This free-verse collection tells of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black pilots in the U.S. military. Beginning with their dreams of flying, the story continues through the men's flight training for WWII in Jim Crow era Alabama; their outstanding record in missions over Italy, Germany, and the Mediterranean; and their return to a country where "racism was never in short supply." The epilogue then fast-forwards through their lifetimes, from Truman ending racial discrimination in the military to the inauguration of a black president. Straightforward, pithy, and sometimes moving, the verse offers a sense of what the Tuskegee Airmen experienced. The use of second-person voice addressing the airmen puts readers in the shoes of courageous individuals who took part in the "Tuskegee Experiment." Included are evocative scratchboard illustrations contributed by the author's son. With poems such as "Operation Prove Them Wrong" and "Lena Horne: More than a Pinup," this volume offers a vivid, personal point of view. A welcome addition to traditional books on the Tuskegee Airmen.

Weatherford (Voice of Freedom) again wields the power of poetry to tell a gripping historical story, reinforced by dramatically shaded scratchboard illustrations by her son, making a notable debut. Gentle yet stirring, Weatherford-s 40-plus free-verse poems create a composite portrait of the first African-American military pilots, trained at the Tuskegee Institute before fighting on the front lines in WWII, and the rampant racial prejudice that these military heroes battled throughout the war. Addressing the pilots collectively as -you,- the present-tense narrative has a palpable sense of immediacy, urgency, and encouragement: -Finally, your moment./ After eight hours of lessons,/ it-s your turn to fly solo,/ to conquer a new world./ You steer as if you and the plane are one./ You have never felt freer./ Never.- Weatherford also offers appreciative nods to the first black women allowed to serve in the Army Nurse Corps, as well as black and white civilians and officers who decried the hypocrisy inherent in a soldier risking his life to defend a country -that doesn-t respect his rights.- A timeline

Gr 5 Up-This distinctive collection of verses lets readers journey with the African American men who dreamed of flying despite racist attitudes. Through 33 poems, readers will travel beside these determined men as they become pilots and fight not only the Nazis, but prejudice as well. For those who have never studied this time period, this book sheds light on the Tuskegee Airmen through stories filled with authentic voices and hard truths. For those who already know of the Airmen's accomplishments, the book offers a more personal connection to the men and their ideas and feelings through poems such as "Operation Prove Them Wrong" and "No Hero's Welcome," which demonstrate that despite their proven skill and heroism, the aviators were still denied acceptance and respect. Scratchboard illustrations by the author's son bring the subject to life. VERDICT A unique and very readable addition to supplement black history and World War II collections. Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY