Flygirl

All Ida Mae Jones wants to do is fly, but she’s Black and a woman in 1940s Louisiana. She joins the WASP-Women Airforce Service Pilots and has to pretend to be white. But having to turn her back on her race comes at a high cost as she navigates how far she will go to accomplish her dreams.The discrimination based on her race and her gender still feels relevant. I couldn’t help but cheer for Ida Mae as she struggled to accomplish the impossible. To be an equal on a bus or in a plane.The female friendships are beautifully rendered as they help each other to succeed.The history of WASP was fascinating as these incredible women put their lives on the line but weren’t considered a part of the army. If they died on duty, the government didn’t pay for their funeral. During the war, they transported officers and even tested planes.This story will make your heart soar.

I love historical fiction and so I was drawn to this young adult novel. Flygirl is about a teenage negro girl living in Louisiana and her desire to help in the war effort during WWII. Her daddy had taught her to fly and because of her light colored skin, she’s able to “pass” as white and join the newly formed WASP program of the US Army. This book was researched in depth and gave new insights in the struggles of African Americans in the Jim Crow South. I’d recommend this book highly.

I have so many good things to say about this book, I don't know where to start... First, I loved the heroine, Ida Mae. Ida is a small town farm girl whose father introduced her to crop dusting at an early age. Ida loves to fly and when America enters World War 2, she gets tired of collecting silk stockings and cleaning houses and decides to join the WASP. Despite her amazing flying abilities, the WASP will turn her away simply because she is half black. Ida's desire to fly and aide her brother overseas in the only way she knows how overcomes her fears and she passes herself off as white so that she may do so. Her mother gets upset, her best friend gets upset, but Ida doesn't let them stop her and off she goes Sweetwater, Texas to fly.On top of getting a firm feel for life at Avenger Field during world war 2 and the flight training and procedures, readers also get a look at what it is like to be black in the 1940s. Ida is always having to worry about her hair curling too much or somebody figuring out her secret because back then, her secret could get her killed. On top of the racial tension is the fact that she is a woman to boot. I doubt anybody had it harder back then. Women in general had it rough, but being a black woman... most of us would not have had Ida's courage.Also in the story is how Ida deals with conflicting emotions regarding her family in New Orleans (she feels she is denying her own heritage and family, especially when her mom comes to visit and has to act like her maid) and her family in Sweetwater. How would her newfound white friends act if they knew the truth? My only complaint about this novel is we never found that out.There is also a situation with the loss of a friend. Ida has to deal with her grief as she watches a friend die and her conflicting emotions about the situation as she realizes it could happen to her.I absolutely loved the courageous flight Ida takes with Lily in a B-29. Great way to end this novel. Readers see how the WASP was literally used and discarded. I feel for all the women that were involved. Yet, this does not stop Ida Mae. Despite the fact that the Army betrays her and her female comrades in the end, Ida Mae still wants to fly, not as a white woman, nor a black woman, but as Ida Mae.Ms. Smith, I would like to see a sequel to this book. I would like to see Ida Mae go work for Walt and come clean about her heritage. I'd like to see her overcome the 1950s and keep on flying despite all odds. We need more books with strong female heroines, white, black, latina.... Thumbs up, Ms. Smith.

I bought it for my 9 year old granddaughter but wanted to read it first. I really enjoyed it - and as it is very truthful about what life was like for blacks not so many years ago, it gives me hope - considering the progress that has been made - that one day we will all be able to treat each other as human beings without regard to race or religion. I wish it would turn into a series :)

A wonderfully empowering story about a woman of color. I assigned this as required reading for my sixth grade class. I hope this book becomes a classic on par with Island of the Blue Dolphins.

I loved this. A wonderful book about an African-American woman following her dream to fly, in a world where both black people and women aren’t welcomed. I just wish there was a sequel.

This book is a beautifully story about how a girl made her dreams come true even if that means giving up everything to act white.. What I did not like about the book was that the end of the book never told you what happen to the girl or if she decided to stay color or play white the rest of her life, it left you up in the air with wonders as though the author wanted you to give the story a end to suit you. This is why I give the book 4 stars instead of 5 other than that this book is perfect.

This book accurately captures the era of de facto segregation in the US military. It's a quick read suitable for children of about age 10 and older. This book should spark many discussions in classrooms. I hope that school districts will consider adding this to recommended literature.

A well written novel about a light skinned black girl who joins the WASPS (a 2nd world war female pilot squad) pretending she is white. Being a female and a black girl in times of segregation, the likeable protagonist shows spine, endurance, wit and courage. We follow her story as she realises her potential, the walls that are built to stop women and particularly, women of ethnic origin, from success and accomplishment and as she becomes a pilot for her country in times of need. The only thing missing is some more romance, i think, it would have been my favorite book of the year had it some more heart angst.....but the writing is wonderful, the story captivating and the characters really well fleshed out. A very enjoyable read!

This book is very interesting. Sherri L. Smith’s take on the segregation and racial discrimination issue using fictional characters was amazing. I would suggest reading this book in class: good vocabulary, use of metaphors, similes... and use of historical figures and events. I applaud Sherri. L Smith.

My girl loved the story. She was 10 when she read it and was inspired by it.

I really enjoyed this book!It's not a particularly easy theme to cover but the author wrote a beautiful story.Ida, the protagonist, is a really cool character. She's determined but she also has her weaknesses and that makes her a great character. Most of the other ones also have something unique and I cannot recommend this enough.

The story is interesting and well written. The characters are compelling and I was quickly taken with the story. Unfortunately I felt that the author didn’t go enough into the personal conflict of the MC and I finished the book a bit disappointed, missing some sort of big conflict/reveal.