Book Review: Lost by Rachel Hartigan

“Unravel one of history’s greatest mysteries in this spellbinding narrative exploring three leading theories of Amelia Earhart’s tragic disappearance.”

Goodreads blurb for Lost

Review:

Even as a little kid, I was obsessed with Amelia Earhart’s story (shoutout to Jay Jay the Jet Plane). I circle around to her every so often, and I was excited to see this book title pop up in an email not long after falling down a YouTube rabbit hole of Amelia Earhart content. 

Though I would say that, predominantly, this is a biography of Amelia Earhart, it weaves in various speculations about her disappearance. As the (full) title suggests, there is emphasis on three of the most popular theories, such as her and Fred Noonan being captured by the Japanese (pre-the country’s involvement in World War II), crashing somewhere in the ocean, and getting stranded on a deserted island. Each theory is explored with tact, not settling on one or another as the definitive answer. 

If you’re already familiar with Amelia Earhart’s story and the discussions surrounding her disappearance, this will likely be a quick read for you, but still fruitful. For people wanting to learn about her, this is a great, unintimidating place to start. 

Thanks to National Geographic and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC to read and review.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Intertwines both subjects well.
• Easy to follow.

What I didn’t like:

• I would have liked it to go a little bit deeper and utilize footnotes more.

Afterthoughts:

I think this would be particularly enjoyable as an audiobook listen.

Where to buy the book: