Honora Hassett was different to her sisters and friends. Unlike them, she wanted to be a mechanic’s assistant when war broke out in 1939.

Even after she was accepted to be part of the Women’s branch of the Royal Air Force (WAAF), her parents were unsure. Her friends pleaded with her not to go, or if she had to,

“Why not lend a hand on the land instead?” 

Other suggestions were knitting socks and scarves for the soldiers or writing letters to cheer up the wounded. The local shopkeepers laughed at her, saying she’ll get her hands dirty, but Honor had made her mind up.

The best advice came from her parents.

“Follow your heart and do what you feel is best for you.”

… and Honor did.

She loved the new work, even after weeks of gruelling training, not enough sleep, scratchy overalls and dirty hands. Life as an Aircraft woman (ACW) working on Spitfire planes on a team was exactly what she wanted.

This team of men and women serviced the Spitfires before and after battles in the sky against enemy forces. They even had their own air raid shelter in case enemy bombs came too close.

And one day they did.

Knowing that Honora Hassett was the author’s own Great Aunt made this celebration of her time in the Second World War all the more poignant. This hardback sophisticated picture book portrays the life of a vibrant young woman aged 23, who was keen to help the war effort.

Bucking the norm of knitting socks, farming or writing letters to the injured, Honor’s independent spirit shines throughout the pages through text and illustration. Speech bubbles also bring life to the pages, which are showing readers slices of life in wartime of the early 1940’s:

Expectation of women, queueing for their food rations, railway stations full of goodbyes and farewells, and the frenetic life of basic training, working on warplanes and running for air raid shelters.

In the rear of the book is more information about women working in and after WWII, six other remarkable women from forces around the world, the Spitfire and another New Zealander who gave much to both WWI & WWII.

I really enjoyed meeting Honor in these pages, and the way illustrator Adele Jackson captured her time before and during the war.

Author – Gillian Torckler

Age – 7+

(2023, Bateman Books, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Historical, Courage, Bravery, Bucking the trend, Go Girl, Inspirational Women, WWII, World War 2, WAAF, Aircraft Women, Royal Air Force, Spitfire, Planes, Mechanic, Aircraft, Plane Hangars, Engines, Brave Women of WWII)