A Glorious Story: MOTORCYCLE QUEEN: The Life of Bessie Stringfield

 I've been eyeball deep among stacks of nonfiction for elementary and middle grade readers to help choose finalists for those categories for this year's CYBILS AWARDS. The crop of nominees is outstanding. I've been  reading, reflecting, and sharing. In the case of this picture book, the facts are phenomenal, and back matter clarifies even more about this remarkable girl/woman who stayed true to who she knew she was and how she could make her life meaningful. I'm happy to pause from "judging"  to share this.

When it comes to nonfiction picture books, especially biography, conveying a sense of the spirit and drive of the central character is the engine of the story, right? No matter what their accomplishments, at the heart of any biography (but especially ones for young readers) is the importance of connection. In this case, readers of any age will connect with and be inspired by the life of Bessie Stringfield.

CREATIVE EDITIONS: 2024

Bessie's achievements  (even her NAME!) were new to me, but I'm so happy to have met her in MOTORCYCLE QUEEN: The Life of Bessie Stringfield, written by Janie Havemeyer and illustrated by Jean Claverie. Bessie's spirit and drive are captured in the first line of text:

"IF BESSIE DIDN'T RIDE, 

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE."

In this case, the earliest years of Bessie's life are skipped, in part because the author indicates that Bessie's accounts of those years varied, and  sources to verify were sketchy at best. 

That opening line, though, launches sixteen-year-old Bessie Stringfield onto her first and ever-faithful motorcycle, Scout. But Bessie rode as if she was born to, and she set out in search of dreams. Her adventure began in the south, in the early years of the twentieth century, when it wasn't safe for a girl on her own to be crossing the country, sleeping deep in the woods, scavenging for berries and such. That wasn't ladylike in the least. Girls were certainly not suited to this habit or passion, especially Black girls. But her choices suited Bessie just fine, and she sang the words to favorite  hymns to bolster her faith and confidence.

Very quickly this single-minded young woman developed stunts and tricks, she survived intentional accidents with larger vehicles, and earned her way through the world traveling with performing troupes. When Bessie rode she was FIERCE and FREE.

But she also needed to do something with value. When the Second World War broke out, she volunteered to serve as a motorcycle messenger between battle camps. Can you guess the response she got? "NO!" A girl can't do this kind of work. 

Just as Bessie had proven herself to a highway officer who tried to ticket her, she demonstrated her mastery of the motorbike to her military trainers and was issued a uniform and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Examples of her daring and essential deliveries during the war are breathtaking. After the war she retired to Florida and never stopped riding, right up until her death at 81 year old. 

Throughout every spread, illustrations capture that irrepressible spirit and energy at each challenge and stage of life, as seen on the cover.

It's clear that local folks knew of Bessie, and those who were entertained by her stunts and escapades loved her daring and skill. She is honored in the American Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Even so, Bessie Stringfield is relatively unknown but deserves a wider audience and admiration. This exuberant account of her determined, remarkable life is a wonderful way to celebrate someone who entertained, served, and never lost her love of life on the fly!