I was curious about this book and decided to try it out although I’m not usually a fan of reading about war or historical events. For. The time it started until the end I was glued to this book. Hazel Yang Lee and her adventurous spirit won me over. I loved learning about how she became the first Asian American woman to obtain a pilot’s license. I loved watching her pursue her dreams of flying instead of the more traditional path she was encouraged to follow. It was also nice to have background on the environment at that time and how highly discouraged it was for women to want anything outside of the home. I was proud of Hazel Yang Lee and all her fellow classmates for going after their joy and not being afraid to stick out. This book definitely left a lasting mark on me. I wish I had learned of Hazel Yang Lee sooner and am grateful I was able to learn about her.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the amazing arc.

Hazel Ying Lee was the first Asian American to earn a pilot's license and join the WASPs. This book told of Hazel's love of flying from a very young age. It also told of the many courageous women that advanced the war efforts by freeing male pilots to move to the front in WWII.

Prior to this book, I had never heard of Hazel Ying Lee. I found myself totally engrossed in her story. This book read beautifully. It made me feel many emotions. I was angry, I was sad, I even laughed at times, I wish that I had the passion for anything as much as Hazel did for flying! These women were total baddies!!

The author stated, " I am no longer the same person I was when I began writing Hazel's story" And, I would have to agree. I am no longer the same person after reading her story. I will think of Hazel and her courageous friends for many days,

American Flygirl is an amazing, insightful biography into the life of Hazel Ying Lee the first Asian American woman to earn a pilots license and join the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots). Hazel was a determined, fearless and dedicated pilot and friend. Reading her story she overcame every obstacle in her way to pursue her dream of flying. In the face of discrimination for being a woman and from anti-Asian policies Hazel kept going and proved herself a talented pilot.

Ankeny's writing style mixed the facts of Hazel's life into a narrative story that felt like we were living it right along with her. I also appreciated how many other women at the time both established and trying to make their was as pilots were discussed as they were a part of Hazel's journey. At the end of the war the WASPs were disbanded and their contributions sealed away. American Flygirl brings light to the way Hazel and the other WASPs make a significant impact in America during WW2. Their names deserved to be remembered and this book provides an important recount of the history of Hazel's life on the ground and in the air.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Susan Tate Ankeny's "American Flygirl," releasing on May 28, 2024, takes readers on a thrilling journey into the world of aviation, weaving a narrative of empowerment, determination, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Against the backdrop of historical aviation challenges and societal norms that restricted the ambitions of women, the novel introduces a captivating protagonist who defies expectations and soars to new heights.
The novel, set in a pivotal period of aviation history, immerses readers in the challenges faced by female pilots breaking into a male-dominated industry. Ankeny's meticulous research is evident in the authentic portrayal of the aviation landscape, creating a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. The depiction of the protagonist's journey is not merely a story of flight but a symbolic representation of empowerment and resilience.

The strength of "American Flygirl" lies in its well-crafted characters, particularly the protagonist who becomes a beacon of determination. Navigating societal prejudices and defying gender norms, the character resonates as a symbol of empowerment, inspiring readers to challenge limitations and pursue their passions unapologetically. Ankeny skillfully blends historical accuracy with a compelling narrative, making the protagonist's journey relatable and emotionally impactful.
The pacing of the novel is masterfully executed, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Ankeny's prose not only propels the narrative forward but also vividly describes aviation sequences, instilling a palpable sense of excitement and tension. The novel goes beyond being a tale of aviation; it serves as a powerful exploration of themes such as perseverance, resilience, and the courage to confront societal expectations.

"American Flygirl" is a triumphant celebration of trailblazing women who dared to break barriers both in the skies and on the ground. The novel's overarching message encourages readers to embrace their ambitions, challenge societal constraints, and reach for their aspirations, regardless of prevailing norms. It stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who defy expectations, making it a compelling and inspiring read.

In conclusion, Susan Tate Ankeny's "American Flygirl" is not just a novel; it is an empowering narrative that transcends its historical setting. Through a captivating protagonist and a richly detailed depiction of aviation history, the novel encourages readers to break free from limitations and pursue their dreams with unwavering determination. Ankeny's work is a must-read for those who seek tales of empowerment, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Thanks to Netgalley and Citadel Publishers for an advance copy for my honest review.

Oh, a WASP! Sweetwater isn’t too far from me (in Texas terms), and as someone who loves aviation, I have always been fascinated by the WASPs. Like so many stories, women are forgotten about…there was no way women flew…well we sent all the men to war, so who else would fly here?? People know about Earhart but fail to remember she wasn’t the only woman pilot.

American Flygirl shares the story of Hazel Ying Lee, a nineteen-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants who grew up during exclusion laws. She helped break multiple barriers for women and Chinese in a time of war. Thank you, Susan Tate Ankeny, for sharing Hazel Ying Lee’s story. She is a hero and we need to hear more about her.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for an advanced copy.

Susan Tate Ankeny, American Flygirl, Citadel Press, Kensington Books, April 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

American Flygirl is a wonderful amalgam of stories associated with women and flying, from the main protagonist Hazel and her companions, including their leader Jackie Corcoran, in the Women Airforce Service Pilots. All of these women battled prejudice, and some of the details are harrowing. At the same time, the women’s resilience and the personal face given this by is an impressive memorial to the women, those who supported them, and the changes they were able to inspire in women’s role in this most exciting and demanding occupation.

The prologue, set in 1943 shows Hazel Ying Lee in front of an aircraft in khaki overalls (too large, they are men’s) anticipating being ‘washed out’ of her training because of a mishap. This prologue establishes a context, a snippet of aviation history at the time, and an insight into Hazel’s character. From Hazel’s birth in 1912 and growing up in the 1920s in Portland, USA, to her time in China and Hong Kong, her graduation from the Chinese flying school in Portland, to the menial jobs she was forced to accept because of prejudice, and then flying and the dangers, Susan Tate Ankeny brings to this story a woman of character intensely alive.

As well as expanding Hazel’s story to include the neighbourhood, neighbours, companions at the flying school and their late attempts to join the Chinese aviation fleet against Japanese incursion, Tate Ankeny provides an excellent portrait of WASPs in the aviation industry. The story includes the prejudice Hazel suffered as a woman, and as Chinese, as well as shedding so much light on the dangers WASPs met from male companions jealous of women’s entry to the world of war time aviation. As searing as these truths are, they do not detract from a story that is essentially positive. Perhaps this is because of Hazel’s heroic qualities, perhaps because of the way in which her portrait is developed as a woman of smiles, warmth, strength and courage.

It has taken a writer who has insight, a sense of history in its minutia and broader aspects and a love for her subject to produce a memoir with impact. Susan Tate Ankeny is such a writer and American Flygirl is such a memoir.

In this incredible biography of twentieth-century pilot Hazel Ying Lee, readers get to explore twentieth-century America through the eyes of a second-generation Chinese woman who loves to fly. Following her childhood, her training as a pilot, and her civilian deployment to China in the 1930s, readers gain an understanding of the growth and popularity of air travel and piloting in the early twentieth century, and particularly for women like Hazel Ying Lee. Ankeny also brings in the role of women pilots (aviatrices) during World War II as part of the WAFS under Jackie Cochran, where Hazel Ying Lee was the only Chinese American female pilot. Ankeny’s prose style is a mix of fiction and fact, balancing the larger narrative of piloting, Chinese America, and women’s history with the smaller personal narrative of Hazel Ying Lee. A fascinating insight into so many histories, Susan Tate Ankeny has done an incredible job of mixing all of these histories and narratives to create this fascinating book. By spotlighting this overlooked narrative and the fascinating story of Hazel Ying Lee, Ankeny brings another overlooked historical woman to life and places her in the larger historical narrative of aviation history, the Great Depression, and World War II.

I want to start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. It was written in a very engaging manner that I found easy to read and enjoyable. That being said, I think perhaps the reference materials about Lee's life were a little thin to write an entire biography about her exclusively, so much of this book is about the WASPs as a whole. I still found it to contain a lot of interesting information, but readers should know going into it that this book is not just about Lee. That being said, this is a great addition to the growing list of books shining a light on the WASPs, so check it out!

Wow, I had no idea about the first women aviator and added the first Asian American woman and what she went through to learn to fly. HazelYing Lee was so young yet so determined to learn to fly. I would say she had a free spirit and was not afraid to achieve her dreams. In a time were women had to fight for their rights to do what men do she and others overcame those norms. One could say many factors played a part such as meeting a former pilot who was willing to teach women at that time. A great historical recollection of the period and the young woman who changed history. Susan Tate Ankeny takes you back in time to experience the challenges and joys women went through.

I loved learning all about female pilots.

Especially about Hazel Ying Lee. Hazel was such a trailblazer. I can't imagine her ever saying no to anyone or anything or even standing down when she wanted something.

She had such an interesting life, a Chinese American woman who got her pilots license when few pilots were women.
She went and fought against the Japanese in China.
Came back to the United States and was in the WASPs.

I was fascinated with the book and applauded everything that Hazel accomplished, the prejudices that she had to overcome, and ultimately getting to fly many different planes.

The downside of the book was some of the timeline was choppy. I still don't fully understand why Hazel left China to go back to the United States. Did her family stay in CHina? It didnt sound like it, but I wasn't sure.

The training for WASP sometimes didn't apply to Hazel. I felt that it was a bit long and detracted from Hazel's story.

Overall a great book touching about racism, sexism, and different cultural norms during World War 2.

aviation, Chinese Americans, Natl-WW2-museum, Exclusion Act, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, nonfiction, military, military-aviation-history, women, women-in-history, pioneering-spirit*****

Women Airforce Service Pilot Hazel Ying Lee Louie (August 12,1912-November 25, 1944) was the 38th and final WASP to die in the line of duty. She was 32 years old. She is also a main focus of this historically correct but very readable nonfiction book about her and the other women pioneers in flying for the military. Although a US citizen, Hazel's first flying training was because of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-45) where she was prepared to serve for the country of her parents in the days prior to internment camps and the US entry into the war. There is information about other women who pioneered in aviation and military aviation (see also The Women with Silver Wings), but this woman is the main focus of a book well researched and well written.
I requested and received an EARC which excluded all of the illustrations from Kensington Books, Citadel via NetGalley. Thank you

Thank you to Kensington Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really liked this book. It is the story of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot's license. She joined the WASP's and flew for the United States military in WWII. I admired her courage so much. She was very brave to face all the prejudice (being a woman and being Chinese) that she lived through. I thought this story was very well-written and very well researched by the author. Although she died young, she accomplished a lot in her short life. Highly recommend to all readers that like learning about early aviators!

Hazel Ying Lee (August 24, 1912–November 25, 1944),was born in Portland, Oregon.Her parents were first-generation Chinese Americans who had immigrated from Taishan,Guangdong.The family owned a restaurant in Old Town Chinatown.Despite the widespread anti-Chinese bias,Lee led a full and active life.Following graduation from Commerce High School in 1929,Lee worked as an elevator operator at Liebes Department Store in downtown Portland.In 1932, Lee caught the flying bug after her first airplane ride.She joined the Chinese Flying Club of Portland and took flying lessons with famed aviator Al Greenwood.In October 1932, Lee became one of the first Chinese-American women to earn a pilot's license.While in Portland, Lee met her future husband pilot "Clifford" Louie Yim-qun.When the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1933, Lee and several other Chinese Americans went there with the goal of aiding the Chinese Air Force.Despite demand for pilots,the Republic of China Air Force would not admit women.So Lee had to take a desk job,flying only occasionally for a commercial Chinese company.Frustrated,Lee instead settled in Canton and spent the next few years flying for a private airline.In 1937,the Second Sino-Japanese War begun.Lee remained in China and was in Canton during aerial bombings,she found shelter for friends,neighbours and family.In 1938,following another unsuccessful effort to aid the Air Force as a pilot, Lee returned to the US through escaping China to Hong Kong.In New York City, Lee got job as a buyer of war materials for besieged China.During WWII,Lee joined the WASPs.Lee was the first Chinese-American woman to fly for the US military.Lee quickly emerged as a leader among the WASPs.She was calm,fearless,humorous and friendly.Upon graduation,Lee was assigned to the Third Ferrying Group at Romulus,MI.In September 1944,Lee was sent to Pursuit School,to fly faster,high powered fighters.On November 23 1944,at Great Falls,MT,Lee's P-63 Kingcobra collided with another P-63 and Lee's plane caught fire,and 2 days later,Lee tragically died of severe burns.She is buried alongside her brother Victor in River View Cemetery in Portland.Lee was a trailblazer.

This biography of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot's license, let's the reader get to know her life story and the pioneering efforts of women during WWII to serve their country as well as fulfill their dreams of flying.

If there is one thing for sure after reading Susan Tate Ankeny's American Flygirl, it's that Hazel Ying Lee deserves this book written about her. Hazel was the first Asian American women to earn a pilot's license and would ultimately end up becoming a WASP in World War II. Hazel had an amazing life and I am glad to get acquainted with her.

Ankeny is a good writer and the story is a good one. Unfortunately, it very much seems like there was not a lot of material for Ankeny to pull from. This is a relatively short biography, but even then, there are a lot of side characters throughout. It sometimes feels like Hazel takes a backseat to other people. While Ankeny seems like a good author (and I am interested in her previous book after reading this one), I definitely felt like this book was padded because not enough of Hazel's life was documented. This would probably have been much better if it was historical fiction and Ankeny could let her imagination fill in the gaps.

(This book was provided as an advanced copy by Netgalley and Kensington Books.)

American Flygirl by Susan Tate Ankeny brings to life a part of history I knew very little about. I had heard of the WASPs during WWII but did not realize how little I knew about them. This book tells the story of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Chinese American to earn her pilot’s license in 1932. She moved to China to help fight against the Japanese. Several years later, she returned to the States. In 1942, trailblazer, Jackie Cochran started the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). Hazel applied and was accepted into one of the early training classes. The racism she dealt with and the gender discrimination she and her fellow WASPs fought to overcome, helped open doors for women in the future. This is an excellent book which I highly recommend.

I enjoyed getting to meet Hazel Ying Lee in this biography, it does a great job in bringing Hazel to life. It had a great overall feel to the story and felt like it was researched well. I was engaged with the story and glad I got to know Hazel through this.

'In the sky, she wasn't Chinese or American, man or woman, visible or invisible...she was just herself. In the sky, she felt limitless'.

In 1932, Hazel Lee was the first Chinese American woman in the USA to earn her pilot's license. Driven purely by a love to fly, she fought the quagmire of legalities, racism, and misogynistic attitudes to fly planes. Her first opportunity was, bizarrely, talking herself into a programme that trained Chinese American men to fly in order to join the Chinese Airforce to fight the Japanese invasion. Soon though, the call was to return to American soil and help with their WW2 effort by becoming a WASP. Despite all of the rigorous training and daring feats performed by herself, and increasingly more women pilots, the wall of gender bias continued to shadow the women's aviation contribution to the war effort. 'American Flygirl' turns on the spotlight.

I learned a lot from reading this book. Not simply about the feats of Hazel, nor the tour de force of women's aviation in WW2, but a wider history of the war and the Japanese invasion of China. Anyone who is interested in women's history, especially their contribution to WW2 is bound to enjoy it.