Sky Chasers by Emma Carroll

My name is Magpie, and I can't let the Montgolfier family discover who I really am. They don't know I'm the one who broke into their home and stole the secrets for a flying prototype. Through a twist of fate, I'm now living under their roof with my rooster Coco, but I know an English spy is watching my every move. I won't break the Montgolfiers' trust, but the spy is threatening to reveal the truth about me. It feels good to do honest chores around the estate, and I'm very interested in helping with the flying project. I'm good at noticing things, and I've made a couple of helpful suggestions. The race with England is heating up, and France's King Louis is pressuring the Montgolfier brothers to finish first. I know it's dangerous to stay, but I feel like I need to see this project to the end. 

The book was historical fiction, as it chronicled the history of the first balloon flight. I read a short summary about the event and discovered this book included many of the actual facts. The locations, discovery of hot air, and the animals used were true. Fictional liberties included Magpie's contributions and her role on the day of the flight. It was interesting to see the inventors' struggles to find the right designs and materials to create something capable of remaining off the ground. As 21st century readers, it might be hard to appreciate concepts the characters had not yet discovered, like hot air rising being an important factor. Some ideas seemed silly, like putting fire under paper, but Magpie's observations of her surroundings were ingenious. The author created a plot by using Magpie's past as a thief to maintain a constant threat to her character. The woman threatening Magpie created a bit of a mystery, since her motives were unknown. If she was a spy, why didn't she seem more interested in the stolen plans? I don't often read historical fiction, but I enjoyed this book. If you're into that genre, give it a shot.