The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall

At the beginning of The Flying Circus we are introduced to Henry.  Henry is running away from the family that had raised him after his mother and father died.  He has betrayed the family, but even more so, he is running away from being German.  In 1923, it is not a good thing to be German.  He was taunted by his school mates and still not trusted as an adult.   He sets on his way, changing his name from Henry Schuler to Henry Jefferson.  As he is walking along, he hears a buzzing in the sky and an engine sound on the ground.  As he looks up, he sees a plan flying low and unbelievably a motorcycle on the ground, which appear to be racing each other.  As the motorcycle crashes into the woods and the plan lands, Henry is about to meet Gil and Cora.

Gil is a pilot, who makes a living traveling around, giving plane rides.  Cora, is a strong-willed, adventurous girl, who is stifled by her rich upbringing.

The three main characters Henry, Gil and Cora are all escaping or running away from something.  Even the dog who joins them is running away from something.  Together, the form a relationship.  The relationship is not easy, they are all carrying their own set of baggage.

They build this relationship amongst the backdrop of the infancy of airplane flight.  It is the time of flying circuses, daredevil acts, and wing walking.

I could easily see this book as a movie.  The characters are well developed, the story line flows easily.