Ida Mae Jones, age 18 from Louisiana is an African-American girl with light enough skin to pass as a white girl. She is also a pilot. Her father taught her to fly his dust cropping plane. When she finds an article about recruitment for the WASP (Women Air force Service Pilots) during WWII, she removes her dead father's picture from his pilot license, replaces it with hers and retypes the information and heads to a recruit office. Throughout the book, she struggles with staying true to who she really is and letting nothing stop her from reaching her goal, one she could never obtain if her true identity is revealed. Ida makes lifelong friends during her time in the armed forces and has an opportunity for romance. Ages: 13 and up
Comments: The books tells how many blacks tried to marry whites to better their chances for a brighter future. I felt afraid at times for Ida who was so brave and who risk so much, her life, her relationship with friends and family to fly planes to help out during the war. Not only was Ida an African-American woman but in general women's abilities to fly were not recognized nor respected. Some of the women in the book really existed. Their place and mark on history adds authenticity and depth to the story. And a story it is, it is a wonderfully told historical fiction.
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