Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII

by P. O’Connell Pearson

In the tradition of Hidden Figures , debut author Patricia Pearson offers a beautifully written account of the remarkable but often forgotten group of female fighter pilots who answered their country’s call in its time of need during World War II.

At the height of World War II, the US Army Airforce faced a desperate need for skilled pilots—but only men were allowed in military airplanes, even if the expert pilots who were training them to fly were women. Through grit and pure determination, 1,100 of these female pilots—who had to prove their worth time and time again—were finally allowed to ferry planes from factories to bases, to tow targets for live ammunition artillery training, to test repaired planes and new equipment, and more.

Though the WASPs lived on military bases, trained as military pilots, wore uniforms, marched in review, and sometimes died violently in the line of duty, they were civilian employees and received less pay than men doing the same jobs and no military benefits, not even for burials.

Their story is one of patriotism, the power of positive attitudes, the love of flying, and the willingness to do good with no concern for personal gain.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Historical, World War II, War, Feminism

208 pages, Hardcover

First published February 6, 2018

About the author

P. O'Connell Pearson spent many happy years teaching history and now writes about history for ages ten and up. She looks for stories in American history that may not be well-known, and she especially likes stories that have meaning for today. She's written about women who broke barriers to serve their country in wartime, a government at its best facing economic and environmental disaster, and people who stepped up to defend the Constitution when a president violated his oath and threatened democracy.
Her debut nonfiction Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII won the 2020 Grand Canyon Readers Award for Best Tween Nonfiction. Fighting for the Forest: How FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America was a finalist for the New York Historical Society Children's History Book prize. And Conspiracy: Nixon, Watergate, and Democracy's Defenders released in October, 2020.
When she is not writing or researching, Pearson can often be found telling the stories of history as a volunteer with the National Park Service in Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Mary Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fly Girls was an interesting book documenting the lives of female pilots during the 1940’s. I enjoyed learning about these courageous women who were often far more capable than their male counterparts without getting any of the glory. I was upset to learn that they never earned military status or any military benefits until 1977. The book was very straightforward and explained the complexities of WW2 in an organized and simplified way. This is definitely a great book for young adult women to read and learn about our history and our continuous fight for female equality.

[Don Alesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the early part of WW2, aircraft were built at pace that far exceeded the pilots that were available to deliver them to their bases across the United States. Trained pilots were sent overseas as fast as they were trained.
The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was formed. The WASP trained females to deliver airplanes, do maintenance flights, fly gunnery airplanes and other non combat flying. It was extremely hazardous work. The women, were not officially in the military although they were held to the same standards as the men they flew along side. It would take several decades before they would get official recognition from the government.
This is an excellent book for the young female to learn about WW2. The book gives you just enough history so that a novice can understand why the war was fought. It shows the dedication these females had so that they could do their part in the war. The WASP slowly opened the door for women to fly as military pilots today.

[carlageek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and thrilling nonfiction about the squadrons of women pilots who flew for the US in the Second World War. Their stories made me angry, made me cheer, and even made me tear up at times.

As the war heated up, any men who could fly were needed on the front, leaving a shortage of flyers at home for duties such as training new pilots and flying brand-new aircraft from factories to bases. About 1200 superb women pilots stepped up, taking on every mission they could. They served as flight instructors, ferried aircraft, and even took on dangerous missions that some male pilots refused to fly - like towing targets for soldiers practicing anti-aircraft fire with live rounds.

And they did it all, as Ginger Rogers might have said, backwards and in high heels. Few in the military or in Congress believed that women should fly at all. Then they didn't think women could fly fast planes like fighters or heavy planes like bombers. The WASPs proved them wrong again and again, without military pay or military benefits (notwithstanding male pilots doing the same jobs who had both). When WASPs died in the line of duty - and about 40 of them did - their families had to pay to bring home their remains, and bury them without military honors.

Fly Girls is aimed at kids, which makes its relatively unsophisticated history of the war understandable and forgivable (in contrast to Denise Kiernan’s The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II, a book for adults that nevertheless presented a pretty stale and uncritical narrative of the war). And O’Connell Pearson doesn’t gloss over everything that was messy; for example, the book acknowledges that the WASPs were all white, making room in its pages to mention Black male pilots in the war and Black women who weren’t able to fly at all. Nor does the book shy away from subjects like sexual harassment (never mentioned by Kiernan, though it must have existed amply at Oak Ridge), objectification, and the general tendency to discount the value of any work as soon as women are doing it. O'Connell Pearson sets forth these topics in the context of mid-century social norms - which might as well be medieval to the post-post-millennial target audience for the book - but she also doesn’t pretend that all those problems are solved today.

In short, it’s a terrific book all around, a real history book (with endnotes and bibliography - what a great example to set for kids, a narrative supported with facts from the historical record) with a great story to tell about some amazing women who deserve to be rememebered. I’m no expert in books for kids, but I think Fly Girls would be a super addition to the library of any middle-school kid with an interest in history.

[Jo Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book club read various books this month on women in aviation...I had read Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire (which I loved), and The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg, so I read this book about Fly Girls, especially those who flew, without recognition, during World War II. Amazing women!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Their motive for wanting to fly airplanes all those years ago wasn't for fame of glory or recognition. They simply had a passion to take what gifts they had and use them to help defend not only America, but the entire free world, from tyranny...And they let no one get in their way."

I saw this book come into the store and knew I had to read it. Patricia O'Connell Pearson did a great job. There was obviously a lot of research that had gone into this book. The research and information about what happened during WWII here in the states and the information about each type of plane that was built and used during WWII is amazing. What the women went through during this time and since then is not well documented. Pearson was able to gather information on many of the women. There are plenty of stats as well. There were a couple times I thought it was a little "preachy" but I understand it was to show how these women did as much, and sometimes more than the men but received little praise and/or recognition for what they accomplished.

All in all it was an interesting book and would be great for senior elementary and middle school children.

[Kifflie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward account of how women served as pilots during World War II, the challenges they faced, and their struggle to be recognized for the accomplishments they had. I had a little bit of a struggle keeping all the names straight, and it might have been better if the author had focused more in depth on just a few of the pilots who were involved. Still, it was very clear that these women were just as skilled as the men in flying military craft, and their treatment during and after the war was very unfair.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd heard of the WASP program before reading this book, but I didn't know much about it in terms of specific details. I know a lot more now having read this book. Pearson does an excellent job of describing the program as well as the events that led up to its creation and the events that led to its demise. Specific individuals who played a key role in the program are mentioned by name throughout the book. I especially enjoyed the experiences of specific WASP participants that Pearson shares throughout the book. These personal experiences helped clarify the points the author was making about the challenges these women faced in terms of physical, mental, and emotional challenges. I found it quite disappointing to read about the poor way many of the women were treated because other people didn't think women could be good military pilots, despite their proving their value over and over again. And yet, I couldn't help but admire the skill and determination that so many of these ladies exhibited in the face of discrimination and poor treatment. And their hard work did convert some of those around them to the value of the program. Pearson has written a fascinating, well-written account of an important program in the annals of World War II, where over a thousand female pilots sacrificed a lot to come to the aide of their country.

[Jaime]

The things these ladies did is absolutely incredible. Hey Hollywood, make a movie about the WASPS.

[Jill Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated learning some new things that I hadn't heard about before--

[Ellen Klock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fly Girls: The Forgotten Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII by P. O'Connell Pearson is a nonfiction book written for middle school children introducing the lives of various female aviators who made an impact on the world by their contribution to the war effort in World War II. Laying the groundwork, Pearson goes back to the beginning of the unrest in Europe, describing the actions of Hitler and the Axis as well as the relationship between England and its Allies, especially when the Germans invaded Poland and war was pronounced. She then takes us to Pearl Harbor and the start of the United States' involvement in the war. In between there is a discussion of the rise of aviation with heroes such as Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart creating a public interest in flight.

During the prewar period, the head of the Airforce realized America needed more military planes. The growing number of female pilots, often overlooked because of their gender, wanted to help, but they were referred to opportunities overseas since the US military did not allow female recruits. Those attitudes changed slightly as the need for volunteers increased resulting in the introduction of the WAVES (Women Accepted For Voluntary Emergency Service) and the the WACS (Women's Army Corps), but it wasn't until the establishment of the WASP (Women's Arlington Airforce Service Pilots) that women aviators were allowed to be of use to the Army Airforce.

In the meantime women could play a role as instructors since male pilots were desperately needed in fighter planes. Women were considered too weak to handle the physical challenges of controlling a plane in rough weather and while they might be capable of filling auxiliary roles, they were not allowed to be involved with combat due to their "unstable", "feminine" characteristics. At least that was the public perception, in spite of the fact that thousands of women were accepted in the Women's Auxiliary Airforce in England while the Russian Airforce had three all female combat units complete with women manning the bombers.

Still, the war needed pilots, so Nancy Love was asked to form a Squadron and women were finally recruited to fly in noncombat missions for the WAFS (Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron), but they had to stay civilian until Congress approved the measure. Unfortunately, Congress was reluctant to give their approval for what they considered an experimental program. Twenty eight women answered the call with another twenty five women already in the British Corps. Eventually over a thousand of woman were recruited to become pilots for the newly established WASP. The standards for these female recruits, even though they weren't officially military, was higher than those for the men because they were expected to prove their worth, despite the unequal rate of pay.

The details of the lives of Nancy Love, Betty Giles, Jacqueline Cochran, Cornelia Fort, Betty Huyler Gillies, Barbara Poole, Evelyn Sharpe, Gertrude Meserve, and Marion Florsheim are intermixed with the war effort. These women took on the more tedious and often dangerous tasks such as transporting planes from the factories to the bases, flying planes pulling targets for artillery practice, and testing newly designed aircraft or piloting those which had just been repaired.

Even though there were many qualified African American women ready to serve, since the black and white troops were kept separate during the war, allowing these female pilots into the WASP would have jeopardized the program. (It wasn't until 1948 that the military was integrated, after the war was over). In spite of this precautionary measure, in 1944 Congress voted to disband the WASP organization even though the women had done a stellar job on some very difficult and dangerous tasks attempting to overcome the prejudice and harassment from service men who felt threatened by their presence. Unfortunately, the propaganda against female aviators was used against them despite the positive reports from their commanding officers. In 1977 their service was finally recognized as active duty by the military and they received the recognition they deserved, but the right to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery was still being contested as recently as 2016.

With the current emphasis on the role of women in American Society it is appropriate that the actions of these courageous women are revealed, especially for our youth. It's also important that our young women have these role models brought to their attention as well as showing the male population that women are just as capable as men, even in professions considered too "tough" for a female to handle. In 1991 Congress finally authorized women to fly in combat missions with 1998 the year that women fighter pilots actually flew in a combat mission to Iraq in Operation Desert Fox, but it took until 2004 for the first woman in US Airforce history (Col Linda McTague) to command a fighter squadron.

It is evident by the way the story is told that this is a book aimed at children. While it starts out more like a textbook than a nonfiction book, as the narrative progresses it gains our interest reflecting the fact that this is a worthy topic and the author has done extensive research. There are insets giving background information to help with the reader's understanding, including a comparison of 911 with Pearl Harbor and a description of the Great Depression. Some of the tidbits are quite informative, such as the annotated list of military medals and honors.

Unfortunately, this is an overview and the lives of the majority of women aviators are given only a cursory glance, instead of an in depth biography. An annotated listing of each woman and her accomplishments would have been a welcome addition. However, the book does include an index, notes, and a list of references, so it would definitely be good for basic research, as long as the reader recognizes that Patricia Pearson has placed her own definitive American slant on events, often simplifying complicated scenarios. A plus is the emphasis on the role of women in the twentieth century and their fight to be taken seriously, especially in the field of aviation. It wasn't until 2015 that women were legally considered on an equal footing with men throughout the military, but the implementation of this ruling is a work in progress.

There were quite a few photographs in Fly Girls, but I felt that since this book was for youth, even more illustrations were necessary. Overall, a good introduction to a topic full of little known facts from this historic time period appropriate for Middle School and High School Libraries, but also relevant for adult readers.

Four stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read:

ellenk59.wordpress.com

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made me interested enough in the topic to want to find a better book about it. But this one seemed to contain a lot of repetition and a lot of description of feelings (and not a lot of actual dates and events), as if there isn't enough information out there to fill out a book of this length. Also retells anecdotes instead of using quotes from the women involved. Does contain a few biased blurbs, but might be a good book to use the bibliography in the back for research, school work, personal interest, etc. I did notice one error missed in editing; says in one blurb that 6 million american women joined the workforce for the first time during the war. Says on the very next page that six million women joined the workforce during the war and an estimated 3 million of them were joining for the first time.

[Taylor Sudweeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic introduction to WWII for younger readers, but a great read even for adults! The untold story of women pilots during WWII and the strides they made despite the prejudice they endured. I am in awe of this story and so inspired!

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this fascinating and informative history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II, who performed many dangerous and dreary missions ferrying planes across the country, pulling targets for live-fire training, serving as test pilots for new and "repaired" aircraft, and flying terrifying new aircraft to prove that it was "so easy a girl could do it." All this, while faced with monumental discrimination that sometimes ended in sexual harassment and sabotage, and the never-ending pressure of having to be lady-like while performing a traditionally male job.

Told in with a narrative similar to Steve Sheinkin, this MG/YA nonfiction is certain to engage readers. Pearson does a phenomenal job relating attitudes and events of the 1940s to current times, particularly when showing readers that the difficulties women faced during this time were the norms in a society where a woman's place was traditionally seen as in the home instead of in a cockpit—the most manliest of spaces. Pearson's outrage definitely shows at times when she writes about how women serving in military capacities had their femininity and looks covered instead of their superior skills—which both downplayed their important contributions and undermined their existence—something women still face today.

The book also contains a number of pictures and infographics on various people and events (e.g., 9/11 vs Pearl Harbor, Hitler, racism, the Great Migration, Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, female African-American pilots, and more), that provide a bigger picture of America before and during WWII and give context for what was going on and the decisions that were made.


All in all, the book highlights the unspoken heroism of the 1,102 women pilots who flew over 60 million miles in 78 different types of aircraft (most male pilots only specialized in one) in the two and a half years they were operational—and they flew these planes safer, faster and more efficiently than most of their male counterparts. It's a very quick, well-written and informative book that shows women can do anything they set their minds to—and they have.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

During World War II, people all over the U.S. were asked to pitch in to help the war effort. For women especially, this meant they got to do jobs they would not have been otherwise allowed to do. One of those jobs was flying military aircraft. In the 1940s, women had a hard time being accepted as pilots at all, much less in a military setting.

Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII by P. O’Connell Pearson tells the incredible story of the some of these women. Despite facing discrimination on bases, they bravely flew planes while being shot at, so they could help soldiers gain skill at shooting planes down. They ferried planes from factories where they were built to bases where they would be used, freeing up men to serve in combat, where women weren’t allowed.

Every step they gained had to be fought for, as many in the military thought women should not be allowed to fly planes at all. They even faced sabotage on some bases where they worked. Also, it took decades and an act of Congress for the women pilots to be recognized for the work they had done.

Fly Girls is a fascinating look at the personal stories of the women who defied accepted gender roles and refused to be grounded when they knew they could help. Historic photos, sidebars with info about events happening elsewhere with war efforts, and quotes from the women and others bring the story of this chapter in history to life. I recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs and readers aged 9 to 16.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sandra Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never have I read a book that made me angrier than this one. The story itself is the amazing true story of the 1100 women who became WWII WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots) risking their lives on a daily basis, flying planes their male counterparts wouldn't fly and accepting missions the men refused to take with little support from from our male dominated Army Air Force. They bought their own uniforms, paid their own way back home after delivering their assigned bombers and planes, paid for their own meals and had to keep quiet about what they did so the military male pilots didn't feel bad. Whereas the men were trained and flew only one type of aircraft, the WASPS flew and were expected to fly all different types, sometimes on a moments notice.

It would be 35 years before the WWII WASPS were granted full military status after years of battling the chauvinistic military establishment and Congress.

This story is dear to my heart as a women who graduated from the high school I later attended, Jane Doyle Baessler, was a WASP. I had the privilege of meeting her prior to her passing, at 97-years of age. Up to that time, she was clear minded and youthful. My greatest regret is that I didn't offer to document her story.

[Judy McCarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

The WASPS made their mark on history as ferry pilots during WWII. They gave new meaning to the phrase “I am woman here me roar!” And roar they did, as the many and varied aircrafts they piloted roared down precarious runways all around the USA, in their gallant effort to do their part to win WWII. They were from different backgrounds, some rich some poor, some married some single. But they all had one thing in common: they wanted to contribute to the war effort and the great fight against tyranny. And they wanted to do it flying planes. This common denominator bound them together once and forever. Some of them were tragically killed in action. All of them fought off sexual harassment, discrimination, sarcasm and ridicule. Alas, remember-they roared- never whined. They were determined to persevere in the toughest of conditions and by so doing, win the respect of both their advocates and their opponents. Arguably, the two most important results of their concerted effort and strength in WWII was 1 they literally helped win the war and 2 they were absolute trailblazers for women down the road trying to do the same things they did and so much more. Any book about the Women Airforce Service Pilots that accurately tells their intriguing and inspirational story is well worth the read!

[PoligirlReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really enjoyable! I picked it up on an impulse at the library, not realizing it was geared to ages 10+ (YA).

O'Connell Pearson offers a nice, age-appropriate overview of women's involvement in WWII and the challenges they faced. As the first women pilots in the military, they had to be 10x better than their male counterparts.

The author does not oversimplify things. She places the power allotted to the pilots within the context of history, culture, geography, and technology. The book is nuanced. The women are heroes, yes, but the author isn't afraid to give an unvarnished view, such as when Jacqueline Cochran, functionally the leader of the WASPs, refused to accept African-American female pilots for fear of "complications" that could jeopardize the mission. The end result was that qualified pilots were excluded from the war efforts solely due to their race.

The epilogue is nice, as you get to see the womens' hard-earned recognition. It took until 2010, but they finally were fully recognized as members of the military.

Overall, it was a great read, and I learned a lot about the WASPs. There were so many courageous women that I had never heard of.

[Jeff Thiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offers a great overview of the Women Axillary Service Pilots program and the other female pilots role in World War 2. Several key female leaders of the program are highlighted and have my attention for further research into their experiences and contributions. I especially appreciated the post war follow up: the extra legislative step the surviving women and their supporters and families took to enshrine the rights these women deserve.

This book is appropriate to its target audience of adolescent readers. It doesn't entirely grab my attention as an adult reader - I felt myself wanting more specifics in places the author handed readers a claim or their point of view of situations instead of allowing me to see it in action.

Overall, this is a grab historical account that needs to be heard and shared. The story arches from the past to the present connecting the ongoing fight for equality that women have undergone in American history in the past to today as an example of ongoing the plight for equality truly is.

[JoLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featured on World War II Wednesday on Intellectual Recreation.

Fly Girls is the story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) that flew for the United States during World War II. Patricia O'Connell Pearson's book is an engrossing and comprehensive look at the work of the WASPs. She chronicles how they began, the assignments they were given, their disbanding, and their fight for militarization in the decades following the war. Pearson includes many remarkable stories, including how Cornelia Fort saw the bombing of Pearl Harbor from her plane and how Dora Dougherty flew the B-29.

This book is extremely well-written and well-researched. I really enjoy learning about how women contributed during the war years, and I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone who shares that interest.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geared towards grades 5 and up, this book offers a compelling look at another chapter of American women. The book provides intimate details about female pilots in a period when women weren't welcome in the military unless it was in an approved woman's role like nursing, cooking, typing or telegraphing. The book doesn't shy away from stories about angry shouting men, sabotage, sexist slurs and unfairness when it came to taking and passing tests.

The WASPs were a crack team of female pilots and the author's admiration for them shines from every page. The book also contains historical pictures and references to other figures of note, like the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a unit of black service men who served in various positions during WWII. But the bulk of the history is about female pilots.

This book is both sober and thrilling, a rousing testimony to the indomitable spirit that is the American woman.

[August Donica · Rating 4 out of 5]

"As long as our planes flew overhead, the skies of America were free and that's what all of us everywhere were fighting for. And that we, in a very small way, are being allowed to help keep that sky free is the most beautiful thing I've ever known."

I was reading this book to try to get into the non-fiction genre (I usually read fiction) and I greatly enjoyed it. Fly Girls is the story of the WASPS, female pilots in WWII who fought sexism and discrimination to serve their nation. This book is informative, and the pictures gave it depth. Fly Girls was great for me because it was generally fast paced. Normally, the pace of non-fiction throws me off. HOWEVER, this book has some small technical and usage errors, like spacing and wording. Overall Fly Girls is a pleasurable read, and I recommend it to people who are interested in learning about WWII and how women helped to win it.

[Ageless Tailoress · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT book!! This book is a great overview on the WAAF and the WASP and their contribution to the American war effort during WWII and their pioneering existence, which paved the way for women in aviation. Throughout the book, there were also multiple sidebars about what was happening broadly during WWII. These sidebars, I think, would help younger readers (think high schoolers) help contextualize the situation and put the information the book presents in line with what they might already know about the period. If you want a book that goes into every detail about these two organizations, this is not it. However, it's a great introduction book. It is also under 200 pages so you can easily knock it out in an afternoon.

[Jorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ Overall a well done informative overview of women pilots & the WASP program during WWII. I enjoyed reading it and think it’s a nice starting point if you don’t know much about the topic! If you’re wanting a more in depth look at specific women who piloted during WWII, this isn’t necessarily it. While the author does give some stories on specific women, it doesn’t go extremely in depth into their stories.

However, if you’re looking for a quick & easy read with a great overview of the WASP program, and the many sacrifices the women made, this is a good resource for that! And it definitely piqued my interest enough to want to look up some of the women mentioned to see if there has been more written about them.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book describing women’s roles in flight during World War II. Background information is included, as well as insights about daily life for the women & discrimination. The notes, timeline, & bibliography add to the text. The editor for the book, however, fell down on the job. In the beginning of the book “WASP” is fully capitalized, but later in the book it isn’t. Also, while the photos included are helpful, there are few pictures of the women discussed in the text & the maps are too small. Many of the photos are either current or do not pertain to women aviators or the aircraft flown. Overall, it is an adequate introduction.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the women who flew as service ferrying pilots -- WASP -- during WWII and the discrimination they faced only because they were women and their fight to gain full military status over 35 years later. Like Hidden Figures, this historical account tells the true story of women who challenged prescribed roles and proved the amazing strength, intelligence, determination, and patriotism of women. These women loved to fly, but more important, they felt pride in serving their country during WWII to defeat tyranny and to champion freedom all over the world.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great look at a part of history I did not know about. These women faced harassment, sexism, and discrimination during their time as WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II. Yet, they persevered to become some of the best pilots the military ever saw. This book for middle school readers was a quick read and easy to understand with so many textual features such as photographs, maps, and sidebars. I would recommend it for any World War II buff or anyone wanting to know more about women's rights and the fight for equality.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked this up at our library I didn't realize this was written for a young adult audience (it wasn't marked that way). That said, I think this would be an excellent read for young adults. It gives background information about WWII that adds context to these women's struggle for equality.

It's striking how the world has changed since that time. Although there was dreadful racism and sexism in our country at that time - and now - it didn't seem that we were somehow as polarized as in the present day. And people often were unashamedly patriotic. These Fly Girls were heroes.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great non-fiction book outlining the lives of the women pilots during WWII. It is a story rarely told and one that I konw a lot of my girls would like to know about. I'm not sure any of them would read the whole book because, while well written, it's a little much for a fourth grader, but I would love to have it pulled for our unit so they could see the photographs and read captions and a few chapters to get the idea and spark their interest.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and written history of the WASP women, their bravery and service and the incredible barriers they faced both before and AFTER their service. This was not new ground for me, having read an earlier book on the subject but still very interesting and filled with personal anecdotes that really brought the women's experiences to life.

Accessible for a younger audience with plenty of inserted historical information to help understanding.

[Carol Moore Kollar · Rating 4 out of 5]

When WWII broke out, the United States was desperate for pilots. Even though women were not allowed in the military, they trained despite no pay, benefits, uniforms and prejudice from many male pilots. Despite the poor conditions, they had a higher success rate than male pilots and were safer pilots. Pearson chronicles the challenges these women faced and yet their determination in their patriotic duty. A good read!