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The Accidental Diva by Tia Williams 2004
Putnam

Incredible Quote: "What he didn't tell Billie was how naive she sounded, telling him what hustling was about. In the fifth grade, he had more game in his size-five Adidas kicks than anyone at that party could ever hope to have. He hustled to survive. It was either get out there and sell the shit out of some crack, or eat grape jelly for dinner and hope the rat that bit you in your sleep wasn't carrying anything lethal. When Billie talked about hustling and playing the game, what she really meant was that she was ambitious. She was a go-getter. She set high goals for herself and met them, exceeded them. But the bottom line was that she had been born into a supportive, loving, comfortably middle-class family that took care of her and nurtured her and provided as security blanket. Jay came from nothing. Worse than nothing" (186).


One Sentence Review: A diverting read that is excellently paced and notable for both its now-outdated culture references and relevant social commentary on a number of topics ranging from class to fashion to race with a distinctive (in the best way possible) narrative voice.

I love this distinction Ms. Williams makes in her novel. I never realized that people describing themselves as "hustlers" bothered me until I read this passage and found myself nodding in agreement. Especially when celebrities use the term, I just find it ridiculous (excluding those who actually came up from nothing as opposed to those born to famous parents, etc etc) and Ms. Williams perfectly illustrates why. If you're thinking this quote is a bit heavy and shying away from this novel, never fear. This quote is expertly woven into a romp of a read that straddles the line between light and social commentary. It was exactly what I needed to end 2015, a lot of fun to read while making witty observations about being "the only" and exploring class issues that it managed to not only hold my attention but also cause me to pause and think after reading a passage. 

The only negative I can see is that it confirmed my fears about the beauty industry in terms of its shallowness. But it's a unique (for me) professional setting for a book so it kept me turning the pages. This book was published in 2004, 12 years later it's sad that we're still having the same conversations. Through Billie the author tackles cultural appropriation (which Bille calls "ethnic borrowing" in the beauty and fashion industry and maybe it's just because of the rise of the Internet and public intellectuals and blogging but it had honestly never occurred to me that people were having these conversations pre-Twitter. That demonstrates my ignorance and I was happy to be enlightened while also being sad that white gaze still has so much power over beauty standards. Although it is getting better because it is harder for beauty companies, fashion companies and magazines to ignore being called out when they "discover" some trend people of color have been naturally gifted with/been doing/wearing for years.

Aside from the pleasing depth of the novel, it's a quick paced read. I actually felt caught up in Billie's sweeping romance and just as intoxicated as she did, I didn't want to resurface from her studio apartment. Honestly I'd like a prequel so that we can live vicariously through Billie, Renee and Vida's college years. And I'm so happy her friends served more of a role than just providing advice at Sunday brunch. Also Billie's family dynamics were absolutely hilarious and unexpected. 

I dealt with similar issues to Billie and Jay although not on as large a scale, granted I'm not a professional (yet) but I can relate to the class issues that come up in a relationship with two different economic backgrounds. And not to be a cliche but especially when it's the woman who comes from the comfortable lifestyle and the preconceived notions that we have/that other have about us, difficulty is involved and so on a personal level I was able to really connect with Billie (and better understand Jay).

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One of the great thrills of living in New York City is that fairly frequently I get to meet in real life one of the many authors and illustrators with whom I am friends on Facebook and/or Twitter. It turns out … Continue reading →

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Tiny Tot -Waiting to perform in the Nutcracker

We've been living and breathing Nutcracker these past few weeks and months. My daughter performs the part of a Party Girl and a Mirliton in our local Nutcracker production this December.  My son plays a smaller role, but he's super cute nonetheless as a Tiny Tot in the party scene.  They've both spent a lot of time both back stage, below stage and on stage during rehearsals. Now that the performances have started, we've been spending even more quality time at the theater.

Participating in the Nutcracker production has provided both of my kids with a valuable opportunity to witness first hand all that goes on behind the scenes during a live performance.  Most audience members remain blissfully unaware of hustle and bustle of activity back stage.  Make-up and hair, costumes, props and set, lighting, warm-up - the magic begins long before the curtain opens.

As I was researching Nutcracker themed children's books, I came across a wonderful picture book title by Rachel Isadora that provides a unique look at the Nutcracker ballet from a performer's point of view.  Lili on Stage follows a young girl named Lili as she gets ready to perform as a party girl in Act I of a Nutcracker production.  She and her friends warm-up, put on their make-up and costumes and wait in the wings until finally they walk on stage and join the fabulous party scene, watching as Drosselmeyer gives the gift of a nutcracker. Off stage, as she heads back to the changing room, Lili sees all the dancers who will perform in Act II - Marzipan, Dew Drop, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and more - dressed and ready to dance.

Isadora beautifully captures all the preparation, awe and excitement a young dancer experiences when getting ready to perform in a ballet production.  Her lovely watercolor illustrations suit the theme particularly well, realistically and expressively illustrating the dancers. Both boy and girl dancers are portrayed, and Isadora also shows racial diversity of the cast in her depiction of the performers. Isadora herself was a professional dancer before she began a career in children's books.  Her first-hand knowledge of ballet and the dancer's life is evident in every single page of this book.  Ballet instructors may want to read the story aloud to students before a performance because the book offers plenty of helpful advice for performers: no speaking on stage, hold your head high, don't eat or drink while in costume.  Isadora provides readers with a short summary of the Nutcracker story in the beginning of the book.

Mirliton - Dance of the Reed Flutes

My daughter loves this book because it shows all of the different character dancers in Act II of the Nutcracker ballet.  She performs as a Mirliton (a.k.a. Marzipan or Shepardess) during the Dance of the Reed Flutes, and surprisingly we've had a hard time finding this particular piece depicted in Nutcracker children's books. Luckily, Isadora included the divertissements, although she uses some different terms for the characters than we are used to -- the Russian (Trepak) I believe is depicted as Candycane?!

Lili on Stage is part of Isadora's "Lili" series, a picture book series perfectly suited for young ballerinas.  The book is currently out-of-print, but can be found at a reasonable cost used. Other books in the series include: Lili at Ballet and Lili Backstage.

Lili on Stage by Rachel Isadora. Putnam (October 1995); ISBN 9780399226373; 32 pages
Book Source: Personal copy

Related links:
Rachel Isadora - Website

I am an Amazon affiliate and may receive a very small commission for products purchased through my Amazon links. (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)  

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Leeza Hernandez’ debut book hit the bookstores the week of June 10th.  That Friday night we celebrated in NYC with Leeza at her book party.  It was so much fun getting to see Leeza shine.  The picture on the left is Leeza and Connie Colon.  Notice the necklace that Leeza is wearing?  The ornanment on the chain is a dog bone – so cute!  She even had rice crispy treats made up in the shape of dog bones.  And the dress she wore was a knock out.  The whole thing should have made the society page or the book section of the New York Times.  Anyway, I thought I would show off Leeza a little on Illustrator Saturday to help you get to know the next New Jersey SCBWI Regional Advisor a little better.

I asked Leeza to share the journey to getting Dog Gone Published.  Here’s Leeza:

Dog Gone! has been in the making for almost three and  half years, so it’s wonderful to see it out in the world now. Early in 2009, I was invited to the Putnam office at Penguin to meet with art director Cecilia Yung, publisher Nancy Paulsen and editor Nicole Kasprzak. The meeting was a result of winning the Tomie de Paola portfolio award at the New York SCWI winter Conference that same year. I remember being so excited but crazy nervous, too! 

I shared my portfolio and we talked about ideas that I had for picture books. Cecilia pointed out a dog sample in the portfolio and asked if there was a story to go with it.

It just so happened I had with me what I call an ‘ideas’ book. It’s like a small portfolio but filled with loose sketches, notes and random papers. Luckily, there was a copy of the story tucked in the back. Nancy, Cecilia and Nicole read it. I sat quietly for what felt like hours and then Nancy said “Let’s take it.” It was that pinch-me moment when a good poker face can come in really handy. I gave a silly, goofy grin and managed to suppress the girlie squeals, but inside I was running round the office as if I just scored a hat trick at the World Cup! 

Writing a story wasn’t the plan, but thanks to an art director who requested a dog sample from me a year prior (there were only cats in my portfolio at the time), an idea germinated from simple word play on dog terms—“Hot Dog” became “Top Dog” which led to “Doggone it” then a-ha,“Dog Gone!” a story idea appeared about a puppy who runs away.

While working on the book, I have made a number of revisions, mostly to the illustrations; had the book release pushed back twice; saw a change in publisher and switched to a new editor. All par for the course apparently, although at the time I had no idea what to expect throughout the process, especially when a publication date gets changed. That’s hard to take when you are so excited and have to wait another six months or maybe a year before you get to see the book in hand.

Working with Susan and Cecilia has been great. Marikka Tamura was the designer on the book and nailed the type design to suit the illustrations perfectly. Everyone helped shape the book into what it is now and I could not have done it without them, for sure. You learn to appreciate very quickly that making children’s books is a collaborative team effort.

 Some other things I learned during the creation of this book:

Communication is key. Anything and everything is as simple as a conversation, so don’t be afraid

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Title: Island’s End Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: G. P. Putnam ISBN: 978-0399250996

 

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Wow, this was a wonderful read!  I have an intense interest in cultures, and at one time considered majoring in anthropology (with a minor in Egyptology).  Alas, I listened to my parents harp at me about the need to support myself, and majored in accounting instead.  Not nearly as fun, much more stressful, and I am not all that convinced that the pay is really that much better.  Oh, well.

Uido lives on a remote island, and her people  are hunters and gatherers.  Every day Uido and her friend Natalang comb the forest for food for their families.  While Natalang gossips and speculates about the single men of their village, Uido is often troubled by dreams that she’s had during the night.  She believes that she has visited the supernatural world, and that the gods are trying to give her a message.  When outsiders arrive on their beach after one of her dreams, Uido is determined to find the meaning behind them.  When she consults Lah-ame, the village’s spiritual leader, he asks her to become his apprentice.  With the changing times, the village needs a woman’s wisdom to lead them.  When Uido agrees, she has no idea how much her life will change under Lah-ame’s guidance.

I could not put this book down.  I felt an immediate connection with Uido.  She is hesitant and reluctant to become Lah-ame’s apprentice when she reflects on how it will affect her relationship with her friends and family.  Her brother is instantly jealous, and he quickly attempts to discredit her every chance he gets.  Their conflict upsets her, and when Ashu and Natalang begin to show an interest in each other, Uido’s closest friend starts slipping away from her, too. 

This character-driven novel is engrossing, and as the new world bangs on the door of Uido’s traditional lifestyle, tensions flare in her village.  Many of the younger members of the tribe want to embrace the new, easier ways of the strangers.  They want to use matches and motor

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The official trailer for an upcoming adaptation of Kathryn Stockett‘s The Help has been released. The film will hit theaters in August 12th.

We’ve embedded the video above–what do you think? According to Deadline, the film stars Easy A actress Emma Stone as Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan and Doubt actress Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark. Tate Taylor served as both director and screenwriter.

On her site, Stockett explains her research process: “Once I’d done my [library research] homework, I’d go talk to my Grandaddy Stockett, who, at ninety-eight, still has a remarkable memory. That’s where the real stories came from, like Cat-bite, who’s in the book, and the farmers who sold vegetables and cream from their carts everyday, walking through the Jackson neighborhoods.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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Sarah Landis has been named senior editor at HarperCollins’ Children’s Books. She will work primarily on teen fiction titles and report to editorial director Farrin Jacobs.

Landis served as an editor at Hyperion Books/Voice for almost five years. Prior to this, she held positions in editorial and marketing at Penguin Group (USA).

At Hyperion Books/Voice, Landis edited several novels including The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan, The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil. Some of the memoirs she has edited include Perfection by Julie Metzmoir and Just Who Will You Be? by Maria Shriver.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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Ten days until conference time! The latest SCBWI TEAM BLOG interview with Annual Winter Conference faculty was posted today by Lee Wind on his blog I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?

Below is a bit from Lee's interview. Click here to read the full post.

Jennifer Besser is the Publisher of G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of the Penguin Young Readers Group. Prior to joining Putnam in April 2010, Jennifer was an Executive Editor at Disney Hyperion, and before that, she got her start in publishing at Miramax Books. And her very first job was at age 11, selling popsicles on Venice Beach. She much prefers her current gig.

Jennifer manages a stellar team of editors and also edits children’s books for all ages, from picture books to young adult fiction. She is the editor of Rick Riordan’s #1 New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, as well as the Red Pyramid.

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Someday, when the kids are a little older, we'll try whipping up a batch of gingerbread and building a real gingerbread house. For now though, they are perfectly happy to build their own graham cracker "faux" gingerbread houses. It's less cooking for mom and a lower stress craft because there is always another graham cracker available if one of the cookies crumbles in construction.

Before we built our houses, we read a couple of instruction guides including Tiny Christmas Craft: Graham Cracker Gingerbread House and Martha Stewart's Cookie Cottages How-To.


I decided to stir up my own recipe for frosting, using a couple cups of powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons of milk, a few tablespoons of soft butter and a little vanilla for flavoring. I don't measure, I just dump and add until I get a smooth enough consistency so it pumps easily out of my frosting decorating gun. (I know, the no recipe thing drives my friends up the wall, but that's just how I operate.) We pre-cut our graham crackers, and I piped a rectangle outline of frosting on a plate to serve as a foundation. From there, we built the four walls (place the two ends on the inside of the longer walls -- otherwise the roof will not cover the entire top of the house). Our frosting held the walls together well right away, but, just to make sure, we let the frame dry up a little before placing the roof on top. While we were waiting for the walls to dry we decorated the two roof panels with candy. We attached the roofs, fully decorated to the top of the wall frames with frosting and used a length of fruit roll-up to finish the peaks of the houses. Our leftover Halloween candy came in quite useful for decorating the houses. This little activity kept the kids busily occupied for over an hour, and they both were very proud of their finished homes. Now they are waiting for little gingerbread babies to move in!

❖❖❖�

8 Comments on Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses & Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett, last added: 12/18/2010

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littlewondersdays said, on 12/14/2010 5:38:00 AM

The houses turned out really cute! I think it's a great idea to use the graham crackers.

poison_ivy777 said, on 12/14/2010 8:45:00 AM

So cute! Wish I'd have thought of graham crackers! And I had to laugh reading your post because I just posted my gingerbread house one and was gonna share that SAME book! lol - so I put a link to your blog for my readers to come check it out!

Christy said, on 12/14/2010 8:56:00 AM

Gingerbread Baby is a great book! We have always used a kit to make our gingerbread house. I love the idea of making our own gingerbread, but it seems like a lot of work when my kids won't eat the gingerbread. I don't know, maybe someday. Anyway, I love your graham cracker houses!!!

Tracey M. said, on 12/14/2010 6:26:00 PM

Wow, do these look yummy! We get to make our gingerbread home at our mom's group this week.

Jenny said, on 12/14/2010 8:53:00 PM

Cute gingerbread houses! We haven't read Gingerbread Baby yet, but I keep hearing it's good!

Susanne Drazic said, on 12/15/2010 7:40:00 AM

The kids did a great job on their gingerbread houses. Yummy looking!

I haven't read Gingerbread Baby yet, but I have enjoyed reading some of Jan Brett's other books.

Amy B. said, on 12/15/2010 6:37:00 PM

Yes, your no recipe thing drives your friends crazy :) We've been reading Gingerbread Baby daily at our house!

P.S. I'm impressed that you have a frosting decorating gun. But, then, you also saved me with the Bundt pan today. Thanks!

Terra H. said, on 12/17/2010 9:59:00 PM

The gingerbread houses turned out wonderfully.

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I am thrilled to welcome Rabbi Zachary Shapiro to the blog. His first children’s book, We’re All in the Same Boat (Putnam), is a delightful retelling of the story of Noah’s Ark, beautifully illustrated by Jack E. Davis. Zach has inspired people of all ages through original story-telling, music and heartfelt humor. As the Rabbi of Temple Akiba in Culver City, California, Zach finds many ways to bring new life to old legends. He wrote We're All in the Same Boat to teach children and adults how we can motivate and support each other in the face of tough circumstances. A native of Massachusetts, Zach Shapiro lives in Southern California with his partner and their dog, "Daisy," who has barked her share of complaints on a rainy day!

What was the inspiration for writing We're All in the Same Boat?

A few years ago, my sister-in-law, Leora Krygier, published her novel, "First the Raven." At one of her readings, she described how the raven was the first bird to fly free from Noah's Ark. And in relating the drama of the book, she used the phrase, "We're all in the same boat." At the moment, something stirred in me. Noah had always been a favorite story, and I loved making it come to life with children. And so, I began to think about the tired, restless creatures on Noah's Ark, from the ants to the zebras. I went home that night and wrote the first draft of my manuscript.

Can you share a bit about your writer's journey?

In my work, I tell stories all the time. But writing stories was a new animal (pun intended). I had always dreamed of writing a children's picture book, but I really had no idea about the process. So I went out and bought "The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books." I read it cover to cover. In the back is an index of publishers, and I researched each of them on line. I made lists of which publishers would be appropriate for my book. And I considered whether the book should specifically target the Jewish market or not. And so, I carefully selected a handful of publishers, prepared cover letters, and send out my manuscript.

And I waited. And waited. And waited. And I was rejected. Many times. But all it takes is one. And when I got a response from Putnam, and leapt for joy!

The illustrations in We're All in the Same Boat are delightful. What was your response when you first saw them?

When Putnam first told me that it usually takes 2-3 years for the book to hit the shelves, I nearly plotzed. It seems liked forever. But they insisted that we find the right illustrator. When I learned that they had selected Jack E. Davis, I was thrilled. A full year went by before I saw Jack's first sketches. And though I adore Jack's art, I didn't know what to expect. I was a little scared. But my nervous anticipation transformed into delight. I could never have begun to imagine such amazing illustrations, and I am in awe that an artist can convey words like, "Vexed" and "Impatient."

How has your congregation reacted to your book?

To launch the book, I worked with Temple Akiba to host a premier reading along with a "blessing of the animals." We encouraged members and guests to brings their pets to synagogue after Sunday School. Our front courtyard was filled with dogs, cats, bunnies, frogs, and even a snake! After the reading, I offered a special blessing for the joy that our furry friends bring to our lives each day. Later in the year, our Nursery School embarked on a Noah's Ark project that received an award from the Bureau of Jewish Education. Young and old alike have been so enthusiastic about "We're All in the Same Boat." We have sold over 200 copies through our gift store alone.

What are some fun facts about you?

I grew up in Boston and have lived in the Los Angeles areas since my ordination from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 1997. I was the Associate Rabbi at University Synagogue in Brentwood for eight years before becoming the Senior Rabbi at Temple Akiba. My goal in life is to help bring goodness into the world, one act of purposeful kindness at a time. I am big aviation fan, and I have a vast library of books about commercial aviation and airports. I love to bike ride and I enjoy good theatre. My partner, Ron Galperin, and I have a poodle named Daisy. Who knows... someday you may be reading a book about her as well!

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us! To learn more, visit Rabbi Shapiro’s web site: www.allinthesameboat.com

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Irene Latham comes to YA writing from the world of poetry, where she has already published a full-length collection of poems. The book, What Came Before, won an IPPY (Independent Press) Award and was named Alabama State Poetry Society's Book of the Year. I think it’s safe to say Irene is no slouch when it comes to using language! I can’t wait to see how she applies her poetic voice to young adult fiction.

Irene will be one of the first Tenners to be published; her book, Leaving Gee’s Bend, will be released by G.P. Putnam's Sons in January of 2010. Here’s the beautiful cover and a short synopsis:

A ten year old girl in Depression-era Gee’s Bend, Alabama, sets out to save her sick mother and records her adventures in quilt pieces.

Now on to the questions!

Can you tell us how did you meet your agent?
I met Rosemary Stimola at an SCBWI Southern-Breeze (AL-GA-MS) conference in October 2006. Or rather, I sat in the back row and listened to her speak. I was too shy to introduce myself. But I really liked her straightforward approach and thought if I ever decided to pursue an agent, she was who I was going to go for. My dream at the time was to be one of those slush-pile miracles, so I had only been subbing to editors--I really hadn’t considered getting an agent until I met Rosemary.

Can you tell us how your book deal happened?
I sent a Gee’s Bend story I’d written in verse (poetry: my comfort zone!) to Rosemary just after the conference. She promptly declined -- said she had a novel-in-verse sitting on her desk that she couldn’t sell. So instead of feeling sorry for myself (well, AFTER feeling sorry for myself), I decided I would rewrite the story in prose. So I worked on that for several months and re-subbed to Rosemary as if we had never had the previous contact. And this time, she said YES and sent it to the editor she had in mind. That editor was Stacey Barney at Putnam, and she really liked the voice of the story but didn’t feel like it was quite fleshed-out enough. (again, I write lots of poetry, which is of course very spare: manuscript was only 17,000 words!) She requested a revision, so I got busy adding meat to those bones. Stacey liked what I did with the story, and at that point Putnam offered a contract.

You’ve had a book of poetry published, was that harder or easier to sell than fiction?
Poetry is a much more elusive animal than fiction. It is extremely difficult to sell because there is virtually no market for poetry. My experience has been with small independent presses where there are no advances and a book is considered a success if it breaks even financially. It’s definitely one of those things you do because you love it. And I do.

What was the inspiration for Leaving Gee’s Bend and how long did it take you to write?
On a trip to New York City in the fall of 2003, my husband and I visited the Quilts of Gee’s Bend exhibit at the Whitney Museum. I was completely enamored of the quilts and the voices of the women from this teeny tiny isolated community that is geographically only 120 miles from my home in Birmingham, Alabama. Couple this fascination with the fact that I am the daughter of an amazing seamstress who very early on put a needle and thread in my hands, and it’s no mystery where this story comes from. The story that sold was the fourth one I had written set in Gee’s Bend. So from the point of seeing the quilt exhibit to the point of sale, it was right at four years. It took me that long to find the story I was meant to tell all along - Ludelphia’s story.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just completed the third draft of another midgrade historical fiction: ESCAPE FROM FIRE MOUNTAIN. It’s set in 1902 Martinique and chronicles the adventures of two girls (one native, one American) during the eruption of Mt. Pelee (an eruption that claimed 30,000 lives). So I’ve zipped that one off to my agent and now I’m working on a contemporary midgrade DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS. It’s set in an Alabama zoo and is about the son of a zoo director mom and elephant keeper dad whose terrible misfortune is that he was born human (with no particular interest in exotic animals).

Did your childhood dreams include being a writer?
According to my Dr. Seuss’ My book About Me, six year old me wanted to be a writer, a mother, a veterinarian…. and a horse trainer for the horse that my sister would ride to victory in the Kentucky Derby. So far that hasn’t happened, but I do write books, live with three sons and over the years have had all manner of pets, including horses, rabbits, goats, chickens, hamsters, parakeets, fish, ferrets, snakes, frogs, turtles, cats, dogs, ants and butterflies.

Do you have any words of wisdom for writers trying to get published?
Be the Little Engine that Could. And instead of getting frantic about a manuscript that is not selling, transfer all that energy into writing the next thing. Every word you write makes you a better writer.

Thanks for the interview, Irene! For more information about Irene Latham, check out her website or blog, or become friend on Facebook. To read her award-winning book, get a copy here.

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Smith, Sherri L. 2009. Flygirl.

It's a Sunday afternoon and the phonograph player is jumping like a clown in a parade the way Jolene and I are dancing.

Meet Ida Mae Jones, a young black woman with big, big dreams who won't allow a little thing like prejudice to stand in her way. Set during World War II, Ida Mae's story focuses on her desire to fly. But after Pearl Harbor, even if she had the money and know how, it would be nearly impossible. (She has the know how, but no license. And she certainly doesn't have the money to travel to a place--to an institution of one sort or another--that will give her her flying test and license.) But the dream persists all the same, and in fact this dream intensifies when she sees an ad for the Women Aiforce Service Pilots--the WASP.

For women with pilot's license, the WASP offers a once in a lifetime experience. A chance to fly. And not just fly, but to fly military planes. A chance to serve the country during the war. A chance to release men from these 'tedious' tasks so they can better serve their country by going overseas. The ad doesn't say--white women only--but everyone in Ida Mae's life tries to tell her this is so.

Not just anyone can be a WASP--you have to first pass an interview, then you have to pass almost a full year of training--training which included learning to fly several military planes, learning to fly cross country, learning to fly by instruments only, learning to fly at night, reading maps, plotting courses, etc.

Ida Mae wants this more than anything--and she's willing to risk everything for her one chance. As the lightest in her family, and one of the lightest in her neighborhood, Ida Mae decides to try her hand at passing. Passing for a white woman. Risky business if anyone discovers her little secret. And it's something that displeasures her family. Everyone thinks it's a bad idea--they warn her. Once you go there, once you decide to enter the white world--the white community--it is hard to pass back. You reach a point where you belong in neither community.

Ida Mae has passed the interview, but can she prove to everyone--the military, her family, herself, that she has what it takes to graduate? To become a real WASP?

Rich in details of the time and place--World War II, Sweetwater, Texas--Flygirl is a historical novel that will do more than entertain.

Other perspectives: Pink Me, Flamingnet.

Note: I'm not quite sure if my past life as an editor of WASP oral histories makes me a better judge or a worse one. On the one hand, all the details of WASP life--the interviews, the training, the living arrangements, the clothes, the camaraderie, the assignments, the songs they sang, the reasons most were interested in flying, etc. were very familiar to me. There weren't many surprises along the way which means that for the most part she stayed true to history, true to the facts. Which is a good thing. But at the same time, it kept this one from being a page-turner for me. I knew too much to be on the edge of my seat wondering what happened next.

All that being said, the book is thoroughly original in that it takes true facts and envisions what it would have been like for a young black woman--African American--to have been able to pass and be a part of it all. This is something that history is silent on. We know that they didn't knowingly allow any into their ranks. As far as diversity goes, it was all white women with the exception of two Asian women pilots. But could they have been fooled once or twice? Who's to say? It could have happened though there certainly isn't any proof it happened. No one has stepped forward and admitted such a thing anyway. But I like this exploration into the culture and society of the times. How it might have felt like. What it might have been like.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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by Mary Amato illustrated by Delphine Durand Putnam 2008 It is the sacred duty of the eldest child to deviously taunt the youngest sibling. If one can do so with the aid of middle siblings, all the better. It is equally the duty of the youngest sibling to both believe the most gullible lies delivered by the oldest sibling and find an equally clever, but innocent, way to get their revenge.

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Didn’t think so.

Gah!

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