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    The Secrets of Flight: A Novel
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    The Secrets of Flight: A Novel
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    The Secrets of Flight: A Novel
    Ebook349 pages5 hours

    The Secrets of Flight: A Novel

    By Maggie Leffler

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    This captivating, breakout novel—told in alternating viewpoints—brings readers from the skies of World War II to the present day, where a woman is prepared to tell her secrets at last.

    Estranged from her family since just after World War II, Mary Browning has spent her entire adult life hiding from her past. Now eighty-seven years old and a widow, she is still haunted by secrets and fading memories of the family she left behind. Her one outlet is the writing group she’s presided over for a decade, though she’s never written a word herself. When a new member walks in—a fifteen-year-old girl who reminds her so much of her beloved sister Sarah—Mary is certain fate delivered Elyse Strickler to her for a reason.

    Mary hires the serious-eyed teenager to type her story about a daring female pilot who, during World War II, left home for the sky and gambled everything for her dreams—including her own identity.   

    As they begin to unravel the web of Mary’s past, Mary and Elyse form an unlikely friendship. Together they discover it’s never too late for second chances and that sometimes forgiveness is all it takes for life to take flight in the most unexpected ways.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMay 3, 2016
    ISBN9780062427946
    Author

    Maggie Leffler

    Maggie Leffler is an American novelist and a family medicine physician. A native of Columbia, Maryland, she graduated from the University of Delaware and volunteered with AmeriCorps before attending St. George’s University School of Medicine. She practices medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and sons. The Secrets of Flight is her third novel.

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    Reviews for The Secrets of Flight

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    • 4/5
      Secrets and lies are revealed as an eighty-seven year old women and a fifteen year old girl forge a friendship. They meet in a writers group and the young girl agrees to help the woman write a memoir about her time as a pilot during World War 2. I like the smooth way the narration moves between present events and the memories of the past. There are some surprises and some not-so-surprising revelations. As the older woman tries to unburden herself of what she once felt were necessary lies, the younger is getting caught up in her own "necessary" lies. An interesting cross generation story with perhaps one too many twists, but a nice read. Advance review copy courtesy of the publisher.
    • 4/5
      3.5 StarsI was hesitant to read this as I generally like my fiction faster paced, but this novel snuck up on me. Told in alternating POV, what starts out as an elderly lady and high school girl meeting in a writing group turns into a quiet saga that is ultimately about growing up and family. Mary and Elyse are both very relateable characters and I loved that both had flaws as well. A very touching, bittersweet novel.I received a copy from LirbaryThing in return for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      I loved so many things about this book. First it is a very well written piece of historical fiction about the World War II fly girls which I found very interesting. But at the core it is about family relationships, a coming of age story and second chances. The story is about a teenage girl, Elyse, who is experiencing family problems at home and joins a writers group at her local library. What she didn’t know is that the group is composed of senior citizens, including elderly Mary Browning who is very secretive about her past life. Mary recruits Elyse to type her memoirs for her, and their friendship grows. Some of the things that teenage Elyse wrote about, and her experiences made me laugh. Other times some of the situations were very sad. Mary’s past as a pilot and falling in love with her husband were really interesting. I loved the way the secrets of the book were unveiled. The author wrapped up the book by intertwining the past and the present that I found very satisfying.An advanced reader copy of this book was received from Library Thing.
    • 4/5
      This is a story of an elderly lady (Mary) working with a creative writing group who befriends a young girl (Elyse). Through their friendship we find that the older woman was connected to a World War 2 program to train women pilots. The majority of the novel is about her back story of how she was selected and what has happened during and since the program took place. The book is an easy read and moves at a swift pace. As a man I still found the book entertaining and worth the time.
    • 5/5
      During World War II, women who stepped by to fill the void left by all the male pilots headed off to war. Leffler describes one girl’s willingness to risk everything in her determination to fly. This is the story of Mary, now eighty-seven, who hires a young teenager to transcribe her memoir. This coming-of-age tale spans two lifetimes and show that while everything changes, something stays the same.
    • 5/5
      Maggie Leffler has penned a stellar novel about a female World War II aviator. Estranged from her family since just after World War II, Mary Browning has spent her entire adult life hiding from her past. Now eighty-seven years old and a widow, she is still haunted by secrets and fading memories of the family she left behind. Her one outlet is the writing group she’s presided over for a decade, though she’s never written a word herself. When a new member walks in—a fifteen-year-old girl who reminds her so much of her beloved sister, Sarah—Mary is certain fate delivered Elyse Strickler to her for a reason. Mary hires the serious-eyed teenager to type her story about a daring female pilot who left home for the sky and gambled everything for her dreams—including her own identity. As they begin to unravel the web of Mary’s past, Mary and Elyse form an unlikely friendship. Together they discover it’s never too late for second chances and that sometimes forgiveness is all it takes for life to take flight in the most unexpected ways. Mary and Elyse are both believable characters, and the book alternates between their stories. Mary's story has the starring role and is really an interesting read. Anyone who likes stories about either older women protagonists or World War II aviation will thoroughly enjoy this book. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Another wonderful read about the WWII era. What I really thoroughly enjoyed about this book is that the strong will and character of Mary. I instantly fell in love with her. I am an avid fan of aviation and so as I was reading this book I could easily put myself in her shoes for her love of flying as well. The switch back and forth from past to present was so smooth that I never missed a beat. Although, the past was my favorite part of this story. The vivid descriptions of the wide open sky, the planes, and the friendship Mary made were lovely. I was so lost in this book that the pages just flew by. A quick read. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
    • 2/5
      I have to admit that I had a really hard time getting into this story. The story within itself just did not interest me as much as I though it would. Although it ends up making sense and connecting near the end I did not really care for the alternating between the main character and the teenage girl character. It may be due to the fact that I just could not find a fondness for this second character. In the parts where the main character is flashing back to when she was a pilot it felt a bit lacking to me. Though I can not say in what way as I am not sure what I expected. Did not truly enjoy the story until the end when everything starts to become connected and known to the reader. Yes there are clues here and there about there going to be a connection between the two characters, However the way in which it is done the reader can misconstrue it as the older woman just being reminded of times past. The book itself is not badly written. I just unfortunately did nit really connect and become interested in the story.
    • 4/5
      In The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler, Mary Browning is an 87 year-old widow who runs a writing group for senior citizens at her local library. One day, a fifteen year-old young lady named Elyse joins the group after seeing an ad in the newspaper. Elyse is unaware that it is a senior citizens group, but the members were more than happy to welcome the youngster to their group.Mary and Elyse become friends, and Mary hires Elyse to type up her memoirs for her. Mary has many secrets from the group, from her real name (Miri Lichtenstein) to her former occupation. The group believes that Mary was a book editor in New York City, but in actuality Mary had belonged to the Women's Airforce Service Pilots during WWII, a group of civilian pilots who were trained by the military.The book us told in two different voices- Mary's and Elyse's- and in two different time periods. I found Miri's story of her time training as a pilot, and her camaraderie with her female pilots to be the more interesting of the two stories.One of the more interesting anecdotes (which according to the author's notes at the end of the book really happened) involved landing in bad weather. The ladies had to land their planes in a remote area. They found a restaurant in this small town, and of course these strange women, unaccompanied by any men, drew interest from the regulars.A man came to their table and said that they were trying to guess who these ladies were. The women had been told not to tell anyone who they were, so when the man guessed that they were a baseball team, the ladies readily agreed. (Just like A League of Their Own!)One of the sadder tales involved a pilot who crashed her plane and perished. The women had to take up a collection to send her body back to the woman's parents. As they were not officially in the armed services, the government would not cover the cost. That made me so sad and angry.Another aspect of the story that intrigued me concerned the idea of Jewish people hiding their identity. Miri's boyfriend wanted to study medicine, but he had a difficult time getting into medical school because at that time, there was a strict quota for Jewish men in medical school. I had never heard of that, and found it so shocking that in the United States in the 1940's this blatant discrimination existed.He had to decide whether to hide his identity to achieve his goal, when his relatives had to hide their identity in Europe to avoid being sent to concentration camps. The strain that this decision caused himself and his family was enlightening. (And I have never seen so many people just cut themselves off from family members as in this book.)Mary had many secrets that she kept from those around her, and when we slowly discover them, it becomes easier to see why Mary was so lonely.The Secrets of Flight will appeal to fans of The Orphan Train. Both of the books feature an older woman whose earlier life held a fascination for the teenage girl they befriend. Both books tell of two women of different ages and experiences and how they changed each other.There is a twist of fate at the end of the story that is hinted at at the beginning. I personally found it to be a little too coincidental, but it does bring the story full circle. I recommend The Secrets of Flight to anyone who enjoys a story about strong women, and who find the time period of WWII interesting. I loved learning about the women flyers.
    • 4/5
      We all have to make sacrifices in order to live our dreams and passions. Some sacrifices aren't terrible but others can alter our lives, loves, and family forever. Deciding which dreams are worth that risk and which will only leave us with regrets in the end is a large part of knowing whether to keep chasing your passion. In Maggie Leffler's novel, The Secrets of Flight, one of the characters must make decision after decision about her path to her dream, a dream that will have unimagined rewards as well as high costs.Mary Browning is in her eighties. She runs a writing group at the local library but aside from one published book long out of print, she never contributes writing for critique, holding herself at arms length from the rest of the seniors in the group. But she is starting to think about writing a memoir about her long hidden past including her time as a WASP during WWII after seeing a picture in the newspaper of her much younger self with two of her fellow fly girls. Then fifteen year old Elyse walks into the writer's group. Something about the teenager reminds Mary of her sister Sarah and she decides that perhaps she could pay this young girl to type up the memoir for her. She's finally ready to start telling her story.Elyse is writing a novel of her own and despite the fact that the writing group is entirely made up of senior citizens, she decides to keep coming and eventually agrees to Mary's typing proposition. Elyse's life is complicated by not only usual teenaged angst, her interest in a popular boy, and a falling out with her best friend, but also by the fact that her parents might very well be getting divorced and her grandmother, who she hasn't seen in years, is very sick. Her growing friendship with Mary helps to give her a bit of stability and caring at an otherwise unhappy point in her life.The novel moves back and forth between Mary and Elyse's present day and Mary's past. Mary records chapters of her memoir for Elyse, slowly revealing the fascinating truth of her drive to become a pilot, to fly as a WASP, and why she is so alone now in her final years. The one thing she does not reveal though, is the name she shed so many years ago, Miriam (Miri) Lichtenstein, holding that last secret close to her heart. Mary is an active, tough character, full of life but she is clearly alone. Elyse is a typical teenager in many ways, trying to find out who she is, what value she has, and what gifts she can share with the world. The two of them need each other. The tale of Mary's past is a fascinating one although it only skims the surface of the now often overlooked WASP program that gave women vital roles in aviation freeing up male pilots to be sent overseas to fight. Leffler has done a great deal of research into the WASPs (Women's Airforce Service Pilots) and into the discrimination of the time against both Jews and women to make this historically accurate. The premise is both interesting and warm-hearted in its execution although it is peppered with the occasional sad pieces that also form a life. The twist at the end was too pat and unbelievable and as a reader, I winced when I realized where the author was going with it. But aside from this, the novel was an easy, quick read that should appeal to fans of historical fiction, those who want to know something about the WASPs, and those who are looking for a tender tale of chasing dreams.
    • 4/5
      Mary Browning has spent most of her life hiding from her past. Now, she is an 87 year old widow trying to live out her days in dignity. Mary heads up a seniors writing group, since she is a published author of exactly one book, even though she has not submitted any writing to her group in a decade. When 15 year old Elyse stumbles upon the writing group, Mary feels connected to Elyse and decides to hire Elyse to type her memoir. Mary opens up to Elyse about her true identity-Miri Lichtenstein, and past- a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot during World War II. As Mary rehashes her past, Elyse’s present is crumbling and they will need each other to keep hope.This is one of those books that make me happy to read historical fiction, through Mary/Miri I learned of the brave women who were WASP’s. Mary/Miri’s character grabbed me in both the past and the present. Even as an 87 year old, Mary/Miri showed mettle, spunk and humor through her interactions; and even though she was still hiding her true identity, she never lost the personality of the determined teenager who risked everything to fly. Miri’s character overcame a lot of diversity; she was discriminated against for being a woman and faced adversity for being Jewish. Eventually, this led to an entire identity change. It was very interesting to read about Mary finally coming to terms with her true self as she delves into her past with Elyse. On the other hand, Elyse was a typical 15 year old girl with typical teenage problems. Her character was well developed and does grow throughout the story, but I really wanted her to have more passion so there would be an even stronger bond between her and Mary. The writing took me back and forth through time from WWII with Miri’s point of view to the present alternating between Mary and Elyse. I do love a good dual time story, but every once in a while in the present, it took me a second to realize the point of view. While I did see the overwhelmingly endearing ending coming from a mile away, it did wrap up everyone’s story very neatly and was very emotional and heartwarming. Overall, a sweet historical fiction that focuses on finding your true self. This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      THE SECRETS OF FLIGHT is filled with writers, readers, secrets, life’s lessons, and laugh-out-loud situations.We meet 87-year-old Mrs. Browning also known as Miriam Lichtenstein who has a story that needs to be told and Elyse a 15-year old who helps record her story.We learn about Mrs Browning's past through flashbacks and the story she has Elyse typing for her.The two main characters were lovable and two people who would be wonderful to know. I am wondering if the characters were actual people in the author's life.I enjoyed flashing back to Mrs. Brownings' life and seeing her excitement and experiences with flying as well as her personal life. I learned about The Fly Girls who were famous during WWII.The friendship between Elyse and Mrs. Browning beautifully wove the story. THE SECRETS OF FLIGHT is a well-researched, marvelous debut filled with vivid descriptions.THE SECRETS OF FLIGHT took a few pages to get the gist of the story line, but it was funny, endearing, and a must read for historical fiction and women's fiction fans. I enjoyed THE SECRETS OF FLIGHT and was anxious to get back to the book and to the characters. ENJOY when you read the book. I did. 4/5This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author and publisher in return for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      This was a pleasant, easy read. Told in alternating points of view and, flipping between past and present, it's the story of Miri, a WASP during WW II , and Elyse, a teenager in modern-day Pittsburgh. It starts with Miri, now known as Mary, as a senior citizen in modern-day Pittsburgh who runs a writer's group at the local library. She meets Elyse, a high-school student, and hires her to help her write her memoirs. The story of Miri's childhood, her relationship with her sister Sarah and her niece Rita, and her time training to become a Women's Air Service pilot, is interwoven with Elyse's story of being a teen with boy problems, friend problems, and family issues. My favorite genre is WWII-era stories, so I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters that dealt with Miri learning to become a pilot. The chapters focused on Elyse seemed a bit YA for my taste. Overall, however, it was a good story, and I cared about the characters and their relationships.A little too neatly wrapped up at the end, and I figured out the "twist" about half-way through, but still a nice read.
    • 3/5
      This was an easy, pleasant read, bordering on YA level except for a minimal amount of adult situations. The story shifts back and forth between a elderly woman pilot and her young newly-made friend from a writing discussion group.The narrative examines the confusion of alternate identify and the subsequent misunderstandings. This is a good first novel from a fine writer.
    • 4/5
      Thanks so much. I was an Early Reviewer for this book and I loved it. I am always a fan of historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. It was a great read and I had a hard time putting it down once I got started. The characters were not only believable, but they were also so likable. I love how the author slowly unfolds the relationship between Mary and Elyse. As a teacher of teenagers, I loved that the story was told from two very different point-of-views. The story was authentic and entertaining. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be telling all of my friends to read it.
    • 4/5
      Thank you librarything.com for sending me an advanced copy of The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler in return for my honest review.The Secrets of Flight was an exceptional read. It was not only interesting, but informative as well. The story is told by Mary Browning, an 87 year old woman who runs a library writing group predominantly attended by seniors, and Elyse Strickler, a fifteen year old recent member of the writing group who reminds Mary of her sister and the secrets from her past. Mary hires Elyse to transcribe her memoir; while Mary shares her memories of her family and being a World War II female pilot and Elyse reveals her own family problems, a bond develops between the two.There were issues though. The novel definitely needed a final edit to fill in missing words and correct grammatical and spelling errors. Additionally, as the perspectives shifted throughout the book, at times it was difficult following whose story was being told. It resolved itself upon reading further into the chapter, but initially it was a little hard to follow. Further, the character of Elyse, a teenager, often spoke as a much older person. I had to look back in the book to verify that she was only 15. For example, at one point in the book Elyse "fretted" over something. Fret is not a word that a young person would use today. Also, Elyse seemed to have unquestionable freedom, which didn't ring true for a fifteen year old. Finally, it did not seem authentic having a fifteen year old listed as a medical power of attorney. It felt as though the author had a difficult time deciding on whether Elyse was a child or an adult.Both Mary's and Elyse's stories were very compelling. I especially loved reading about the women pilots and their unrecognized sacrifices that they made for their country and the camaraderie that developed among the other female pilots. I could not get enough of this story-line. Elyse's backstory was very engaging as well, but I wish it was more fully developed.Despite these issues, I thought the story was outstanding. I highly recommend it, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
    • 4/5
      It is so wonderful to read a book with an older main character. I get so tired of reading books about 20 somethings that reading about 87 year old Mary is a breath of fresh air. And to top that its a wonderful book with two strong main characters. Along with Mary and her secrets, there is 15 year old Elyse who wants to be a writer and who becomes Mary's friend and helper. A very strong bond is built between the two characters as Mary shares the secrets of her life with the teenager. The author did great research into the women pilot's of WWII and more needs to be written about these often forgotten heroic women. There is much more in the novel and in Mary's life than her time as a pilot and with Elyse's help, she is able to reveal it all. This is a wonderful book. Its both a coming of age story of Elyse but also an summation of life story for Mary. (Thanks to LibraryThing for providing this book for a fair and honest review.)
    • 5/5
      I really loved the story line of this book - it captivated me from the very first page. While I didn't find everything in it to be completely believable, the writing was such that it kept me hooked throughout.The story alternates between WWII and present day with two main characters:Miri - her story is set in the WWII era and is told from the perspective of her younger self. She is daring and independently goes to flight school and becomes unofficially part of the USAF through a special program. For her time, she is extremely courageous, knows what she wants and goes after it.Elyse - her story is set in present day. Elyse and Miri become unlikely friends through a writers group. Elyse is the youngest of group and is currently a high school student with her own family struggles. She has a desire to become a writer and learns many life lessons over the course of the novelThese two characters form an unusual bond with Elyse beginning to write Miri's biography. Elyse begins connecting with her own family's past through a novel about her relatives. The book touches on so many emotions - you want to cheer, laugh, and cry for/with the characters. I would definitely recommend it for books clubs or your own reading pleasure.Reader received a complimentary copy through Library Thing Early Reviewers.
    • 5/5
      An unlikely friendship forms between octogenarian Mary Browning and fifteen-year-old Elyse Strickler when the teenager joins the writing group Mary has presides over for the last ten years. In Elyse, Mary sees her sister, Sarah, and she hires the young woman to type her memoir, a tale of World War II women pilots. As she reluctantly faces her past, Mary reveals both her secrets and her dreams and, in the process, discovers her own true self. As their friendship deepens, Elyse finds herself turning to Mary as she struggles to unravel the problems in her own family and together they discover that it’s never too late for forgiveness . . . or for second chances.Strengthened by well-developed characters, the narrative alternately reveals the stories of both Mary and Elyse. A strong sense of place, both in the present and in the adventures of the Fly Girls pulls the reader into the layered story from the outset. Weaving the story of the two women into the factual story of the women flyers creates a narrative that is both poignant and captivating, humorous and heart-wrenching. The mesmerizing tale will keep readers captivated until the final reveal exposes long-held secrets and the story reaches its satisfying conclusion.Highly recommended.I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program
    • 5/5
      Maggie Leffler, according to her bio, is a writer AND a doctor. Elyse Strickler, her fifteen year-old heroine, dreams of being both. Her other heroine, eighty-seven year-old Mary Browning, has been many things in her long life, including a pilot. Yes, there are two distinct voices in this delightful and moving novel - one that of a young girl whose life has barely begun, the other that of an old woman who wonders if hers is nearly done.I wanted to read this book initially because of its subject of flying, and women pilots during the Second World War, the WASPs. And yes, there's plenty in here about flying and the Women Airforce Service Pilots program, founded by famous aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran. But the novel is more about the Secrets than the Flight of the title. Leffler has obviously done some major research in putting together this moving and complex story about Jewish families and emigrants, anti-Semitism and quota systems. And she's also given us a wonderful window into the little known history of the women pilots who flew millions of miles in support of the war effort. The two seemingly separate stories of Elyse and Mary slowly but surely coalesce into one as Leffler skillfully manipulates the various plot threads of a Jewish family in wartime and a modern 21st Century family, both suffering from growing pains and the pressures of their own particular times. And she's got the settings of Pittsburg and wartime Sweetwater, Texas, down to a 'T.' And a sterling cast of well-defined supporting characters round things out beautifully. I was just so impressed with the way the author brought it all together.I suspect THE SECRETS OF FLIGHT will be marketed primarily as a women's book, and that's okay, because, yeah, it is an historical romance and a love story, as well as a jarringly contemporary girl's coming-of-age story. But I hope William Morrow will make at least some attempt to court male readers too, because ... well, because I'm a guy, and I LOVED this book. Of course, I am over seventy, so probably a lot of the annoying rough edges of guy-dom have worn pretty well down by now, so ... Well, okay, go after the "old guy" audience, okay? Because if you don't well, you're going to miss out on a lot of appreciative readers. One more time. I LOVED this book! My compliments to author Maggie Leffler. If you're looking for an absolutely delightful page-turner, I can't recommend this book highly enough.
    • 5/5
      Loved everything about this book. Great characters. Interesting history (I've read another about the same historical facts and loved that one too).
    • 4/5
      What would it take to make your dreams happen? When Miriam Lichtenstein (Miri) was a young girl in the early 1940’s, it meant becoming a ‘fly girl’. Now many years later, Miri, known as Mary Browning, spots an announcement in the paper that Congress was preparing to award women who’d served as Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during WWII. Along with that article was a picture that Mary was familiar with … one that caused all the memories she’d buried to come flying back. It was Murphee Sullivan, Grace Davinport, and Miri dressed in their flight suits standing alongside their plane, a Fairchild PT-19.There’s a new girl that joins Mary’s writers group. That, too, takes her back to the past because fifteen-year-old Elyse reminds Mary of her sister, Sarah, who she’d not seen since 1945. Soon she begins to bargain with Elyse to write her memoir … tell her story of how she became a fly girl and how she served as a WASP. What she didn’t expect was the close relationship that would build between her and Elyse.Even though I really liked the character of Elyse, I felt her background overpowered the plot of Mary Browning and her past and her growing readiness to share that narrative in a memoir. The story’s chapters alternated between Mary Browning, both now and when she was a young girl during WWII, and Elyse. Mary’s personality was fun. I loved her spunky and energetic spirit; I loved finding out the secrets she’d kept hidden for so many years; and I loved the connection which helped both her and Elyse to move forward. Rating: 4 out of 5.