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Billie Swift Takes Flight
Book Dark Red (ideal for ages 10+)_______________The story of WWII starring the brilliant pilots you've never heard of... the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) who battled against the odds to get the air force's planes to the front lines. This coming-of-age tale is perfect for fans of Emma Carroll, Michael Morpurgo and Hilary McKay._______________October, 1942. When twelve-year-old Billie is out exploring with her pet chicken, she sees a plane crash into a field and is left wondering if the pilot even survived. Determined to find out more, Billie finds a way into the ATA – a group of amazing pilots who defy the odds to get planes from the factories to the front lines – and her life changes for ever. Some of the pilots are men who are too old, or too injured for the air force. But many more are women. Intrepid, inspiring women who show Billie what she might grow up to become.With missions including ferrying turkeys over from Ireland and flying unfamiliar, broken planes, Billie is desperate to help. But piloting fighter planes could turn out to be more than she bargained for...
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2021
2 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 25, 2021
I am struggling to put into words how powerful this book is. It is heading straight to our KS2 classes on Monday morning where I know it will be very popular.
Billie is fascinated by planes and when she witnesses a crash she finds her self suddenly embroiled in a lie that sees her joining the ATA as a cadet and learning to fly.
When she thinks that she has discovered a spy amongst the pilots she sets out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth and clear the name of her friend.
Filled with details and information based on real life events and people this book had be on the edge of my seat. It is so powerful reading about the real life people who have inspired the characters and read about their own sacrifices.
This would be an ideal book for any class studying the war - a refreshing take that focuses on the civilians of the war effort and also a positive female lead.
Billie is fascinated by planes and when she witnesses a crash she finds her self suddenly embroiled in a lie that sees her joining the ATA as a cadet and learning to fly.
When she thinks that she has discovered a spy amongst the pilots she sets out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth and clear the name of her friend.
Filled with details and information based on real life events and people this book had be on the edge of my seat. It is so powerful reading about the real life people who have inspired the characters and read about their own sacrifices.
This would be an ideal book for any class studying the war - a refreshing take that focuses on the civilians of the war effort and also a positive female lead.
September 26, 2021
Bille Swift is a brilliant addition to the historical fiction genre, an inspiring story that manages to take a time period that is often over saturated in terms of literacy and turn it into something new and unlike anything I have read before.
Choosing to focus on the home front and the ATA pilots was a great choice by the author and the fact that so many of the characters used were real, and very inspiring, people made it even better.
It is wonderfully real and the atmosphere is captured perfectly. It really was a joy to read and had some great messages sprinkled throughout.
This book would be a great addition to school classrooms and could even be used to supplement work on WW2. We don't hear enough about the women behind the scenes, so this book truly is a very welcome addition.
Choosing to focus on the home front and the ATA pilots was a great choice by the author and the fact that so many of the characters used were real, and very inspiring, people made it even better.
It is wonderfully real and the atmosphere is captured perfectly. It really was a joy to read and had some great messages sprinkled throughout.
This book would be a great addition to school classrooms and could even be used to supplement work on WW2. We don't hear enough about the women behind the scenes, so this book truly is a very welcome addition.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews