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rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the illustrations and the inspiring story. It included details that I never would have thought of, such as the women’s uniforms not fitting because they were designed for men.
rubyraereads's review against another edition
4.0
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
crystal_reading's review against another edition
3.0
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.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
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.
rebeccadanielle's review against another edition
3.0
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.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
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.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
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
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
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.
pussreboots's review against another edition
4.0
It's an interesting book and one of a few recent picture books for middle schoolers I've read. If anything, I wanted more plot. The illustrations are lovely but the book would have done well expanded into a graphic novel, or even a trilogy of graphic novels.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comments_04/skyward.html
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comments_04/skyward.html