4 Stars

I had never hear of Bessie Coleman before I read this book. Carole Hopson did a wonderful job of introducing me to a woman who should be an important part of American history. Yes, she took some liberties with the story, but that is to be expected in historical fiction. This book was beautifully written in a way that will hopefully inspire young woman to show that they too can continue to be just as good as men in any field. AND it made me way to research more about Bessie Coleman.

My only criticism is that the sex scenes in the beginning section of the book seemed unnecessary. But they can be skipped without any negative impact to the story.

I look forward to reading more by Carole Hopson if she chooses to write more books.

Incredible story about a pioneer in aviation. Bessie Coleman lead a fascinating life. I enjoyed the parts about her life in Waxahachie, TX as I have been there. A free spirit and a fire in her made her the first African american to hold a pilots license.

This book was equally amazing as it was heartbreaking. I love A historical fiction book that gives you everything you want and more. Beautifully written.

I was really excited to read A Pair of Wings by Carole Hobson, especially because Bessie Coleman is a hero to my daughter. My daughter admires Coleman so much that she even petitioned Piccolina to feature her in their trailblazer collection. I hoped this book would be a great way for her to learn more about her idol.

Unfortunately, I found the book quite disappointing. The excessive and unnecessary foul language, along with a scene that describes Bessie Coleman in an inappropriate manner, feels completely out of place in a biography of such an inspiring figure. This content makes the book unsuitable for my daughter, which is a major letdown.

Moreover, the book often reads like a disjointed collection of newspaper clippings from The Defender rather than a well-crafted biography. It delves into irrelevant details, such as the porters and the White Sox, which don’t contribute meaningfully to Bessie Coleman’s story. I was also surprised and disappointed by the omission of her time at Langston University in Oklahoma, with the narrative jumping from her life in Texas straight to Chicago.

Overall, A Pair of Wings did not meet my expectations and, unfortunately, does not effectively honor the legacy of Bessie Coleman.

What an outstanding Audio book! The story swept me away immediately, and the narrator did a fabulous job. Definitely destined to be in the top ten audio books of the year!

This book is why I love historical fiction. I knew nothing about the aviatrix Bessie Coleman but now my brain and heart are filled with her challenges, desires, and courage exhibited to become a trailblazer. She is the first black female aviatrix in the early days of flying. In order to get her pilot's license she had to go to France, learn the language, and pass the tests there since no one would teach her in the U.S. She earned her license before Amelia Earhart. Bessie overcame racism, sexism, language barriers, broken bones, money issues, and more to fulfill her destiny. Back in the U.S., she performed barnstorming stunts around the country to share her love of flying in hopes that it would inspire other Black girls and boys to want to fly. Her life ended way too soon and in such a surprising way, I gasped as I was listening to the book.
Kudos to the author for sharing this amazing woman with the world. Bessie was unstoppable. She was blessed with a wonderful family and some very smart sponsors who supported her throughout her flying years.
The narrator, Alaska Jackson, did a wonderful job performing the many voices of this story. Her tone and inflections of the many dialects are spot on and add to the enjoyment of this book. I felt like I was listening to Bessie tell her amazing life story. I would listen to more books narrated by her.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for an inspiring story of another woman that has been forgotten in history. It is a little long, but the time to read this was so worth it. I will be thinking of Bessie Coleman for quite a while.
#APairofWings #NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.