Staff Reviews
All Ida Mae Jones wants to do is fly--but her dream seems impossible until the United States enters World War II. In order to join the new women's pilot program, Ida decides to "pass" as white. But things never turn out exactly as hoped... Perfect for readers looking for a new angle on a well-covered historical period.
Rebecca
— From
Flygirl
Spring '09 Kids List
“Sherri Smith tells the riveting story of Ida Mae Jones, a young light-skinned black woman who decides to try and pass as white so she can enter the Army during WWII and fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot. Ida Mae's crisis of identity and her battle with her conscience will change the way you look at the world. A triumph!”
— Melissa Posten, Children's Book World, Haverford, PA
About the Author
Sherri L. Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois and spent most of her childhood reading books. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she has worked in movies, animation, comic books and construction. Sherri’s first book,
Lucy the Giant, was an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults in 2003. The Dutch translation,
Lucy XXL (Gottmer, 2005), was awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2005 De Gouden Zoen, or Golden Kiss, Awards for Children’s Literature in the Netherlands. Sherri’s novel,
Sparrow, was chosen as a National Council for the Social Studies/Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and is also a 2009 Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award Nominee. Upon the release of
Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet in February 2008, Sherri was featured as a spotlight author for The Brown Bookshelf's Black History Month celebration,
28 Days Later.
Flygirl, an historical YA novel set during World War II, is her fourth novel.
“Cloudberries,” Ladybug Magazine (2001)
Lucy the Giant (2002)
Various stories, Bart Simpson Comics (2002)
Sparrow (2006)
Hot Sour, Salty, Sweet (2008)
Flygirl (January 2009)