Flygirl

by Sherri L Smith (Author)

Reading Level: 9th − 12th Grade

For fans of Unbroken and Ruta Sepetys.

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

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Kirkus

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

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
This breakthrough title adds a new story to the shelves of World War II books.

Review quotes

The Washington 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 

-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

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
Sherri L Smith
Sherri L. Smith is a children's book author, and this is her first book in the Who HQ series. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Jake Murray is an Illustrator from Columbus, Ohio who specializes in sci-fi and fantasy art for the publishing, gaming, and advertising markets.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780142417256
Lexile Measure
680
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Penguin Books
Publication date
September 20, 2010
Series
-
BISAC categories
YAF022000 - Young Adult Fiction | Girls & Women
YAF024170 - Young Adult Fiction | Historical | United States - 20th Century
YAF024100 - Young Adult Fiction | Historical | Military & Wars
Library of Congress categories
African Americans
World War, 1939-1945
Air pilots
Participation, Female
Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)
The Washington Post Best Kids' Books of the Year
Winner
ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Selection
California Book Awards Young Adult
Winner
Texas Tayshas High School Reading List
Selection
Children's Indie Next List
Selection
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books
Selection
Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children
Selection

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