A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson is a captivating novel inspired by the life of Bessie Coleman, a pioneering Black aviatrix. Set against the backdrop of the Great Migration, the story follows Bessie's journey from the cotton fields of Texas to the skies above Europe and America. With vivid prose and rich historical detail, Hopson brings to life Bessie's unwavering passion for flight and her relentless pursuit of freedom and adventure. While the novel shines in its portrayal of Bessie's courage and resilience, some readers may find the pacing slow and the explicit content out of place. Nonetheless, A Pair of Wings is a compelling tribute to a remarkable woman whose soaring spirit continues to inspire generations.

Loved the book. Filled my appetite for anything 1920s and women's history. Loved the travel aspects. Highly recommend.

Amazing novel based on Bessie Coleman! It is a fascinating story of a remarkable woman and set against interesting historical background of the Great Migration. I felt completely immersed in the story as if I was walking alongside Bessie as she walked 18 miles round trip each day to her flying lessons. Will def be recommending this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman was the first American to earn a French civilian pilot’s license and the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license, as well as the first person of Native American descent to hold a pilot’s license. This debut novel set in post-slavery, Jim Crow America, was inspired by Ms. Coleman’s life and accomplishments: from growing up in a shotgun shack in a large sharecropper family on a cotton farm in Atlanta, Texas (the tenth of thirteen children) to her part in the first wave of the Great Migration from the agricultural south to Chicago to her successful efforts to gain sponsorships, learn French, and travel to France to join the aviation program there, and beyond.

I especially loved Ms. Hopson’s immersive writing on Chicago in the second decade of the 20th century – the gangsters, the Stroll, the Chicago Defender, Jesse Binga’s bank – I felt as if I had a front row seat. And the details of Ms. Coleman’s time in France, where she earned her license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and then trained with battle-hardened German and French combat pilots in the 1920s. Ms. Hopson breathes life into “Queen Bess” through imagined dialogue, giving her dimension as both a woman and a determined pioneer. She excavates Ms. Coleman’s remarkable, but too-short life from relative obscurity through well-researched historical fiction. The book is scheduled to be published on August 20, 2024.

Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co., and Ms. Hopson for making this ARC available to me. #APairofWings #NetGalley

Bessie Coleman was the earliest known Black woman to earn an international pilot’s license, which she did at the dawn of aviation in 1921. She became a high profile pilot known for her performance at dangerous air shows and died in a plane crash in 1926. This historical novel tells her story from early days growing up in Texas in a sharecropper family, to her obsession with flying inspired by the Wright Brothers, her move to Chicago where she finds support for her dream amidst a society steeped in racism and gender bias and her determination that leads her to risk danger and overcome obstacles to reach her goal. It’s a fascinating look at her life and the times in which she lived.

I was very excited about the premise of this book but unfortunately I am stepping away from it, around 30% in. It feels incredibly long-winded and though the first chapter involved flying and moved at a quick pace, I feel like the next several chapters stepped WAY back in the timeline and are not moving forward quickly enough to keep me interested.

I know this book is rooted in historical facts and setting an accurate picture of the time and society is necessary, but I am not able to continue investing in this story right now.

A Pair of Wings is an inspiring novel about Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilots license. We learn about the steps Bessie had to take and hurdles she had to jump through to go from picking cotton in Texas to learning to fly in France and Germany, and eventually performing stunts at rallies and fairs throughout the United States before her untimely death at the age of 34.

I always get excited when I learn about a figure in history I’ve never heard of before. I’ve never really thought much about the history of aviation, but this book piqued my interest from the jump. I also really enjoyed learning more about the mechanics behind flight. I loved learning about Bessie and this book made me want to do some more research about her.

I also LOVED some of the other people we were in introduced to in Bessie’s life: Norma, her mother, Rene Caudron, Anton Fokker, Tristan, her brothers, and everyone else that played a positive part in her journey to become an aviatrix. Even the tailor who made her flight suit in France was a delightful person to read about! The author also did an amazing job of painting a picture as I was reading. I felt like I was with Bessie as she experienced everything.

I wish there was more about the aftermath of Bessie’s fatal accident and her legacy. What happened to the people she had such connections with throughout her life? (Jesse, Mr. Abbott, the Hills, the DeWalts, Norma, her instructors) I enjoyed learning how Bessie’s life inspired the author, but since this was the first time I had heard of her, a little more about her legacy would have been welcomed.

I also struggled a bit with some of the content. The explicit sex scenes just didn’t seem to have a place here. I understand the need to detail her relationship with Jesse Binga, but there were a handful of pages dedicated to Bessie losing her virginity to him, and that just felt out of place.

I also wish the author included some sort of note regarding the fact that this wasn’t a biography, but rather a novel inspired by Bessie’s life. We have no way of knowing what was fact and what was fabricated or embellished for the sake of the story. Maybe I missed it in the acknowledgments at the end, but it seemed like a lot of her research was done by following her footsteps, perhaps reading a biography about Bessie, and reading any other materials from that time period, including newspapers. This may be due to a lack of materials (she admitted not even being able to track down the eulogies from Bessie’s funerals) but I’m curious, since this was written as if Bessie was telling the story of her life, how the author was able to get into Bessie’s mind in order to write all of the dialogs and thoughts that were throughout the story. Were there any letters she found between Bessie and her family? Any diary entries? How much did her great niece and nephew know about Bessie that they were able to relay to the author? I’m just curious what kind of materials the author consulted to get a read on Bessie’s personality. And if it was all or mostly a fabrication, I think a note is needed informing the reader that this is the case.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and an inspiring story!

A Pair of Wings tells the life story of pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman.

In 1915, Bessie leaves oppressive Texas for Chicago where two of her brothers already relocated, and where she also reconnects with her college friend Norma. The two are opposites. Norma avoids risks, Bessie rushes toward adventure. All of them are part of the Great Migration that left agricultural South for opportunity in the North.

Bessie works at barbershop where she meets a man who supports her dream of flying. But the problem is no one wants to accept a Negro female student. He helps her to apply to different schools, and he finds one that accepts her. It happens to be in France. That doesn’t deter her from following her dream. She learns the language and travels to France.

In France, she learns much more. She converts wargame maneuvers into graceful performances which earn her the nickname of Daredevil in the US.

It is a fascinating story of a remarkable woman and set against interesting historical background of the Great Migration. However, the style of writing is informative, making it a dry read, and the progression of the story is slow. I wished there was more to the backstories at the beginning to get attached to the main character.

In 1915 Bessie Coleman was among the many African American that came along with the Great Migration, those Black people leaving the South and migrating to northern cities looking for jobs and better opportunities for better lives. Bessie settled in Chicago and after living with her two brothers and their wives, she found a small apartment and became a manicurist at a men’s barbershop However Bessie had a dream, a dream to become an aviator. In the 1920’s the nation was changing and the South was steeped in racism with the Jim Crow laws taking affect, where lynching were common place. While women earned the right to vote, it was not so for the Black people in these Southern communities.

With her dream in place, through the help of two friends, James Binga a black banker and Robert Abbott, founder and publisher of the “Chicago Defender” a newspaper for Black readers, she was able to have her dream become a reality. As women, no matter race, were not allowed to attend flight schools in America, through the financial help of her two friends, Jessie made her way to France and study abroad.. By 1921 she received her pilot’s license; this made her the first American and black women to achieve this status as her dream became a reality. Following her time in France, she studies in both Holland and Germany where she learned the “art” of barnstorming.. Returning to the United States, she put on air shows and garnered much fame and admirers.

This book was amazing in its telling while I learned about someone I never heard of .It brought me to the times in the 20’s where hardship for these Black minorities was swept under the carpet. While Bessie Coleman didn’t always have it easy, it gave her community hope with the thought that they too could have a dream to follow.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was reviewed on Goodreads and will be reviewed on Amazon when published.

This historical fiction novel was amazing! Hobson is really great at describing the 1900s and how people would interact during this time. The story really shows immense strength, which is incredible. The author wrote the story beautifully. Thank you Henry Holt & Company for sending me this book.

This captivating novel offers a richly detailed journey into the life of aviator Bessie Coleman, shedding light on her remarkable achievements and the challenges she faced in a racially segregated society. Written in a diary-like format, the narrative immerses readers in Bessie’s world, allowing them to experience her triumphs and struggles firsthand.

The author, Carole Hopson, skillfully weaves historical figures such as Robert Abbott, Jesse Binga, Ida B. Wells, and Charlotta Bass into Bessie’s story, adding depth and context to her journey. While some fictional elements enhance the narrative, the book remains grounded in historical reality, offering insights into Bessie’s personal and professional life.

Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Hopson brings the vibrant landscape of the 1920s to life, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the era. From Bessie’s upbringing to her groundbreaking achievements in aviation, every aspect of her life is explored in fascinating detail.

For history enthusiasts, aviation aficionados, or anyone curious about Bessie Coleman’s legacy, this book is a must-read. It offers a compelling blend of fact and fiction, shedding light on a pioneering figure whose impact reverberates to this day.

This is a compelling story about a woman who’s name I’ve heard before and I had some awareness of. The deep dive into her life was revealing. How does a black woman become an aviatrix in the early 20th century? It’s a long and indirect road, it turns out.

While the story is fascinating, on a craft level this book didn’t compel me. The narrative structure was very loose and included many details of her life that didn’t draw me in. I think it could’ve been a lot tighter, with a focus on her dream. A lot of the dialogue seemed forced, especially the flirtation between her and Jesse.

I’m sure the latter half of the book contains more detail about her experience as a flyer, but unfortunately, I didn't make it that far.

A great read! This novel read more like a diary and took you on Bessie's journey to become an aviator. This book took longer for me to read because I kept stopping to look up the notable figures in the book to learn more about who they were- Robert Abbott, Jesse Binga, Ida B. Wells, and Charlotta Bass to name a few. Though I was not able to find any mention of Bessie and Jesse being intimate during my extra reading, it was an added story line that worked so well.
Learning about Bessie's history, her family's, and life in the 1920's was so interesting. History books skim over the majority of it and diving deeper into so many facets was rewarding. Kudos to the author, Carole Hopson, for taking the reader inside Bessie's head and helping them to experience life as Bessie did. Before this book, I knew the basics about Bessie Coleman, but didn't know what had caused the plane to crash. After reading about the wrench, I asked my husband- also a pilot- how one misses a wrench?! He told me it wasn't as far fetched as one might think.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history, wanted to learn more about Bessie Coleman, or early aviation.

*I read an advanced copy on NetGalley for my honest review*

“A Pair of Wings” is a wonderful five star read - if I could give it ten stars, I would. It is a tremendous story of strength and determination, masterfully told by Ms. Carole Hopson who herself is one of today’s rare Black, women, commercial pilots, flying as a Captain for United Airlines.
It is the true story of Bessie Coleman’s travails to become a pilot in the early 20th century. Ms. Coleman was a young Black woman who was determined to learn to fly. She managed to overcome all the obstacles put in front of her - her race, her sex and her poverty, all of which made it hard for her to realize her dream. There was no one in the States that was willing to teach her, so she learned French and learned to fly in France, becoming the first American (of any race or sex) to receive a license to fly from the French authorities. Then she moved to Holland and Germany to learn aerobatics from World War I veterans. On her return to the United States she started barnstorming around the country to show fellow Blacks that anything, including flying, was possible.
Her tale is told in the first person, which brings a sense of immediacy to the story. It lets the reader experience more closely the difficulties, setbacks and triumphs that Bessie encountered. I also love the way the author wraps the story in the American society of the time, so segregation is ever present, and Bessie lives the South to North migration, leaving Waxahachie, Texas for Chicago, where jobs and money were easier to find. Black society of the time was evoked so effectively that I felt a part of it myself.
I was getting a little restless as Bessie spent her formative years in Chicago with no flying in sight, but one has to be patient and trust that the author knows her craft. During this time we come to understand what drives Bessie, the unique Black Chicago society of the time and also the enormous changes that occurred in her life when she left for France and flight school. I cannot over-state how much this book enveloped me so that I experienced all of Bessie’s ups and downs, fears and exhilarations for myself.
Thank you, Ms Hopson for the wonderful experience of flying along with Bessie. And thank you, also, for founding the Jet Black Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, aiming to send one hundred Black women to flight school by 2035.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Henry Holt Company for providing me with a free ARC in return for my unbiased review.

“A Pair of Wings” by Carole Hopson is an incredible story about the life of pioneer Aviation hero Bessie Coleman. I must admit before reading this book I never heard of Bessie Coleman who was born into slavery and spent her life figuring out how to become a pilot during a time in American history when no one would train an African American women to fly. Her breathtaking journey takes her from Chicago to Europe and describes in detail the challenges & hardships she faced living in the early 1900s in the US. This is a powerful story about another forgotten female hero, and the whole time I was reading this book I was thinking this needs to be a movie!

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very descriptive story of Bessie Coleman’s life. The more I read, the more I am learning that there are so many women in history we do not learn about and Bessie Coleman is one of them.

This story covered all the historical events in history from the Civil War through prohibition and how Bessie lived her life during all that turmoil. She was a strong woman who went after what she wanted, despite the limitations she was presented. Using her fame, she forged the way for others to follow their dreams. The descriptions were beautiful, and I could relate to Bessie as she followed her dream, at all costs.

This is definitely the perfect read for anyone who wants to be inspired. “Be brave. Never crawl. Fly.”

A wonderful, historical read that gives insight into a lesser known area of flying. While the Wright brothers are widely known, the story of Bessie Coleman is a quiet, yet powerful story that needs to be shared. Bessie paved the way for many women aviators in a time when women leaders were few. This is a great glimpse into the life of a woman who encouraged others to fulfill their dreams.

As a POC, I love the history behind this read and I love the double meaning of the title. This book was well-written, the character development was excellent, and this would make a solid read for anyone’s shelf.

Synopsis: Bessie Coleman is one of America's unsung Aviation heroes. Born to former slaves in Texas, Bessie knows what it feels like to toil in the fields picking cotton and suffering under the Klan and white supremacy. She, however, was a dream! When she was just a young girl, Bessie heard of the fantastic exploits of the Wright Brothers, and ever since then, she has dreamed of flying. She knows that if she stays in the deep South, that dream will never come true. So, she embarks on a lifelong journey to reach the sky. Starting with life up north in Chicago, Bessie quickly learns no one in America will teach an African American woman to fly, so she heads to France. Bessie is the first African American and American of any race to obtain an international aviation license from France. She continues learning barnstorming and aviation aerobatics in Holland and Germany.

Thoughts: Before I picked up this book, I had never heard of Bessie Coleman, which is a shame. Bessie was a brave and courageous soul whose story should be inspiring millions; instead, until now, she has been hiding away, forgotten in the history books. This book does not hold anything back, and I love it. It fully describes the challenges that an African American living in the early 1900s would have faced, from lynchings, beatings, and rape to the day to to day humiliation our African American brothers and sisters faced. But, through it all, Bessie held her head high and made her dreams come true! Carole Hopson has written an excellent historical fiction novel of Bessie's life. While some parts seemed to drag on, I could not put this book down. With each victory, I cheered for Bessie! Hopson, a pilot herself, keeps Bessie's dream of encouraging African American women to take to the skies! Hopson has founded a non-profit scholarship for African American pilots, hoping to send 100 women to flight school by the year 2035.
https://www.jetblackfoundation.org/

Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman was born in a shotgun shack on January 26th, 1892 in Atlanta, TX, to her parents, Susan and George Coleman. Still under the oppressive heat that were Jim Crow laws in the south and racism and lynchings across the country, Bessie always knew she wanted more than what this part of life gave her.
On December 3rd, 1903 as she was cleaning the home of a white family, she overheard a conversation. One that would change her entire life as she knew it.
She would, from that moment, be on a life-long mission of proving herself, defying the odds, and setting records.
More importantly, she would fly.

A Pair of Wings is one for the ages.
Corporate executive-turned-first officer pilot, Carole Hopson, does a phenomenal job at bringing Bessie to life right in front of our eyes and in our minds.

If you want to be taken on a journey halfway around the world and see things from a perspective you probably weren't taught in school, this is the book for you.

Thank you so much to Henry Holt and Co along with NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for a review. As soon as I finished this book, I went and watched videos, read, and listened to podcasts about Bessie. I will never forget her, or the author who gave so much of her heart and soul for this book.