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Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII
The year is 1927, and in America, England and Russia, three young girls share the dream of becoming pilots. Against the odds, these ambitious young trailblazers follow their hearts, enrolling in pilot school (some in secret) and eventually flying for their countries in World War II.
Follow the adventures of these young female pioneers as they battle not only enemies in the skies but sexism and inequality in their own teams, and encounter legends like Jackie "Speed Queen" Cochran. Risking their lives countless times in feats of incredible bravery, the female air pilots--WASPS--of the Second World War are honored in this beautiful story based on actual events, illustrated in Sally Deng's raw, dynamic style.
Follow the adventures of these young female pioneers as they battle not only enemies in the skies but sexism and inequality in their own teams, and encounter legends like Jackie "Speed Queen" Cochran. Risking their lives countless times in feats of incredible bravery, the female air pilots--WASPS--of the Second World War are honored in this beautiful story based on actual events, illustrated in Sally Deng's raw, dynamic style.
88 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2018
About the author
Sally Deng
9 books3 followersSally Deng is an artist based in Los Angeles. She recently graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena with a BFA, and has exhibited widely in both solo and group shows in California, Illinois and Texas. She is the author-illustrator of Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII and the illustrator of Yusra Swims. Her illustrations have appeared in various publications, including the New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, Vice, the New Yorker, and Condé Nast Traveler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 19, 2018
This type of book, showing how women and POC in the past had important jobs that they loved, but it hasn't been talked about until now, is popping up more and more and I couldn't be happier about it! As far as I am concerned, we NEED these books. History has been white washed and male-centric for far too long. No offense, but great and small moments in history happened with ALL humans, old, young, male, female, all religions and no religion, all shapes and sizes. That needs to be acknowledged and this book helps to shine some light on a small group of amazing women who made a difference while doing a "man's" job.
This book is a good introduction to younger readers about the past injustices and how women were able to overcome some of it during WWII as pilots. It doesn't go overly in-depth, for example, it does touch on how African American women weren't allowed to be pilots in America during WWII, but that's all it does, just touch on it and then moves on.
Also, until the end, I didn't realize that Hazel was Chinese American. I must have missed that part in the beginning. But that was pretty cool to learn. I like how the book was divided between three different women from three different countries, America, England and Russia. So three different perspectives and reactions to women flying in WWII. Though I have to say, the Russians were leaps and bounds ahead of America and England in terms of letting the women fly in actual combat. It was nice to see a different perspective than the one I am used to.
The artwork is pretty. Pastel and relaxed in style. Very calming.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4, because despite how far we have come, we still need books like this. I would say this is geared towards advanced young readers and middle readers on up.
My thanks to NetGalley and Nobrow Flying Eye Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This book is a good introduction to younger readers about the past injustices and how women were able to overcome some of it during WWII as pilots. It doesn't go overly in-depth, for example, it does touch on how African American women weren't allowed to be pilots in America during WWII, but that's all it does, just touch on it and then moves on.
Also, until the end, I didn't realize that Hazel was Chinese American. I must have missed that part in the beginning. But that was pretty cool to learn. I like how the book was divided between three different women from three different countries, America, England and Russia. So three different perspectives and reactions to women flying in WWII. Though I have to say, the Russians were leaps and bounds ahead of America and England in terms of letting the women fly in actual combat. It was nice to see a different perspective than the one I am used to.
The artwork is pretty. Pastel and relaxed in style. Very calming.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4, because despite how far we have come, we still need books like this. I would say this is geared towards advanced young readers and middle readers on up.
My thanks to NetGalley and Nobrow Flying Eye Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
May 14, 2018
When I was in elementary school, there was a section of the school library that held biographies of famous people. (921 dewey decimal system.) My favorites were the childhoods of the famous, and that was where I first came across the life story of Amelia Earhart. The thing that struck me, at the time, was that flying lessons were $100. This was back in the Depression, and I knew that, and so I wondered how much it would have cost today. It got me thinking about these sorts of things, at a young age.
The reason I bring this up, is because of this book, which is not about one, or two, but a whole group of women that flew during WWII. The author focuses on one from the US, one from the UK and one from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union's group of flying women were known as the Night Witches, by the Nazis, whom they were bombing.
The pictures are amazing. The story is good too, but this being a picture book, it is the pictures that are important as well.
Each woman in uniform.
A plane crash, that the pilot survived.
Of course, once the war was over, the women were all expected to go back to the kitchen and stay there, but some did not, and so this opened the doors to the female pilots of today.
Great story to show kids of today what women went through back, now 70 years ago. (Hard to believe it was that long ago). Also good so that this peice of history is not lost.
The author said she started researching for this book when she saw a picture of Hazel Ying Lee, a Chinese-American pilot in WWII, and wondered about that, and who she was.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The reason I bring this up, is because of this book, which is not about one, or two, but a whole group of women that flew during WWII. The author focuses on one from the US, one from the UK and one from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union's group of flying women were known as the Night Witches, by the Nazis, whom they were bombing.
The pictures are amazing. The story is good too, but this being a picture book, it is the pictures that are important as well.
Each woman in uniform.
A plane crash, that the pilot survived.
Of course, once the war was over, the women were all expected to go back to the kitchen and stay there, but some did not, and so this opened the doors to the female pilots of today.
Great story to show kids of today what women went through back, now 70 years ago. (Hard to believe it was that long ago). Also good so that this peice of history is not lost.
The author said she started researching for this book when she saw a picture of Hazel Ying Lee, a Chinese-American pilot in WWII, and wondered about that, and who she was.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
April 19, 2018
This book is beautifully written and illustrated! It is such an important and forgotten part of not only women's history, but the history of our world and the women who contributed to it!
December 2, 2018
It's 1927 and three girls living in different countries - Hazel, a Chinese American living in San Francisco, Marlene living in the English countryside, and Lilya, living in a small town in Russia - all have the same dream - they want to fly. What could feel more freeing that being up in the heavens in a plane?
As time went by, their dream of flying still very much alive, the girls did learn how to pilot a plane and experience the joy they knew they would find in the air. Marlene learned first with the help of her brother, getting a pilot's license even before she got her driver's license. Encouraged by her father, Hazel took lessons whenever she had the money to pay for them, reading books about the science of flying in between. Lilya's family wanted her to become a doctor not a pilot, so she secretly joined a high school flying club, paying for flight time by working in a factory.
When war broke out in 1939, and men left jobs to fight, women wondered what they could do to help. For Hazel, Marlene, and Lilya, the answer may have been easy, but their respective governments weren't interested in female pilots. At least, not until things began to be desperate. In the US, pilot Jackie Cochran established the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Hazel and her friend Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman, an African American pilot, both applied. Hazel was accepted into the WASPs, Bessie was rejected based on her race.
In England, Pauline Gower, the first woman to get a commercial pilot's license, was recruiting women for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). Naturally, Marlene applied but almost didn't get accepted because of something looking wonky during her physical. But in the end, though, Marlene was able to join the ATA.
In Russia, Marina Raskova, the most famous aviatrix in that country, was also recruiting female pilots and Lilya was invited to Moscow for an interview. Lily felt like she was in a dream, until she was accepted into Raskova's program.
The three women spent the war years risking their lives flying for their countries. Deng follows their adventures in WWII, as they perform feats of bravery even as they face of danger, racism, doubt, misogyny and a general lack of support and encouragement.
This is Sally Deng's debut children's book and she makes it clear from the very beginning that this is a work of creative fiction based on real events and real women. While the character of Hazel might be based on the real Hazel Ying Lee, who did fly for the WASPs in WWII, there is not reason to think that this is a partial biography about her, but rather the author's homage to Hazel and all the other women who flew for their countries in WWII. However, Bessie Coleman, Pauline Gower, Jackie Cochran, and Marina Raskova are not fictional characters.
That being said, I loved this book. The text is simple, straightforward and easy to follow, even as it transitions from one character to another. This is, of course, supported by the illustrations, which are quite simply wonderful. Deng's washed illustrations are done in a palette that is reminiscent of old WWII posters and other illustrations from the time period. They run the gamut of spot illustrations to two page full-color spreads. There are also full pages with spot illustrations that, as you can see below, reflect all three women as they train and relax, despite being separated by thousands of miles, and which serves to move the story along nicely.
When I ordered this book, I did it sight unseen because it sounded like something I would be interested in, but I didn't really know what to expect. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. It is a thoughtful work of fiction, with beautifully rendered illustrations, that highlights the contributions of women pilots in WWII through three representative characters.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
As time went by, their dream of flying still very much alive, the girls did learn how to pilot a plane and experience the joy they knew they would find in the air. Marlene learned first with the help of her brother, getting a pilot's license even before she got her driver's license. Encouraged by her father, Hazel took lessons whenever she had the money to pay for them, reading books about the science of flying in between. Lilya's family wanted her to become a doctor not a pilot, so she secretly joined a high school flying club, paying for flight time by working in a factory.
When war broke out in 1939, and men left jobs to fight, women wondered what they could do to help. For Hazel, Marlene, and Lilya, the answer may have been easy, but their respective governments weren't interested in female pilots. At least, not until things began to be desperate. In the US, pilot Jackie Cochran established the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Hazel and her friend Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman, an African American pilot, both applied. Hazel was accepted into the WASPs, Bessie was rejected based on her race.
In England, Pauline Gower, the first woman to get a commercial pilot's license, was recruiting women for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). Naturally, Marlene applied but almost didn't get accepted because of something looking wonky during her physical. But in the end, though, Marlene was able to join the ATA.
In Russia, Marina Raskova, the most famous aviatrix in that country, was also recruiting female pilots and Lilya was invited to Moscow for an interview. Lily felt like she was in a dream, until she was accepted into Raskova's program.
The three women spent the war years risking their lives flying for their countries. Deng follows their adventures in WWII, as they perform feats of bravery even as they face of danger, racism, doubt, misogyny and a general lack of support and encouragement.
This is Sally Deng's debut children's book and she makes it clear from the very beginning that this is a work of creative fiction based on real events and real women. While the character of Hazel might be based on the real Hazel Ying Lee, who did fly for the WASPs in WWII, there is not reason to think that this is a partial biography about her, but rather the author's homage to Hazel and all the other women who flew for their countries in WWII. However, Bessie Coleman, Pauline Gower, Jackie Cochran, and Marina Raskova are not fictional characters.
That being said, I loved this book. The text is simple, straightforward and easy to follow, even as it transitions from one character to another. This is, of course, supported by the illustrations, which are quite simply wonderful. Deng's washed illustrations are done in a palette that is reminiscent of old WWII posters and other illustrations from the time period. They run the gamut of spot illustrations to two page full-color spreads. There are also full pages with spot illustrations that, as you can see below, reflect all three women as they train and relax, despite being separated by thousands of miles, and which serves to move the story along nicely.
When I ordered this book, I did it sight unseen because it sounded like something I would be interested in, but I didn't really know what to expect. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. It is a thoughtful work of fiction, with beautifully rendered illustrations, that highlights the contributions of women pilots in WWII through three representative characters.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
July 21, 2019
This was such a fun read. I loved how empowering and feminist it was. The art style was so beautiful. Such an important book, especially for young readers.
Big thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending it my way
Big thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending it my way
May 12, 2018
Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII, by Sally Deng, is a solid look at a trio of early women fliers, with a throwback kind of art style that works nicely and a good bit of narrative vividness to enhance the basic information.
I have one early caveat, and that is due to a note at the beginning of the book that the story is only “based” on actual women and events, but “the characters and some parts of the story have been fictionalized to varying degrees.” I appreciate the warning, and any historical work that presents actual conversation/dialog I expect has added some creativity to the mix, but I would have preferred that Deng went into this in more detail in an introduction or afterward. As it is now, it’s so vague that I don’t know where she draws the line. Did those mentioned as killed actually die? Were they real people at all? Did the main women actually know them? Did one of the female pilots actually have a near-encounter with a German hostile? Did one actually have to do a forced landing? Was one actually threatened when people thought she was a spy? Those are too many questions in a work that purports to inform, so a bit more detail on just what aspects were fictionalized would have been quite helpful.
Beyond that one issue (unfortunately it’s a pretty big issue for me), there’s quite a lot to like here. One is the international flavor of the book, with Hazel in San Francisco, Marlene in England, and Lilya in Russia. Another is the aforementioned vividness of the prose. When the three young girls first become intrigued with flying, it’s introduced with invigoratingly visceral language rather than a dry recitation of facts. Hazel, for instance, touches her first plane an “when the engine roared to life, it was so loud that Hazel felt the vibrations travel through her body and rumble in her chest.” And when Lilya gets up close to her first aircraft—one with mechanical issues— “the small trail of smoke rising up caused her nose to wrinkle and her eyes to water.”
The three dream of becoming pilots and find their way to doing so, overcoming obstacles such as money issues or a scornful patriarchal society. World War II though offers opportunities which they quickly take advantage of. Hazel becomes a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), Marlene joins the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), and Lily becomes a member of the all-female 588th regiment, the only one of them to fly actual combat missions (the others ferried planes between bases or towed targets or other such missions). They continue to face discrimination both overt and more subtle, such as being given ill-fitting uniforms or having to deal with doctors that “aren’t that familiar with the female body.” Toward the end we get a summation of just what these three accomplished (flying 78 different planes, delivering almost a 1000 airplanes to bases, flying over 800 combat missions) as well as what they did for those who came after them as they “paved a new path for young girls in the generations to come.”
The illustrations as noted have a bit of a throwback feel to them which meshes well with the historical nature of the text. They’re mostly soft, pleasing colors and they vary from complicated images full of tiny figures (such as a panel depicting a battlefield) to a full-page image of Marlene in flight goggles against a streaky sky interrupted only by three small words. One more deeply colorful and highly effective image is a full page one of Lilya on a bombing mission set against a rich blue sky and a hanging crescent moon. Deng does a particularly nice job with sky, which obviously works out well for a book about flying.
Overall, I really quite liked the book for both its text and its illustration, though I wish I didn’t have that nagging question about what is fact and what is fiction. But I’d still recommend this for young readers; it’s both informative and inspiring.
I have one early caveat, and that is due to a note at the beginning of the book that the story is only “based” on actual women and events, but “the characters and some parts of the story have been fictionalized to varying degrees.” I appreciate the warning, and any historical work that presents actual conversation/dialog I expect has added some creativity to the mix, but I would have preferred that Deng went into this in more detail in an introduction or afterward. As it is now, it’s so vague that I don’t know where she draws the line. Did those mentioned as killed actually die? Were they real people at all? Did the main women actually know them? Did one of the female pilots actually have a near-encounter with a German hostile? Did one actually have to do a forced landing? Was one actually threatened when people thought she was a spy? Those are too many questions in a work that purports to inform, so a bit more detail on just what aspects were fictionalized would have been quite helpful.
Beyond that one issue (unfortunately it’s a pretty big issue for me), there’s quite a lot to like here. One is the international flavor of the book, with Hazel in San Francisco, Marlene in England, and Lilya in Russia. Another is the aforementioned vividness of the prose. When the three young girls first become intrigued with flying, it’s introduced with invigoratingly visceral language rather than a dry recitation of facts. Hazel, for instance, touches her first plane an “when the engine roared to life, it was so loud that Hazel felt the vibrations travel through her body and rumble in her chest.” And when Lilya gets up close to her first aircraft—one with mechanical issues— “the small trail of smoke rising up caused her nose to wrinkle and her eyes to water.”
The three dream of becoming pilots and find their way to doing so, overcoming obstacles such as money issues or a scornful patriarchal society. World War II though offers opportunities which they quickly take advantage of. Hazel becomes a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), Marlene joins the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), and Lily becomes a member of the all-female 588th regiment, the only one of them to fly actual combat missions (the others ferried planes between bases or towed targets or other such missions). They continue to face discrimination both overt and more subtle, such as being given ill-fitting uniforms or having to deal with doctors that “aren’t that familiar with the female body.” Toward the end we get a summation of just what these three accomplished (flying 78 different planes, delivering almost a 1000 airplanes to bases, flying over 800 combat missions) as well as what they did for those who came after them as they “paved a new path for young girls in the generations to come.”
The illustrations as noted have a bit of a throwback feel to them which meshes well with the historical nature of the text. They’re mostly soft, pleasing colors and they vary from complicated images full of tiny figures (such as a panel depicting a battlefield) to a full-page image of Marlene in flight goggles against a streaky sky interrupted only by three small words. One more deeply colorful and highly effective image is a full page one of Lilya on a bombing mission set against a rich blue sky and a hanging crescent moon. Deng does a particularly nice job with sky, which obviously works out well for a book about flying.
Overall, I really quite liked the book for both its text and its illustration, though I wish I didn’t have that nagging question about what is fact and what is fiction. But I’d still recommend this for young readers; it’s both informative and inspiring.
April 24, 2021
I’m so grateful a friend shared this book with me to read with my son. There is so much history we are not taught and this book brilliantly captures a piece of it. I’m motivated to learn more about the women this book is based on and of course this means adding more books to my to-read list! ;)
June 12, 2018
I loved this illustrated book about female pilots during WWII! This is a definite add to our school library collection and I know we have many young readers who would be interested in this title.
August 31, 2020
A wonderful book by Sally Deng in which she presents a brief overview of the lives of three women who dreamed of becoming pilots in a time when such dreams were considered futile. Based on the lives of three real women from England, Russia and the States, Deng chapters their lives with the book starting with exploring the spark that brought them to wanting to fly, the introduction of war, their recruitment, their time during the war and what happened after too. Although each story and woman's life is touched upon briefly, there is enough here to engage and interest any reader and I was also fascinated by the other women pilots who these girls encountered too.
Two aspects of the book, in terms of narrative, caught my attention. The first was how well Deng handles the conflict over the the rights of women to fly. This book does not demonise men at all (two of the girls being fully supported by either their father or their brother) but it does illustrate the closed thinking of a masculine world illustrating how difficult it was for women in this role to be taken seriously - if there was ever a fitting moment as to the derogatory nature of wolf-whistling then it is here in this book. In addition, Deng does much of this implicitly, leaving her commentary within the narrative rather than capitalising on it and keeping it central. For me, the message then is far more powerful.
Finally, there are the illustrations themselves which consistent of beautiful penciled drawings. Some of double-page full bleeds and others offer snapshots into the day-to-day life of the three women. Deng has a real eye of marking moments in the women's lives and bringing the sense of majesty that must come from flying. All in all, thoroughly enjoyable, informative and one which celebrates the persistence of women to consistently fight against those masculine barriers.
Two aspects of the book, in terms of narrative, caught my attention. The first was how well Deng handles the conflict over the the rights of women to fly. This book does not demonise men at all (two of the girls being fully supported by either their father or their brother) but it does illustrate the closed thinking of a masculine world illustrating how difficult it was for women in this role to be taken seriously - if there was ever a fitting moment as to the derogatory nature of wolf-whistling then it is here in this book. In addition, Deng does much of this implicitly, leaving her commentary within the narrative rather than capitalising on it and keeping it central. For me, the message then is far more powerful.
Finally, there are the illustrations themselves which consistent of beautiful penciled drawings. Some of double-page full bleeds and others offer snapshots into the day-to-day life of the three women. Deng has a real eye of marking moments in the women's lives and bringing the sense of majesty that must come from flying. All in all, thoroughly enjoyable, informative and one which celebrates the persistence of women to consistently fight against those masculine barriers.
December 1, 2020
5 stars for the illustrations, 2 stars for the writing.
April 3, 2019
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! We’re wrapping up Women’s History Month tonight with a moving tale of unsung heroes, Skyward: The Story Of Female Pilots in WWII by Sally Deng.
Billed as “creative nonfiction”, this large-format illustrated chapter book introduces us to three fictional young women: Hazel, a shy American girl of Chinese heritage; Marlene, an English spitfire; and Lilya, a passionate child of Russian farmers. All three are exposed to aviation at a young age, and all three become determined to be pilots, despite the rampant sexism of the day. When WWII breaks out, the three girls attempt to use their hard-earned skills to assist the Allied efforts, but are turned away with laughter and sneers… that is until they each find organizations in desperate need of pilots of any gender. Hazel and Marlene are selected for civilian volunteer groups (WASPs and ATA respectively), and Lilya becomes part of the famed “Night Witches” 588th Bomber Regiment. All three face unique challenges in the line of duty, as well as sadly similar ones (constant harassment and condescension, substandard supplies and conditions, and the ever-present threat of danger that permeates wartime). When the war ends, they are cast aside without a second thought; yet today, we remember and celebrate their sacrifices and courage, in service of not only their countries and the Allies, but of all the future female aviatrixes that followed.
Powerful. It’s astounding how often female servicemembers’ accomplishments are swept under the rug (as we pointed out earlier this month, only ONE woman has ever won the Medal of Honor), so seeing this loving, heartfelt look at the lives of the aviatrixes of WWII is a joy. Deng creates rich, compelling characters to act as the reader’s guides, and illustrates each page with a beautiful sense of detail and scope, breathing life and emotion into each artwork (particularly lovely is a full-page spread of Marlene’s astonished face during her first flight, accompanied by a single line of dialogue: “‘Oh,’ she gasped”). This is a chapter book, and better suited for slightly older bookworms if read in a single sitting, but absolutely a must-read. Baby Bookworm approved!
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
August 29, 2018
Author Sally Deng weaves the lives of three different women from three different countries into a cohesive story that explains how they all became pilots during World War II. Hazel visits a local airfield with her father every Saturday in San Francisco. Marlene's brother brings an airplane to their family home in England. And Lilya meets a pilot who lands a malfunctioning plane near her village in Russia. The narrative traces how each young woman receives her training and what position each filled during the war, and then they are given credit for paving the way for all the females who came after them in aviation. A final double-spread shows women of all backgrounds, some in civilian clothes and others in various uniforms (military, police, and space services).
Illustrations vary from small vignettes above or below the text, large spreads such as one of Marlene with flying goggles on and her hair blowing in the wind, and even large scenes showing battlefields or the Russian Night Witches dropping their bombs. A full page features African American female pilots with Bessie Coleman in the center. Another spread shows the pieces of an airplane spread around Marlene as the text tells of her collision with a high cable during a bad fog.
Details make it clear that these women and those who served with them worked just as hard or harder than male counterparts, even though they faced discrimination and negativity throughout their careers. The large format of the book and the beautiful illustrations make the content very accessible. Anyone who is interested in aviation, equal rights, and World War II history should get a copy of this book.
I received a review copy of the book from the publisher.
Illustrations vary from small vignettes above or below the text, large spreads such as one of Marlene with flying goggles on and her hair blowing in the wind, and even large scenes showing battlefields or the Russian Night Witches dropping their bombs. A full page features African American female pilots with Bessie Coleman in the center. Another spread shows the pieces of an airplane spread around Marlene as the text tells of her collision with a high cable during a bad fog.
Details make it clear that these women and those who served with them worked just as hard or harder than male counterparts, even though they faced discrimination and negativity throughout their careers. The large format of the book and the beautiful illustrations make the content very accessible. Anyone who is interested in aviation, equal rights, and World War II history should get a copy of this book.
I received a review copy of the book from the publisher.
July 25, 2021
This book does a really good job of highlighting the issues female pilots, especially women of color, faced in WWII, while also contrasting that with the excitement and passion they had for flying. Not only are their struggles with respect depicted, but also the struggles all those who fight in war have to endure, like the death of their friends in combat. Deng succinctly details the wide variety of jobs that female pilots took on during WWII, like ferrying planes, towing targets for firing practice, and performing night air raids on German camps. Deng also shows the women’s complicated feelings toward the war, how they almost wished it would never end because they may never get another opportunity as women to fly as often again.
In the author’s note, Deng mentions that only one of the women featured in this book was based on an actual female pilot. However, telling this story through specific characters the way Deng does makes their stories more relatable and compelling.
The illustrations are all done in colored pencil and are very detailed and richly colored. Many of them are depicted as if from an aerial view, which I found very fitting for the story.
In the author’s note, Deng mentions that only one of the women featured in this book was based on an actual female pilot. However, telling this story through specific characters the way Deng does makes their stories more relatable and compelling.
The illustrations are all done in colored pencil and are very detailed and richly colored. Many of them are depicted as if from an aerial view, which I found very fitting for the story.
June 23, 2019
Picked this up when I spotted it at the library and absolutely loved it! It follows three women from different countries, each of whom becomes interested in planes and eventually becomes a pilot during the Second World War. I liked how it showed women from different countries and how some of the challenges they faced were the same while others were unique to their situation. I also found it particularly interesting that the American pilot featured was actually Asian American (based on the photograph that sparked the idea for the book) and was suspected of being a Japanese spy at one point, when her plan came down in rural America. The illustrations really add to the story and manage to fill the pages with personality as we see snippets of each woman's life, plus how the men around them reacted with some being supportive and others challenging their right or ability to fly. This book is the perfect way to whet your appetite and it is refreshing to see the contributions made by these brave women finally being acknowledged.
March 15, 2019
This book is a piece of “creative nonfiction.” The story is based on real events and real women who flew during WWII, but the characters are fictionalized as well as some parts of the story.
Based on three women: Hazel, from the US, Marlene, from England, and Lilya from the Soviet Union.
In the United States, Hazel joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) - They trained in Texas and their primary responsibilities were ferrying planes and flying test runs on repaired planes.
In England, Marlene joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). They trained at Hamble airfield (all-female). Their primary responsibilities were ferrying planes and transporting refugees and patients to hospitals.
In the Soviet Union, the women trained at Engels and became part of the 588th regiment, whose primary responsibility was to fly combat missions against the Germans.
Includes an Author’s note and a small bibliography.
Based on three women: Hazel, from the US, Marlene, from England, and Lilya from the Soviet Union.
In the United States, Hazel joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) - They trained in Texas and their primary responsibilities were ferrying planes and flying test runs on repaired planes.
In England, Marlene joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). They trained at Hamble airfield (all-female). Their primary responsibilities were ferrying planes and transporting refugees and patients to hospitals.
In the Soviet Union, the women trained at Engels and became part of the 588th regiment, whose primary responsibility was to fly combat missions against the Germans.
Includes an Author’s note and a small bibliography.
December 26, 2021
Quality Rating: Four Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Five Stars
This is an absolute gem of a book - educational, diverse, exciting and inspirational. Flying Eye really do make the best books for young readers, bringing together beautiful illustrations and significant points of culture or history to their attention. Skyward especially looks at a topic I’m especially interested in; female pilots, specifically in WWII. Of course the book doesn’t get to go into massive detail and is fictionalised but it still touches on elements of war and it’s social consequences, while also exploring the sexism these women faced without at all making it the focus of the story. This book, above all, celebrates the work of female pilots through the stories of three girls in the US, Britain and Russia.
Enjoyment Rating: Five Stars
This is an absolute gem of a book - educational, diverse, exciting and inspirational. Flying Eye really do make the best books for young readers, bringing together beautiful illustrations and significant points of culture or history to their attention. Skyward especially looks at a topic I’m especially interested in; female pilots, specifically in WWII. Of course the book doesn’t get to go into massive detail and is fictionalised but it still touches on elements of war and it’s social consequences, while also exploring the sexism these women faced without at all making it the focus of the story. This book, above all, celebrates the work of female pilots through the stories of three girls in the US, Britain and Russia.
January 5, 2019
It's important to stop and realize the choices afforded us every day have not always been available. Many of the opportunities are here now because of a path built by others. These people dared to be different. These people followed a vision they had for themselves not one dictated by acceptable social norms.
Three courageous women decided to pursue their passion for flying. Skyward: The Story Of Female Pilots In WWII (Flying Eye Books, September 4, 2018) written and illustrated by Sally Deng is based on their remarkable actions. They and their accomplishments are worth remembering
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
Three courageous women decided to pursue their passion for flying. Skyward: The Story Of Female Pilots In WWII (Flying Eye Books, September 4, 2018) written and illustrated by Sally Deng is based on their remarkable actions. They and their accomplishments are worth remembering
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
January 9, 2019
This "creative nonfiction" book is well designed, with appealing pictures, a chapter book in a picture book format, and it is well-written. However, there is not enough background material to provide factual support to the story, a major omission if we want to encourage students to dig deeper into the subject, besides not providing context young readers might need. I finished the book not knowing which parts of the story were fiction and which were true. On the other hand, as fiction, the nonfiction purpose of the book overwhelmed story, making it difficult to connect with the characters. So, I recommend it with reservations: a good book, but not outstanding.
January 13, 2019
Can I give this 10 stars?! I am slightly obsessed with WWII books especially ones about the unsung heroes around the world... women. And women pilots? Even more! This is a factionalized story of 3 young women in three different countries and their dreams of becoming pilots. The stories are so realistic I had to keep reminding myself that they were not ‘real’ but representative of real women. And the illustrations? Oh my... so so stunning! The book looks like it was created in the 1940s. Soft and wispy brush strokes. Just enough details. Stunning. A friend said I would love this book and would want to own it, and she was so right. It is gorgeous and I know I will re read it many times.
June 13, 2019
This was a compelling story. The issue I have with it is that it is creative non-fiction (something I didn't realize until after I finished reading because I had missed the note on the dedication page), but then there is not back matter or any explanation about what was fictionalized and what was non-fiction. It's fine to add to non-fiction for the narrative to work well, but then, there should be clear explanations somewhere about what information was accurate.
I really appreciate this acknowledgement of women's involvement in the war and in piloting aircraft though.
I really appreciate this acknowledgement of women's involvement in the war and in piloting aircraft though.
July 17, 2018
An interesting and very well presented book about female pilots during the second world war. I really loved the illustrations in this book. This is a great book to use as a starting point to get young people interested in learning about female pilots during this era. The note in the front of the book tells us that the characters are fictional but based on real people and events during world war two.
October 20, 2022
SKYWARD is one of those books that blends fact and fiction in a way that makes it interesting and accessible for younger readers. Yes, the book doesn't make clear distinction between what is fact or fiction but it certainly made me interested in learning more about the women featured in the story! I knew about Hazel Ying Lee (thanks to another beautiful picture book!) but this was my first time reading about Liyla and Marlene. The artwork was gorgeous.
July 9, 2018
I only rated it 4 stars just because it was too short. The artwork is beautiful and provides a great complement to the tale of the brave women who became pilots during World War 2. Just as the author hoped, this book did make me more curious about Hazel, Marlene and Lilya.
Thanks to the publisher for the early access to the advance reading copy.
Thanks to the publisher for the early access to the advance reading copy.
November 24, 2018
This is a short piece of historical fiction about three young women pilots during World War 2. The art work is nice, give accessibility to the story and helping readers to develop mental images of a time long past. The story gives readers a small taste of what women pilots would have had to endure during WW2. It's nice.
March 22, 2019
I love this! I love the old fashioned style of the drawings and font, which gave it a very authentic feel, and the way the stories of the three women were written was excellent! I like how it focused on their unique personalities and did not sugar coat the realities they faced. This was a fun and inspiring read! Recommended for all older children and adults.
April 24, 2019
A fictionalized account of three women who served as pilots for their respective countries--U.S., Britain, and Soviet Union--during WWII. The picture are evocative of the time period, and the narrative show the bravery and tenacity of these women who worked against the rampant sexism of the era. A great book for "girl power", or to show an often overlooked segment of military history.
July 27, 2018
Historic picture book, right up my alley. I loved learning more about the female pilots in WWII. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, too. One more book about cool women in history! Yay, girls!
Advanced copy provided by Netgalley.
Advanced copy provided by Netgalley.
November 20, 2018
The women featured are amazing, the pictures are stunning BUT the blending of storylines would be, it seems to me, really confusing to the target audience. Okay for an older reader alone but definitely a shared book for younger.
March 14, 2019
Love this book about female pilots in America, England, and Russia during WWII. The illustrations are beautiful and their stories are short and to the point—the world didn’t think women could fly, but they did, often doing more dangerous jobs and missions than their male counterparts!
May 8, 2019
I really liked the illustrations, and how this detailed the lives of different women pilots in different parts of the worlds and in different backgrounds. Such interesting stories! I loved the different perspectives
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