AN ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS • A young African American woman dreams of soaring through the skies in this inspiring and thought-provoking historical fiction novel.
“A dynamic, heartfelt novel.”—The Washington Post
“A thrilling, but little-known story that begs to be told. The book is at once informative and entertaining.”—School Library Journal
All Ida Mae Jones wants to do if fly.

Ida’s daddy was a pilot, and when he took her flying, she never wanted to come down again. But after his death, the sky is off-limits to a young black woman such as Ida. When America enters World War II, the army forms the WASP—Women Airforce Service Pilots—and Ida has a chance to join, if she’s willing to use her light skin to pass as a white girl. She wants to fly more than anything, but Ida soon learns that denying one’s identity and family is a heavy burden. Can she fulfill her dream without losing herself?