All Ida Mae Jones wants to do is fly. Her daddy was a pilot, and years after his death she feels closest to him when she's in the air. But as a young black woman in 1940s Louisiana, she knows the sky is off limits to her, until America enters World War II, and the Army forms the WASP-Women Airforce Service Pilots. Ida has a chance to fulfill her dream if she's willing to use her light skin to pass as a white girl. She wants to fly more than anything, but Ida soon learns that denying one's self and family is a heavy burden, and ultimately it's not what you do but who you are that's most important.
Read Sherri L. Smith's posts on the Penguin Blog
TheWashington Post Best Kids' Books of the Year ALA Best Books for Young Adults California Book Awards Young Adult Gold Medal Winner Texas Tayshas High School Reading List Children's Indie Next List Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
"This breakthrough title adds a new story to the shelves of World War II books." --Booklist, starred review
-A dynamic, heartfelt novel. --The Washington Post
-A thrilling, but little-known story that begs to be told. The book is at once informative and entertaining. --School Library Journal
"This well-told, interesting story moves along at a good clip . . . A vibrant picture of WWII women and of Jim Crow as it was then." --Kirkus Reviews
"It was hard not to find myself cheering Ida Mae on. Hard not to get an itch to fly after reading this. Sherri Smith is a truly talented writer and Flygirl is a wonderful story." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author
All Ida Mae Jones wants to do is fly. Her daddy was a pilot, and years after his death she feels closest to him when she's in the air. But as a young black woman in 1940s Louisiana, she knows the sky is off limits to her, until America enters World War II, and the Army forms the WASP-Women Airforce Service Pilots. Ida has a chance to fulfill her dream if she's willing to use her light skin to pass as a white girl. She wants to fly more than anything, but Ida soon learns that denying one's self and family is a heavy burden, and ultimately it's not what you do but who you are that's most important.
Read Sherri L. Smith's posts on the Penguin Blog
Praise
TheWashington Post Best Kids' Books of the Year ALA Best Books for Young Adults California Book Awards Young Adult Gold Medal Winner Texas Tayshas High School Reading List Children's Indie Next List Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
"This breakthrough title adds a new story to the shelves of World War II books." --Booklist, starred review
-A dynamic, heartfelt novel. --The Washington Post
-A thrilling, but little-known story that begs to be told. The book is at once informative and entertaining. --School Library Journal
"This well-told, interesting story moves along at a good clip . . . A vibrant picture of WWII women and of Jim Crow as it was then." --Kirkus Reviews
"It was hard not to find myself cheering Ida Mae on. Hard not to get an itch to fly after reading this. Sherri Smith is a truly talented writer and Flygirl is a wonderful story." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author
