Publishers Weekly
12/18/2023
Smith (The Blossom and the Firefly) and Wein (Stateless) chronicle the history of Black pilots in this essential and richly informative work. Opening with the story of Cornelius Robinson Coffey (1903–1994), a Black teen who was determined to fly despite a white pilot’s attempts to scare him, the authors detail how white people believed that Black people were incapable of flying because they were seen as unintelligent, lazy, and gutless. The creators assert that Coffey, among others, were likely motivated by Bessie Coleman (1892–1926), the first Black female pilot, whom straightforward text notes as having “opened the skies up to her people.” Black Americans soon flocked to aviation, upending white society’s unfounded beliefs. Despite massive progress, however, Black women pilots such as Janet Harmon Bragg (1907–1993), the first woman to attend the Curtiss-Wright School of Aviation, still found it difficult to pursue their dreams. Inspirational singular stories feature famous names and institutions such as the Tuskegee Airmen, b&w archival photographs imbue the historical narrative with contemporary-feeling familiarity, and nail-biting tales of flights gone wrong add verve, making for an exciting and richly rendered addition to the history of Black aviation. An epilogue contextualizes Black pilots’ impact on society, including pop culture media such as Star Trek. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
Praise for American Wings:
* “A wonderfully detailed and evocative review of the true story of four Black Americans between the world wars who pioneered aviation in spite of many obstacles placed in their paths . . . A vivid and accurate recounting of the struggles and triumphs of the desegregation of Chicago aviation. The lengthy end notes, bibliography, and substantial authors’ note underscore the level of research completed. Fans of the authors’ previous books will appreciate this nonfiction title, as will fans of aviation history.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Accessible and buoyant . . . A fascinating, well-told American story full of compelling innovation.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Essential and richly informative . . . Inspirational singular stories feature famous names and institutions such as the Tuskegee Airmen, b&w archival photographs imbue the historical narrative with contemporary-feeling familiarity, and nail-biting tales of flights gone wrong add verve, making for an exciting and richly rendered addition to the history of Black aviation.” —Publishers Weekly
“[A] thorough and absorbingly written history of the early days of aviation.” —The Horn Book
“An enlightening account of notable Black American aviators and the issues that they confronted during their careers.” —Booklist
“Thoroughly researched . . . This comprehensive look at an unsung piece of aviation history will be an excellent resource, capped with a wealth of back matter that includes sources, quotes, and an index.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of flying but to, against every odd, do so, completely blew me away. Kudos to Smith and Wein for believing in the importance of history and passing it on.” —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner for Brown Girl Dreaming
“A barnstorming, barrel-rolling, loop-the-loop history of the Black American pilots who defied racism and gravity in equal measure. American Wings soars!” —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
“A fascinating, well-researched history of the birth of Black aviation in the twentieth century. Smith and Wein have perfectly captured the challenging and thrilling journeys of these inspiring aviators from Chicago. I loved every page.” —Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
“Smith and Wein pack this story with daring aerial adventures and pilots whose love of flying and refusal to be denied practically soar off the page!” —Steve Sheinkin, author of the Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award Finalist Bomb
“Hidden within a romp about daring-do aviators is the story of America: the barriers it created for some of its citizens, the people who worked to tear them down, and how the country was propelled toward equal rights for all.” –Monica Hesse, bestselling author of Girl in the Blue Coat
“Thanks to Smith and Wein’s eye-opening, page-turning, often disquieting, but always compelling narrative, we can now return these remarkable, long unsung African American aviation pioneers to our collective American memory where they’ve always belonged.” —Candace Fleming, author of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh, winner of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
School Library Journal
★ 02/01/2024
Gr 7 Up—By following the lives of skilled auto mechanics Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, nurse Janet Harmon Bragg, and teacher and social worker Willa Brown, the authors have created a wonderfully detailed and evocative review of the true story of four Black Americans between the world wars who pioneered aviation in spite of many obstacles placed in their paths. Inspired by the achievements and legacy of Bessie Coleman that were celebrated in a 1928 Memorial Day tribute, Coffey and Robinson began a collaboration that grew to include Bragg and Brown. Their journeys culminated in avionics school and airport ownership, partnership with the Tuskegee Institute, and international acclaim. This title showcases how determination and ingenuity triumphed over segregation in Chicago during the nascent period of the aviation industry. The extensive investigation of primary and secondary documents, including contemporary newspapers and photographs, has allowed Smith and Wein, both authors of YA novels about young people becoming pilots, to give a vivid and accurate recounting of the struggles and triumphs of the desegregation of Chicago aviation. The lengthy end notes, bibliography, and substantial authors' note underscore the level of research completed. VERDICT Fans of the authors' previous books will appreciate this nonfiction title, as will fans of aviation history. Recommended for all collections.—Susan Catlett
JANUARY 2024 - AudioFile
Karen Murray's smooth narration soars as she tells the stories of the pivotal men and women whose actions broke the race barrier for Black pilots during the first half of the twentieth century. While the work is extensively researched, both the authors and Murray emphasize individual stories that make the historical figures relatable. Murray recounts, for example, how Cornelius Coffey and John Robinson began as mechanics and fought racism to achieve their dream of becoming pilots before aiding other Black men and women with similar passions to achieve success. These individual efforts opened other piloting pathways for African Americans, as well. Murray captures the moment-to-moment action when describing the thrills of civilian daredevils and flying ace Robinson's battles against Fascist Italian pilots in 1930s wartime Ethiopia. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-10-07
An account of how brilliant and resourceful early-20th-century Black aviators created their own runway to the skies.
Originally trained as auto mechanics, Cornelius Robinson Coffey and John Charles Robinson shared a common dream of becoming pilots despite facing racism. “We’re going to make it regardless,” Coffey prophetically declared after they were both reluctantly admitted—under threat of a lawsuit—into Chicago’s Curtiss–Wright School of Aviation. They successfully finished their program, persuading the school’s initially hostile director to register a cohort of Black students whom they could teach as assistant instructors. Coffey and Robinson then sought interested men and women through advertisements in the Chicago Defender, whose publisher sponsored pioneering Black pilot Bessie Coleman. They organized the Brown Eagle Aero Club, and Robinson even accepted an invitation from Haile Selassie to help train Ethiopian pilots as the country prepared to defend itself against fascist Italy. Smith and Wein tightly thread together overlapping narrative threads, including the early evolution of aviation, the history of Tuskegee University, the role of the African American press, and tense geopolitical matters concerning the only African country to have escaped European colonization. Photographs scattered throughout are an additional treat, adding a special layer to the storytelling. The writing is accessible and buoyant, creating anticipation for what is to come, all culminating in an engaging slice of history.
A fascinating, well-told American story full of compelling innovation. (authors’ note, source notes, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
