Flygirl

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Flygirl Alternate Epilogue”

In this activity, students will write an epilogue that explores “what might have been” after the novel’s ending.

In the novel’s official epilogue, the war ends and Ida Mae sends a letter to Walt Jenkins telling him the truth. Readers never see his answer, but you have the opportunity to imagine one. Pretend the epilogue you read wasn’t the end of the novel. What happens next for Ida Mae Jones?

• Consider what you know about Ida Mae’s character and the historical context at the time of the novel and beyond. Do additional research as needed to infuse your epilogue with reality.
• Place Ida Mae as many years in the future as you would like. For instance, what happens when Ida Mae reunites with her fellow WASPs 20-40 years into the future?
• You might also choose to write from another character’s point-of-view. You might peek into the lives of Lily, Jolene, Thomas, or Walt.

Once your epilogue is complete, share your work with 2-3 other classmates. What aspects of the novel and history did they pick up on and use that you might have chosen to leave out? Could their epilogue and your epilogue live in the same reality? Consider publishing your epilogue online as fan-fiction or mailing it to the author, Sherri L. Smith, along with a letter sharing what you learned or gained from reading the novel.

Teaching Suggestion: Students will need to gather information about the historical period immediately following World War II and whichever time period they choose for the setting of their epilogue. They might find support in resources used in pre-reading activities, but they may need access to more. It might be helpful to guide students to write realistically by incorporating details that are in alignment with previously completed character analysis on Ida Mae and the other characters. In writing focused instruction, students might benefit from using the small-group sharing as peer writing critique for revisions. In that case, they may benefit from a teacher-created rubric.