secret Skunk Works division of Lockheed, and being a mentor for Native Americans and young women interested in engineering. In addition, the narrative highlights Cherokee values including education, working cooperatively, remaining humble, and helping ensure equal opportunity and education for all.

"A stellar addition to the genre that will launch careers and inspire for generations, it deserves space alongside stories of other world leaders and innovators."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Mar 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781728427348

Traci Sorell

Traci Sorell writes fiction and nonfiction for children featuring contemporary characters and compelling biographies. She is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and lives in northeastern Oklahoma, where her tribe is located.

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Reviews for Classified

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! I loved learning about Mary Golda Ross, and I loved how the author made sure to talk about how her Cherokee background influenced the choices she made in her life. Stellar book about a fascinating and talented person.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

An inspirational person -- as outlined pretty fully in the title -- is given a dry and wooden picture book biography. Tying the narrative structure to demonstrating a list of Cherokee values gives it a preachy, moral tone. It's great to see a Cherokee woman honored for her accomplishments, but I don't see this getting kids excited about math or engineering.