Despite growing up discriminated against for her race, Bessie Coleman knew she was meant to do great things. After moving to Chicago to live near her brothers, they are sent off to war. When they return, they tell Bessie tales of female fighter pilots. This is all Bessie needs to hear to decide that she must go to aviation school in France. After passing her test, Bessie is the first black woman in the world to earn her pilot's license. This inspiring story of a woman who did not give up, despite the obstacles in front of her, is one that children of all ages could relate to. The dialogue in the story keeps it engaging and I would recommend it. ( )

Becoming the first black female aviator was no small task for Bessie. Coming from a cotton picking background in the Jim Crow South, Bessie is "determined to become something great." She moves to Chicago, where African American's are awarded more opportunities to succeed than in the South at the time. Bessie isn't sure how she is going to become "something great" until she gets inspiration from her brother's being in war in France. They write her notes about the planes flying high and the amazing fact that there are woman pilots. Bessie is determined to fly high like the birds amongst the clouds and realizes the only way to achieve her dream is to move to France, the only place they know of in the world that would let a black woman fly a plane. Bessie overcomes the segregation of the south, where she was born, to become the first black, female aviator as she indeed did soar high amongst the clouds as she had dreamed.This book is a story of fighting hard for one's dreams and making history. It encourages children, especially females, to have the determination to pursue their dreams. ( )

A wonderful and inspirational read of the life and accomplishments of Bettie Coleman, the Texas born african woman who became the first african american women aviator. Her journeys are chronicled in beautiful and uplifting passion as it reflects the times during 1901 and how african americans suffered during the time leading through the world wars, unto the civil rights era. You can see Bessie as a child find the inspiration to endure the racism and bigotry that was part of society. I found this a wonderful inspirational true story relevant for today. Working in language immersion school in New Orleans, we can still witness this relevance in our society, as racism pops its heads up in places. Bessie story is uplifting in many ways. ( )

The story opens up with big, bright, colorful pages. It seems like everyone is cheerful but when you look closer you can see the field is a cotton field and the people are of color. Cotton picking was a very hard job so to see that people smiling is different to me. As you read the story its about young Bessie always wanting to fly and never giving up because people of color never really able to be successful in the early 90s. In 1915 Bessie moves to Chicago with her brothers to do something great! She is so excited! I love the part that her brothers going to WWI was one of the main reasons she wanted to be a pilot. Bessie was turned down often for being a women of color so she set goals for herself in order to travel to France to learn how to fly. I think it is important going into the education field to teach goals to children. Goals means that you have to work towards something you really want and I enjoy that aspect of the story. I also loved the ending of the story how the author brought back the saying "We are all born the same under God's eyes." The only down turn I would have for this story is the page lengths. I know as a child that wasn't very interested or appreciated books the long pages would make me close the book immediately. Other than the amount of words on the page I think it was a great read! fairly large text and large colorful pictures! ( )

Fly, Bessie, Fly is a nonfiction story about Bessie Coleman's life. Back when she was helping her mother and sister out in the cotton fields of Waxahachie, Texas she'd always had her head in the clouds with the birds. She is shown as being strong and confident even at a young age as she would not let others put her or her sister down for the color of their skin. Her belief that god made all men and women equal helps her get through any hard time as she just imagines herself high above all of these problems flying freely. The book really shines through it's illustration when Bessie moves to Chicago with her brothers in hopes of finding her calling. The author is a bit wordy in the text but does a nice job in telling adding necessary details. The characters, the city streets and night life all ooze with character thanks to this early 20th century stylized art. Bessie's path leads her to finding her calling in life as the first black female pilot who becomes an inspiration to the world over for the accomplishment. Bessie's childhood dream of wanting to fly with the birds becomes her life goal to strive towards using her mother's everlasting words of encouragement, to never say "I can't". ( )