A Pair of Wings

DEBUT Hopson’s first novel is a compelling fictionalized account of Bessie Coleman, the first Black American woman to earn her pilot’s license in 1921. The novel begins with a dramatic crash. During her recovery, Bessie, encouraged by her staunch supporters and friends, is compelled to write her life story. The rest of the action takes place mainly in Chicago before the Great War, after Coleman leaves her childhood home in Texas to seek a better life. In a changing nation rife with racial and gender inequities, the notion of a Black woman becoming a pilot less than 20 years after the Wright brothers’ inaugural flight seems unimaginable. However, through a combination of preparation, determination, and timing, Bessie’s dream becomes a reality when a flight school in France admits her after the war. She goes on to earn her license and fly in several airshows, becoming a pioneer for women in aviation. This captivating novel showcases rich character development, beautiful writing, and an excellent representation of the era. Hopson (herself an airline pilot) does particularly good research, offering detailed insights into Bessie Coleman’s life.