Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Advertise
    • Mentorship
    • Editing Services
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest TikTok
    The Children's Book Review
    Subscribe
    • Books by Subject
    • Books by Age
      • Ages 0-3, Infant and Toddler
      • Ages 4-8, Preschool to Elementary
      • Ages 9-12, Preteen and Tween
      • Ages 12+, Teen and Young Adult
      • Books for First Grade Readers
      • Books for Second Grade Readers
      • Books for Third Grade Readers
    • Favorites
      • Diverse and Inclusive Books
      • Books About Activism
      • Best Books for Kids
      • Star Wars Books
      • Board Books
      • Books About Mindfulness
      • Dr. Seuss Books
    • Showcase
    • Interviews
      • Growing Readers Podcast
      • Author Interviews and Q&A
      • Illustrator Interviews
    • Kids’ Book Giveaways
    • Directory
    • Podcast
    The Children's Book Review

    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer | Book Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Best Kids Stories Books with Girl Characters Picture Books
    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer | Book Review
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Book Review of The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer
    The Children’s Book Review

    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer

    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer

    Written by Mara Rockliff

    Illustrated by Daniel Duncan

    Ages 5-8 | 48 Pages

    Publisher: Candlewick Press | ISBN-13: 978-1536212525

    What to Expect: History, STEM, Women’s Rights, WWII

    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything combines biography and science history to tell the fascinating story of one of the pioneers of the engineering field. 

    Beatrice Shilling was quite different from the little girls you often see in historical dramas. She preferred tools to toys, and when she grew up, she didn’t want to marry a prince – she wanted to build and fix things. In other words, she wanted to be an engineer. Luckily, Beatrice was very good at building and improving—so good that she was able to study engineering in college at a time when women were not accepted in colleges or the field of engineering.

    It was lucky for Britain that Beatrice was so good at what she did because soon after she started working for the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the country found itself at war with Germany. Soon, the one thing that would stand between Britain and a German invasion was the Royal Airforce – and they had Beatrice to help them solve the mystery of why fighter plane engines would suddenly quit in the middle of a dive.

    Although the history of women’s marginalization in STEM is a key theme in the story, the narrative focuses more on Beatrice’s extraordinary talents and achievements than on the obstacles she faced as a woman. Daniel Duncan’s detailed pencil illustrations evoke the vintage atmosphere of the story, and the expressions on the faces of the male characters convey the hostility and respect that are downplayed in the text itself, offering readers an opportunity to explore the text on multiple levels. An author’s note and resource list at the back of the book allow readers to explore the history more deeply.

    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything is fun, informative, and an excellent choice for readers looking for STEM inspiration.

    Buy the Book

    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Barnes and Noble
     Mara Rockliff

    About the Author

    Mara Rockliff is the author of many lively historical books for children, including MESMERIZED: HOW BEN FRANKLIN SOLVED A MYSTERY THAT BAFFLED ALL OF FRANCE, winner of the Cook Prize and an Orbis Pictus Honor Book. Under the pen name Lewis B. Montgomery, she wrote all twelve books in the popular Milo & Jazz Mysteries chapter book series, which has been translated into Spanish, French, and Chinese. She lives in western Massachusetts with her family. Visit her online at mararockliff.com.

     Daniel Duncan

    About the Illustrator

    Daniel Duncan is a children’s book illustrator who likes to create vibrant characters within detailed environments, using earth colors and textures. He studied illustration at Middlesex University and now works from his home in leafy Amersham on the outskirts of London.

    The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer by Mara Rockliff, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with history, women’s history, STEM, World War II, Women in World War II, and books with strong female characters.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, by Laurie Wallmark | Book Review
    2. Before She Was Harriet, by Lesa Cline-Ransome | Book Review
    3. 7 Outstanding Picture Books Featuring Women and the American Revolution
    4. Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Candlewick Daniel Duncan featured History Mara Rockliff STEM Strong Female Characters Women in World War II Women's History World War 2
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleImaginary, by Lee Bacon | Book Review
    Next Article Charlotte’s Shadow | Dedicated Review
    Dr. Jen Harrison
    • Website
    • X (Twitter)

    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • An Interview with Liz Kessler, Author of the ‘Emily Windsnap’ Series
    • Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai | Dedicated Review
    • Inspirational Soccer Book for Kids Compilation: 2 Books In 1: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Alex Morgan biographies for kids – Plus 101 Affirmations and Mental Training For Young Players | Dedicated Review
    • Animals Feeling Like Us, by R. M. Smith | Book Review
    • I Am Not Sophie, by Robyn Hodess | Book Review
    TCBR Supporters
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today

    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    Discover Kids Books by Age
    Best Books For Kids
    Media Kit: The Children's Book Review
    Author and Illustrator Showcase
    SEARCH
    BOOKS BY SUBJECT
    Archives
    Professional Resources

    Book Marketing Campaigns

    Writing Coaches and Editing Services

    Mentorship

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Policies
    • Advertise
    • TCBR Buzzworthy Mentions
    • About TCBR
    © 2025 The Children’s Book Review. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.