Review
Praise for American Flygirl
“The Allied victory over fascism in World War II hinged on the courageous efforts of countless hidden heroes….The inspiring story of a trailblazer twice over within the gallant WASP ranks: Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, and one of only two Asian Americans to earn her silver wings as a WASP. In Ankeny’s skilled hands, Lee’s story soars through an unforgettable flight of wartime courage, triumph, and tragedy.”—Gregg Jones, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and author of Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II
“Helluva story! Parachuting out of a plane, crash-landing in a field, or writing lipstick messages on a fuselage, Hazel Ying Lee… is fearless, witty—and patriotic…. In Ankeny’s fast-paced and engaging biography, Lee is at the controls, flying over the clouds of bias and sexism to serve her country. This is a story as dynamic as the banking biplanes and pursuit fighters flown by this long-overlooked war hero.”—Christopher C. Gorham, author of The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America
“Fearless and confident, Hazel Ying Lee was part of a pioneering generation of women who fell in love with flying. . . . Ankeny’s book brings to life Hazel and her WASP sisters for new generations.”—Nancy Ng Tam, PhD., Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)
“In this high-spirited account, historian Ankeny (The Girl and the Bombardier) profiles Hazel Ying Lee, the first Chinese American woman to fly for the U.S. military. Born in 1912 Portland, Ore., young Hazel was athletic, adventuresome, eager to break down social barriers for Asian American women, and restless in the menial jobs open to her. Shortly after falling in love with flying during a 1932 plane ride, she learned of a local flight school that was training Chinese Americans for China’s war effort against Japan. To raise money to attend (as the only woman trainee), Hazel finessed herself a job as an elevator operator at a department store where Asian workers had not previously been allowed in customer-facing roles. Once in China, due to her gender Hazel was relegated to desk work in Guangzhou. During Japan’s 1938 invasion of that city, friends credited her preternatural calm for saving their lives by facilitating their escape. Back in America, she became one of the first women pilots to fly combat aircraft domestically. Her service, which featured many risky missions, was cut short in 1944, when safety missteps by others led to Hazel’s death in a midair collision. Arkeny’s cinematic storytelling is buoyed by her zestful portrait of Hazel, who comes across as remarkably unfazed by her era’s rampant discrimination. It’s a compulsively readable tale of odds-defying derring-do.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED review
Praise for The Girl and The Bombardier by Susan Tate Ankeny:
"Through archival documentation, [Ankeny] paces the story with considerable literary skill, stringing moments of tension throughout. This is a thrilling and masterful telling of brave Resistance members risking all, and a wonderful homage to the author’s equally courageous father." —Booklist
"In this poignant and unique debut history, Ankeny combines her father’s WWII experiences with the impressions of a young Belgian woman who helped rescue him from Nazi-occupied France … Ankeny fluidly intertwines both sides of the story, and provides necessary historical context. The result is an intimate and inspirational account of ordinary people committing heroic acts under extraordinary circumstances." —Publishers Weekly
"A heart-pounding true story….If any reader wants to revisit the heroism, bravery, and inspiring courage of the ‘Greatest Generation,’ this is the book for you… These are real people and unforgettable heroes." —James Longo, author of Hitler and the Hapsburgs
"The author’s extensive research, travel to Europe to trace her father’s footsteps, and the ability to meet those who helped him made this book absolutely riveting." —Karen Berkey Huntsberger, author of Waiting for Peace and I’ll Be Seeing You
About the Author
Susan Tate Ankeny is the author of nonfiction WWII history books including American Flygirl and The Girl and the Bombardier. A former educator, she is a member of the Oregon 8th Air Force Historical Society and the Association des Sauveteurs d’Aviateurs Alliés, which finds and memorializes World War II crash sites in France. The daughter of a WWII bombardier and great-granddaughter of Oregon pioneers, she lives in the Pacific Northwest and can be found online at SusanTateAnkeny.com.
