Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2021 In this picture-book biography of Hazel Ying Lee, Leung (Paper Son, 2019) recounts the story of another unsung hero from Chinese American history. After her first airplane ride in the early days of flying, a young, spunky Hazel dreams of becoming a pilot. Descriptive text documents her double troubles on the ground, contending with racial discrimination and being a female flyer in a male-dominated field, as she trains. When the bombing of Pearl Harbor takes men oversees to fight in WWII, it brings opportunity to Hazel, who enters the Women Airforce Service Pilots program and becomes the first Chinese American woman to fly for the U.S. military. Dramatic illustrations sport deep yellows and greens of land below Hazel’s airplane and brilliant blues in the air. The WASP program was dangerous work, however, and a panel filled with black smoke reveals her untimely, accidental death. A concluding author’s note fills in details about Hazel’s life, including her family’s fight to have her buried in a whites-only cemetery. A moving tribute to this groundbreaking aviation pioneer. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/01/2021 Gr 1–4—Hazel Ying Lee was a fearless young woman who, from the moment she rode in an airplane, dreamed of flying them. Unfortunately, it was 1932 and "less than one percent of pilots were women." On top of that, Lee was Chinese American, and no Chinese American girl had ever flown an airplane. None of this stopped her. She worked to save money and earned her pilot's license in less than a year even though no one would hire a Chinese American woman. When WWII broke out in 1941, Lee found her chance, joining the Women Airforce Service Pilots. She became the first Chinese American woman to fly for the U.S. military. This inspiring biography celebrates a strong young woman. Lee's family also had to break barriers and fight for what's right, having to advocate for their daughter's burial at a whites-only cemetery. The text is engaging. The digital artwork is filled with bold colors, and immerses readers into the era portrayed. Back matter includes more information about Lee and her family as well as further recommended resources. VERDICT An excellent picture book biography recommended for all collections. Readers will be inspired to strive for what they want in a world that may not be ready for them.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Nightingale-Bamford Sch., New York City - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.