Bobcat Reads: A Pair of Wings
Bobcat Reads will be discussing A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson from October 10, 2025 through December 12, 2025.
A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson is a riveting novel inspired by the remarkable true story of Bessie Coleman, a pioneer Black aviatrix who found freedom in the air. At a time when no one in the United States would train a Black woman to fly, a determined Bessie taught herself French and traveled to Europe to earn her pilot’s license, two years before Amelia Earhart. The book follows her journey from working in Texas cotton fields to becoming the celebrated “Queen Bess,” who performed death-defying stunts for crowds. While the sky was a place of freedom, the novel explores the challenges she faced on the ground—from a near-fatal plane crash to the weight of Jim Crow—leaving readers to wonder if she would ultimately have to fly solo in life as well.
Join our vibrant online Bobcat community to discuss and dissect our latest selection. With a two-month reading window for each book, you’ll have plenty of time to savor the story and join the conversation. Dive into your summer reading with us!
- Bobcat Reads is for everyone. If you would like to participate but find the cost of the book prohibitive, please email us at alumni@bates.edu.
- An easy and fun way to connect and network with other alumni
- Deepen your knowledge and explore new topics with fellow Bobcats
Did you know?
- We are kicking off our sixth year of the Bobcat Reads alumni book club!
- More than 400 alumni have signed up to participate in the Bobcat Reads alumni book club!
- Alumni participants span 41 different majors.
- Alumni of all ages—Class Years 1948-2024—have signed up.