Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Fly Girls

Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII
By P. O'Connell Pearson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. 198 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

During World War II there was a huge shortage of pilots because women were not allowed to fly in combat, even if they were the ones training the fighter pilots. This is the story of the brave women who loved to fly and had the determination to prove that they could help in the war effort. They helped ferry planes from factories to bases, towed targets for live ammunition artillery training and tested repaired planes and new equipment. They had to face discrimination and harsh living conditions and were considered civilian employees, making less pay and no military benefits. It didn't matter to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). They loved to fly and they loved our country.

This was a fascinating look at an often forgotten part of history. I really enjoyed all the interesting facts that the author supplied about the war and the cultural norms of the time.There were pictures, maps and sidebars to enhance the book. This is written for middle school readers so it was easy to understand but kept me engaged in the information.  I loved how it showed the amazing strength, intelligence, determination and patriotism of women.

AL

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