Flying Fillies: The Sky's the Limit

By Christy Hui

FLYING FILLIES: The Sky's the Limit is an engaging WW2 book for kids. This entertaining and educational YA historical fiction dives into an immersive adventure story, celebrating

• Language: English
• Publisher: BrainLush Media Inc.
• Release date: Oct 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986299822

Christy Hui

"Glass ceilings are made to be flown through!" Her debut novel, FLYING FILLIES, is a young adult historical fiction introducing readers to the WASP-Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII-timeless heroines who defended freedom with unflinching courage. Set in Sweetwater, Texas, this WW2 kids' adventure story centers on 12-year-old Dawn Springfield, whose love for horses and the trailblazing female pilots shape her growing years.Christy grew up in China, reading every martial arts novel she could find and dreaming of becoming a martial artist. After emigrating to the States as a teenager, she became an award-winning producer and writer. Her works include the Emmy-awarded animated TV series, XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN, produced by Warner Brothers and aired on Cartoon Network worldwide. Passionate about filmmaking, history, and tea, Christy recently directed and produced 9 DRAGONS TEA, a documentary tracing tea's epic journey and how this drink changed the world. Inspired by the WASP, Christy often speaks about self-empowerment. Dedicated to preserving the WASP history, she aims to bring this overlooked chapter of World War II history to the classrooms, inspiring children to grow self-confidence and become trailblazers of tomorrow. Visit FlyingFillies.com for more information.

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Praise for Christy Hui’s

FLYING FILLIES

An engrossing tale of women fighting for a chance to defend their country.

— Kirkus Reviews

The WASP were some of the bravest female pilots in American history. . . . I’m delighted to see the WASP story spotlighted in this engaging historical fiction. Now children across the globe can learn about these extraordinary women through this inspiring tale.

— Lisa Taylor, Executive Director, The National WASP WWII Museum

". . . Christy Hui deftly captures Dawn’s involvement with a group of ‘fly girls.’ . . . The engrossing history and psychological pull of Flying Fillies bring the era and its women to life. More so than most other accounts of World War II for young readers, it connects the dots between personal passion and higher-level thinking and life experiences."

— D. Donovan, Editor, Donovan’s Literary Services

"With overarching themes of hope, joy, and love, the delightful historical novel Flying Fillies follows a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot as she meets and assists military women who are already working in that capacity."

— Foreword Clarion Reviews

Loved it! A fun YA novel with some real WWII history disguised inside its pages.

— Reedsy Discovery

Hui’s historical novel is an excellent book for young readers, boys, and girls. It will inspire young people with the daring and exciting lives of people who made a difference in the world. This book could easily be used in a classroom as an assigned text or available for eager readers or a wonderful companion to a home library.

— Steve Friedman, 6th Grade Teacher

As an educator, I am always searching for engaging ways to teach factual information, while simultaneously cultivating values such as courage, loyalty, determination, and a commitment to causes greater than oneself. While Flying Fillies teaches us about the amazing…[WASP], it also teaches us to dream big dreams, follow them, and refuse to be limited by our past or by society’s expectations. These are the messages our young people need!

— Teachrunner

I read this book as a former educator and a grandmother. . . It captivated me and taught me about the WASP . . . . This is a book that both girls and boys should read about… these women. . . unsung heroes that walk amongst us.

— Gloria S.

I read this book together with my 9-year-old twin girls, and they loved it! Told from the perspective of a pre-adolescent girl facing life challenges, seeking role models, and trying to find her place in life, this is a wonderful story of growth, learning, and empowerment that is appropriate for girls and boys alike. I loved that it included lots of historical details that are either little-known or often overlooked . . .

— Lily

Inspirational story for kids, parents & grandparents! . . . The horses made me cry, and the WASP pilots made me cheer. . . . A wonderful story of growing up with real-life heroines showing her the way.

— Pete C.

A gem of a book and a story that is destined to inspire girls to be bold and know that life can hold adventures they never dreamed of. The photographs are priceless and lend authenticity and punch to the story. . . . The author keeps the story rolling along in a way that makes it impossible to put down. . . . This would make a great movie.

— LadyDy

Every parent or mentor to young women will consider this book a foundational and realistic look into a life enjoyed through love, diligence and the persistent pursuit of making good decisions and overcoming setbacks whether self-induced or circumstantial. I look forward to the next installment in the life of Dawn Springfield!

— R. J. Taylor

As I listen to my 9 yr old granddaughter with excitement in her voice relay the beginning story of Dawn as a young girl her love of horses and flying . . . I am so grateful for such a well-written story of the heroic . . . young women pilots during WW11. To hear a nine-year-old say, ‘I just love this book,’ is music to my ears!!! Well done!

— Mima 5

Entertaining and educational . . . The book has an underlying Growth Mindset tone to it, as well as a ‘women can do anything’ theme, both are good messages for the youth of today.

— Flammable

. . . I’m a bit of a history fan when it comes to WWII, so even though this is billed as a novel for young adults, I enjoyed it because it gives a glimpse into something that isn’t covered a lot.... the role women played in the military in WWII. I’m hoping the author continues Dawn’s story because there is a ton of potential for future novels!

— R. Beardsley

An empowering and inspirational story, especially for children. . . . The characters are well defined and will resonate with young readers. It deals with some tough issues of growing up in a very positive way. As the mother of two college-age boys now, I think this book is good for both girls and boys. I highly recommend it.

— Roger C.

"Flying Fillies is a great read. . . . I love story books that teach about brave women. . . .This is one of the best!"

— Sobearies

This book is a work of fiction inspired by historical events and the WASP program during WWII.

All characters and events in this novel are the product of the author’s imagination.

Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2022 by Christy Hui

Cover art © 2022 by BrainLush Media Inc.

Painting: Marshalling of the Hallies, 1947... Goranson, Paul (1911-2002), Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Canada © Canadian War Museum/Bridgeman Images

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the copyright owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and book reviews.

Flying Fillies™ is a registered trademark of BrainLush Media Inc.

Xiaolin Showdown® is a registered trademark of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Hulala Girls® is a registered trademark of Hulala Girls Inc.

9 Dragons Tea® is a registered trademark of ActionFliks Media Corp.

First edition: July 2022

ISBN: 9798986299808 (hardcover)

ISBN: 9798986299815 (paperback)

ISBN: 9798986299822 (eBook)

Book design by Veronica Scott

FlyingFillies.com

Published by BrainLush Media Inc.

To my mother, Kam-Chi,

for leading the uncharted journey

to America to give her four daughters

a good education.

Flying Fillies

An affectionate nickname to describe the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) who flew military planes during World War II.

—Coined by Dawn Springfield, the twelve-year-old niece of a WASP

Contents

Chapter 1 CHANGE IS IN THE WIND

Chapter 2 GRANDPA’S DERBY

Chapter 3 AN ENGLISH ESCAPADE

Chapter 4 GUINEA PIG EXPERIMENT

Chapter 5 NEW KID IN TOWN

Chapter 6 BUDDING FRIENDSHIPS

Chapter 7 BUCKING ROSE

Chapter 8 COOKIES AND DUTY

Chapter 9 TARGET PRACTICE

Chapter 10 FOR THE LOVE OF FLYING

Chapter 11 TRAIL RIDE AND SANTIAGO-BLUE

Chapter 12 SOLO FLIGHT

Looking Back

Glossary

Chapter 1

CHANGE IS IN THE WIND

How can anyone be pleased about leaving Chicago? asked Samantha. She was still shocked, even though she’d known about the move for weeks. The idea was so bizarre it hadn’t seemed real to her. It was only now, sitting on the bed and watching her friend packing, that she could actually believe it.

Chicago isn’t the whole world, replied Dawn.

Of course, it is, snapped her friend. We’ve got everything here, and I mean everything. You’ll be bored out of your mind in Stinkwater.

Sweetwater, said Dawn patiently. It’s called Sweetwater, and Texas is the bee’s knees, you know. She didn’t want to argue with Samantha and felt guilty that she wasn’t as upset about leaving. Instead, Dawn felt excited . . . and a bit scared.

In any case, said Samantha, just tell your mother you don’t want to go. Tell her you’ll miss your friends and, well . . . everything.

Dawn didn’t answer. She knew what Samantha meant by everything. She meant skyscrapers and roads and cars and crowds and noise. Samantha was a city girl through and through. Maybe that was why, deep down, Dawn knew she wouldn’t miss her friend too much. It was lonely being a cowgirl in the big city!

After all, what was there to miss? Not school, for sure. She’d been happy enough at Throops Elementary. Still, she had become a target for the bullies at her new school, Kilpatrick Junior High School. If only she could go back and change that first day. It had started well enough, but then she’d opened her mouth. That was when it began to go wrong. Very wrong.

The children had been asked to introduce themselves to the rest of the class.

Hi! I’m Dawn Springfield, the sassiest cowgirl ever to ride the prairies. Had she really said that? She still cringed with embarrassment at the thought. The second mistake happened immediately afterward, when she’d explained to her laughing classmates that she would be a fighter pilot when she was older.

The rowdy group of boys at the back of the class were thrilled. They had a victim! Dawn Springfield had just volunteered, whether she knew it or not.

A cowgirl? I bet she’s never even seen a cow . . . or a horse.

A pilot? Just imagine it. A girl flying a plane.

Even the teacher had grinned.

Dawn had felt her face grow hot as she listened to the teasing. She knew she was blushing. But that was who she was and what she would do. The big city wasn’t big enough to hold her dreams. She needed wide-open spaces and never-ending skies.

Why there, anyway? asked Samantha as Dawn struggled to close her stuffed suitcase. I could understand if you were moving to New York or Los Angeles, but I’ve never even heard of Stinkwater.

It’s Sweetwater, and my Grandpa’s ranch is there, so I can go riding whenever I want, and there’s an airfield so I can watch the planes, and there’s . . . well, there’s loads of stuff.

But Chicago has an airport, complained Samantha. "And we’ve been horseback riding here. Your mother took us on your birthday,