The Flying Girls by Olivia Spooner

Inspired by real-life NZ women who flew in Britain in the Second World War, this superb novel features two very different women who become friends.

Alma loves flying more than anything; it’s what she has dreamt of since she was a young girl growing up in New Zealand, and she has worked hard to become a pilot despite many obstacles. But at what cost is her passion for flying in her personal life? Socialite Sissy has found purpose in flying, but it doesn’t come as naturally as it does for Alma. But becoming a pilot takes Sissy beyond the glittering, English world she has been brought up in.

They form an incredible bond, but danger always lurks in the skies. And they know the risks of working for the Air Transport Auxiliary, ferrying Tiger Moths and Spitfires through storms and fog across the UK.

But as the war drags on, both are challenged by more than just flights in stormy weather, as the men and women they meet have a profound impact on them both. Love is on the cards, but can it survive when there is seemingly no end to the war?

The Flying Girls is compelling and page-turning, and I think this is Olivia Spooner’s best novel yet – which is saying a lot, as they are all wonderful reads. This is a story of bravery, friendship, love and women exceeding expectations in a fraught time in the world. It is lovely to read a novel that shines a light on women’s stories in wartime, in roles that until now may have been overlooked.

The only niggle is the spoiler on the back cover (while reading the book, it quickly becomes apparent what will happen because of the line on the back), but hopefully the publisher can remove the last line about Sissy in future reprints.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Moa Press