Now she has everything but an actual license, since the flight test examiner refused to pass her because she is a woman. Her novel flygirl was selected as one of the american library associations 2010 best books for young adults. Ida has a chance to fulfill her dream if shes willing to use her light skin to pass as a white girl. Free download or read online flygirl pdf epub book. The story of who i was and who god has always been duration. I wish that she had excerpts on her site but i didnt see any.
The novel begins in december 1941 and is told from the perspective ida mae jones, a young black woman and recent high school graduate, who lives with her mother, grandfather, and two brothers in the town of slidell, louisiana. Sherris first book, lucy the giant, was an american library association best. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Sherris first book, lucy the giant, was an more about sherri l.
Smith s posts on the penguin blogida mae jones dreams of flight. And if you do read the book, please come back and let me know what you thought, if you are so inclined. If youre a woman, you get the short end of the stick. Smith s posts on the penguin blog ida mae jones dreams of flight. Marianne wood, museum director, national wasp wwii museum gifted novelist sherri l. Chapter 2, page this quotation comes right after ida and her family learn that the japanese have bombed pearl harbor. Smiths 2008 work of historical fiction, flygirl, takes place in the united states during world war ii. Ida mae jones ida mae is growing up in 1940s louisiana. She wants to fly more than anything, but ida soon learns that denying ones self and family is a heavy burden, and ultimately its not what you do but who you are thats most important.
But her daddys gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against. Sep 16, 2010 ida has a chance to fulfill her dream if shes willing to use her light skin to pass as a white girl. Ida is at home with her family, and despite the news of the. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are.
If you havent, then fly girl is a book you should read. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. But everything is the same for the joneses of slidell, louisiana. Ida mae is a great pilot and she knows it but the license is something that has been denied to her at least locally, in tuskegee not because she was black but because she was a woman. Smith and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Smith was born in chicago, illinois and spent most of her childhood reading books. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Her daddy was a pilot, and years after his death she feels closest to him when shes in the air. Her daddy had taught her to fly and because of her light colored skin, shes able to pass as white and join the newly formed wasp program of the us army. Before the war broke out, ida mae learned to fly a cropduster, and now she wants to. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. Shes a very lightskinned black girl whose father has modeled for her how to push the envelope and dare to be different. Her father was a crop duster, and he taught her how to fly his plane. William and harry have a secret stepsister but theres a good reason why shes kept hidden duration.
A wonderfully readable story that illuminates a toolittle known chapter of american history. Eighteen year old ida mae jones lives in slidell, louisiana with her mother and her brothers abel and thomas. Jacqueline woodson, national book awardwinning author. Flygirl is about a teenage negro girl living in louisiana and her desire to help in the war effort during wwii. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read flygirl. However, in doing so, she not only faces the dangers that await her in the sky, but an everyday danger as she hides her racial identity in order to make her dreams happen. Young adult fiction ages 1217 all ida mae jones wants to do is fly. Jacqueline woodson, national book awardwinning author related articles looking for more great reads. She applies for a license and after her test, the instructor tells her she certainly can fly, but hell never give a woman a license. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 288 pages and is available in hardcover format.
Her daddy was a pilot, and years after his death she feels closest to him when sheos in the air. Her daddy was a pilot and being black didnt stop him from fulfilling his dreams. Her daddy was a pilot, and years after his death she feels closest to him. Segregation is what ida mae jones is trying to push out of her life in order to get her ultimate goal of being able to fly. Backstage at wicked with lindsay mendez, episode 1. Have you ever read a book about women who want to achieve to do things, but cant because of their gender or race.
I love historical fiction and so i was drawn to this young adult novel. Sherri smith is a truly talented writer and flygirl is a wonderful story. But her daddys gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against her. Smith has written a passionate and important book about a young woman who heroically risks everything when she discovers her dreams and her identity are, heartbreakingly, at odds. As if being a woman isnt bad enough, ida mae is also black. Smith is the author of several novels for young adults, including the critically acclaimed flygirl, orleans, and the toymakers apprentice. Seeing a young woman of color in pilots garb immediately catches the eye, and it looks contemporary and historical at the same time. But as a young black woman in 1940s louisiana, she knows the sky is off limits to her, until america enters world war ii, and the army forms the wasp, women airforce service pilots. The beginning on the book was a little slow and it took a long time to get the the main event. The book opens when ida mae is only 18, recently graduated from high school, working as a cleaner along with her best friend jolene for the white folks in her town, to save money to go to chicago to get her pilot license. Smiths flygirl is a gem of a novel, taking place during the middle of world war ii where a young woman enlists as a pilot in the army.
For another book which explored racial prejudice we can recommend exposure by mal peet. Free flygirl worksheets and literature unit for teachers. Congratulations, sherri, on your fine contribution. Free flygirl study unit worksheets for teachers to print. Apr 24, 2018 listen to flygirl audiobook by sherri l. After high school, she went to college to study film at new york universitys tisch school of the arts. Aug 14, 2011 flygirl by sherri smith flygirl is a historical fiction novel whose main theme focuses strongly on the question of identity. Sailors are dying in hawaii, women are flying overseas. The first edition of the novel was published in january 22nd 2009, and was written by sherri l. This welltold, interesting story moves along at a good clip, as smith paints a vivid picture of the wasps. That proves no obstacle for pilot ida mae jones, who is lightskinned enough to pass for white, although she risks her life if shes caught and may even risk her eventual return to her family. Get flygirl sherri l smith pdf file for free on our ebook library. Smith has written a passionate and important book about a young woman who heroically risks everything when she. Her daddy had taught her to fly and because of her light.
All content in this video is owned by me, excluding any quotes from the text and the book itself. Teenager ida mae jones was taught to fly by her daddy on his crop duster. I wish the army had taught us how to navigate feelings as easily as they did a starless night sky. Smith was born in chicago, illinois and has also lived in new york, washington, d. Find books like flygirl from the worlds largest community of readers. Sherris first book, lucy the giant, was an american library association best book for young adults in 2003.
1286 543 1232 1005 127 767 1471 660 494 1125 915 1196 1503 1347 971 510 190 1157 399 585 391 256 1187 1373 1111 1334 15 694 358 333 627 1046 65 509 1354