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Description edit
Ida Mae Jones dreams of fl ight. Her daddy was a pilot and being black didn’t stop him from fulfilling his dreams. But her daddy’s gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against her. When America enters the war with Germany and Japan, the Army creates the WASP, the... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Ida Mae is a African American who desires to fly. War starts and her color stops her from joining the WASP.
Characters/People edit
- Mama: Ida Mae's mother.
- Patsy Kake: A determined pilot that becomes good friends with Ida.
- Jolene: Friend of Ida Mae at her home
- Grandy: Ida Mae's grandfather. He works on her mother's farm and provides Ida with wisdom as she makes important choices.
- Abel: Ida Mae's little brother.
- Thomas: Ida Mae's older brother
- Ida Mae Jones: The main character of this novel. African American girl passing for white. She enters the World War as a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
- Instructor Martin: Happy Martin is the first instructor for Ida Mae in the WASP. He purposely tries to make the women look stupid and doesn't think that women should have anything to do with the army.
- Lily Lowenstein: One of Ida's best friends at the WASP training. She is from a rich family in the northeast and can't wait to get married to Harry, he long time boyfriend who was shipped out in the army.who eventually becomes pregnant
- Harry: Lily's fiance.
- Walt Jenkins: Ida Mae likes
- Ida Mae: Ida Mae is a girl who just loves to fly. She can be shy but when it comes to flying there's nothing to be shy about.
- Hank: Add a description of this character.
- Sparky
- Deatie Deaton
- Nancy Howard
- Griffith
- Clayfoot: Ida Mae's nickname
- Mrs. Harper
- Jackie Cochran
- Sam
- Randi
- Miss Mary
- Jonesy: Ida Mae's nickname that Patsy Cake gives her.
- Elisabeth Murphy
- Danny Taylor
- Melanie Michaels
- Audrey Hill
- Mrs. Wilson: Ida cleans this woman house. Ida also stole an article of clothing from her closet.
- Jenny
- Doc Monserud
- Otis Wilson
- Bessie Coleman
- Middleton
- Tommy
Quotes edit
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“You might be able to fake white, but even you can't fake being a pilot.”
Mama -
“He got as far as Meharry, where he is learning to be a doctor so he will never have to run three miles for one again.”
Ida Mae narrating about her older brother, Thomas
Setting & Locations edit
- Texas
- Sweetwater
- Florida
- Chicago
- Slidell
- California
- Delaware
- Avenger Field
- Louisiana
- New Orleans
- Philadelphia
First Sentence edit
It's Sunday afternoon, and the phonograph player is jumping like a clown in a parade the way Jolene and I are dancing.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Sherri L. Smith (Author)
Awards edit
- California Book Award (2009: Young Adult, Gold)
- ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2010)
Subjects edit
- Books › Children's Books › History & Historical Fiction › United States › Fiction › 1900s
- Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Multicultural Stories › African-American
- Books › Children's Books › History & Historical Fiction › Fiction › Military & Wars
- Books › Teens › History & Historical Fiction › Historical Fiction
- Books › Children's Books › Literature
- Books › Teens › Literature & Fiction
- Books › History › Military › World War II › Women
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