American Flygirl

By: Susan Tate Ankeny

Narrated by: Hannah Choi

In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee, a nineteen-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants, sat in on a friend's flight lesson. It changed her life. In less than a year, a girl with a wicked sense of humor, a newfound love of flying, and a tough can-do attitude earned her pilot's license and headed for China to help against invading Japanese forces. In time, Hazel would become the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. As thrilling as it may have been, it wasn't easy.

In America, Hazel felt the oppression and discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In China's field of male-dominated aviation she was dismissed for being a woman, and for being an American. But in service to her country, Hazel refused to be limited by gender, race, and impossible dreams. Frustrated but undeterred, she forged ahead and gave her all for the cause, achieving more in her short remarkable life than even she imagined possible.

American Flygirl is the untold account of a spirted fighter and an indomitable hidden figure in American history. She broke every common belief about women. She challenged every social restriction to endure and to succeed. And against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hazel Ying Lee reached for the skies and made her mark as a universal and unsung hero whose time has come.

©2024 Susan Tate Ankeny (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Excellent

I really appreciate reading this story about Hazel Ying Lee! Such an amazing woman and talented aviator.

Fantastic story

The story of Hazel Lee and the WASP program was fascinating and very informative. Because I visited a WASP reunion in Sweetwater Texas, this story additional information and realism to that visit. I appreciate the author’s research and commitment to tell Hazel and the WaSP women’s complete story .