Travel back in time to the exhilarating story of the first WASPS, the Woman Airforce Service Pilots, who risked their lives, their ambitions, and their dreams to help the war effort during World War II. Determined to earn their wings in a man’s world, four young women are united by their fearless passion for flying. From the rigors of military flight to their turbulent romances with fellow officers, to their own private wars for love and respect, Janet Dailey celebrates the courage of women at war in a world where life, time, and love were never more fleeting...and never more precious.
Travel back in time to the exhilarating story of the first WASPS, the Woman Airforce Service Pilots, who risked their lives, their ambitions, and their dreams to help the war effort during World War II. Determined to earn their wings in a man’s world, four young women are united by their fearless passion for flying. From the rigors of military flight to their turbulent romances with fellow officers, to their own private wars for love and respect, Janet Dailey celebrates the courage of women at war in a world where life, time, and love were never more fleeting...and never more precious.
The thrilling true story of the daring female aviators who helped the United States win World War II--only to be forgotten by the country they served. When Japanese planes executed a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Cornelia Fort was already in the air. At twenty-two, Cornelia had escaped Nashville's debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii. She and her student were in the middle of their lesson when the bombs began to fall, and they barely made it back to ground that morning. Still, when the U.S. Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort, Cornelia was one of the first to respond. She became one of just over 1,100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army's rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings. In The Women with Silver Wings, historian Katherine Sharp Landdeck introduces us to these young women as they meet even-tempered, methodical Nancy Love and demanding visionary Jacqueline Cochran, the trailblazing pilots who first envisioned sending American women into the air, and whose rivalry would define the Women Airforce Service Pilots. For women like Cornelia, it was a chance to serve their country--and to prove that women aviators were just as skilled and able as men. While not authorized to serve in combat, the WASP helped train male pilots for service abroad and ferried bombers and pursuits across the country. Thirty-eight of them would not survive the war. But even taking into account these tragic losses, Love and Cochran's social experiment seemed to be a resounding success--until, with the tides of war turning and fewer male pilots needed in Europe, Congress clipped the women's wings. The program was disbanded, the women sent home. But the bonds they'd forged never failed, and over the next few decades, they came together to fight for recognition as the military veterans they were--and for their place in history.
Reviled by critics but loved by the readers, the bestseller has until recently provoked little serious critical interest. In The Myth of Superwoman, originally published in 1990, Resa Dudovitz looks at this international phenomenon, particularly at the origins of the bestseller system in the United States and France. Her cross-cultural study, including interviews with publishers, literary agents, and bestselling authors, gives a lively picture of the contrasting ways in which the bestseller is produced, marketed, and received in two countries. It pays special attention to the ‘international bestsellers’ of the 1980s, to writers like Judith Krantz, Colleen McCullough, and Barbara Taylor Bradford, all of whose novels are published in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. The book presents a general analysis of women’s bestsellers, ranging over a wide variety of novels, from popular nineteenth-century texts in France and the United States to the novels of today. Dudovitz shows how women’s bestselling fiction has, over the last two hundred years, kept pace with the social evolution of contemporary women, culminating in the myth of superwoman in women’s bestsellers of the 1980s. This fascinating account of an important aspect of popular culture will be of great value to students of women’s studies and cultural studies, especially those interested in the myths which structure women’s bestselling fiction.
Portrayals of America's people, places, and events in historical fiction integrate literature with history and make an exciting supplement to U.S. history classes. This book helps educators and students locate the best in classic and contemporary fiction in this subject area. Arranged in major chronological divisions of U.S. history, the annotated entries include standard bibliographic information, time period, subject, location, research base (if known), and whether the title is more appropriate for mature students or younger secondary students. VanMeter often lists prequels and sequels or notes when a title is more than 600 pages long. Extensive indexing provides access to entries on a wide variety of topics, from women, immigrants, and ethnic groups to military, political, and social events.
Each of the wars fought by Texans spawned the creation of scores of military sites across the state, from the lonely frontier outpost at Adobe Walls to the once-bustling World War II shipyards of Orange. Today, although vestiges of the sites still exist, many are barely discernible, their once-proud martial trappings now faded by time, neglect, the elements and, most of all, public apathy. ?In Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Texas Military Sites, Then and Now, Thomas E. Alexander and Dan K. Utley revisit twenty-nine sites—many of them largely forgotten—associated with what was arguably the most tumultuous hundred-year period in a five-century span of Texas history.? Whether in the war with Mexico, the American Civil War, in clashes between Indians and the frontier army, or in two worldwide conflicts fought on foreign shores, Texas and Texans have often answered the call to arms. Beginning in 1845 and continuing through 1945, the Lone Star State and its people were fully involved in seven major conflicts. ?In this thoroughly researched and absorbing guide, Alexander and Utley recount the full story of the sites from their days of fame to the present. Comparing historic sketches, paintings, and period photographs of the original installations with recent photographs, they illustrate how time has dealt with these important places. Providing maps to aid readers in locating each site, the authors close with a resounding call for preservation and interpretation for future generations. ?The descriptions and images restore, at least in the mind’s eye, a touch of vitality and color to these forgotten and disappearing sites. Thanks to Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Texas Military Sites, Then and Now, both the traveler and the armchair tourist can recover a sense of these places and events that did so much to shape the military history of Texas.
FLYING FILLIES is an adventure book for children about female pilots and growing up in World War 2. A historical novel, Flying Fillies, centers on a young cowgirl, Dawn Springfield, and takes place in Sweetwater, Texas, during WW2. A girl with dreams as big as Texas, Dawn's encounter with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) gives her something she never dreamed of! Dawn's love for horses, her country, and the brave WW2 female pilots instill in her newfound confidence to grapple with growing pains. Flying Fillies introduces readers to the unsung heroic WW2 WASP, female pilots who flew military planes to relieve male counterparts needed on the battlefront. These courageous female aviators shattered glass ceilings 80 years ago to support World War II. Highly recommended by educators, parents, and teachers, this historical storybook for children is an excellent resource to supplement the history curriculum in schools and for those who homeschool. The book showcases a Looking Back section with vivid historical photos to bring to life real WASP during training, thanks to the support of the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas. There are also ample archival images, from war bonds to victory gardens and canning, illustrating the time and history. A Glossary enriches the historical details, including prominent WWII figures, popular 1940s terms, and other pertinent facts. Praise For FLYING FILLIES "An engrossing tale of women fighting for a chance to defend their country." — Kirkus Reviews "Flying Fillies is a top recommendation for libraries . . . . The engrossing history and psychological pull of the story bring the era and its women to life . . . . Advanced elementary to middle-grade readers receive an enlightening tale of World War II . . ." — Midwest Book Review "Flying Fillies is inspirational and informative—perfect for fans of historical fiction and horse lovers alike." — The Children's Book Review “Loved it! A fun YA novel with some real WWII history disguised inside its pages.” — Reedsy Discovery “Hui’s captivating debut portrays America’s early involvement in World War II… Determination and perseverance are fundamental themes throughout this historical tale, and readers of every age will be enthralled.” — BookLife “. . . Christy Hui deftly captures Dawn's involvement with a group of 'fly girls.' . . . The engrossing history and psychological pull of Flying Fillies bring the era and its women to life. More so than most other accounts of World War II for young readers, it connects the dots between personal passion and higher-level thinking and life experiences.” — Donovan's Literary Services "Flying Fillies is inspirational and informative—perfect for fans of historical fiction and horse lovers alike." —The Children's Book Review “With overarching themes of hope, joy, and love, the delightful historical novel Flying Fillies follows a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot as she meets and assists military women who are already working in that capacity.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews "The WASP were some of the bravest female pilots in American history. . . . I'm delighted to see the WASP story spotlighted in this engaging historical fiction. Now children across the globe can learn about these extraordinary women through this inspiring tale." — Lisa Taylor, Executive Director of The National WASP WWII Museum "Hui's historical novel is an excellent book for young readers, boys and girls. It will inspire young people with the daring and exciting lives of people who made a difference in the world. This book could easily be used in a classroom as an assigned text or available for eager readers or a wonderful companion to a home library.” — Steve F. 6th Grade Teacher A WW2 book for young adults, Flying Fillies, is themed on personal growth, self-empowerment, and building self-confidence through dreaming and doing. The main character, Dawn Springfield, sets an excellent example for boys and girls as she learns from positive role models to create rewarding life experiences that shape her growing years. For everyone interested in learning about WWII history in America. An excellent supplemental reading for children aged 8 & up.
