Betty Greene: Wings to Serve

“The twin-engine Lockheed B-34 bomber stood illuminated in pools of white floodlight on a corner of the tarmac. Betty Greene strolled toward it, her parachute strapped securely to her back and her fur-lined flying jacket buttoned tight against the crisp fall air. Her heart beat wildly as she approached the airplane…”

Once again, authors Janet and Geoff Benge hook the reader straight off with an action-packed slice of life. Their book, Betty Greene: Wings to Serve, another biography in the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series, focuses on the life and adventures of Betty Greene.

Betty Greene served her country during World War II as a WASP pilot, a select group of females trained to fly military aircraft. The book details many close calls, dangers, challenges, and obstacles faced by Betty during this time. But it doesn’t stop there, because Betty had a dream—to use her skills as a pilot to serve God. As the war drew to a close, Betty worked with other Christians to help found the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Today, MAF is a global ministry that helps support missionary efforts. It operates over eighty aircrafts in nineteen countries.

What I Like: I said this before with another book I reviewed by the same authors, so this will sound repetitive (but it's still true). I avoid reading biographies because the bore me. However, I LIKED THIS BOOK. The strong writing made it an easy read. Betty’s perseverance, determination, faithfulness, and passion shone brightly throughout the book. The story is engaging, inspiring, and well-written. I believe this book—and likely all the books in this series—would be a great addition to any homeschool curriculum or church library.

What I Dislike: I didn't think the book had an eye-catching cover. However, I liked everything else about it.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 9-12, but I think it is appropriate for people of all ages.

Publisher Info: YWAM Publishing, 1999; ISBN: 978-1576581520; Paperback, 195 pages, $8.99

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Special info: Read other CCBR reviews of books by these authors.