The Ace of Hearts

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This narrative recounts the intriguing life of a young woman, Jess, who defied gender norms in early 20th century Canada to pursue her passion for aeronautical engineering. Starting her journey on a farm near Toronto in 1914, she masked her identity as a man to join the Royal Air Corps, leveraging a birth record error and strategic connections. After completing flight school, she served in France, where she was shot down but rescued by a French woman. The story, framed by two discovered journals, highlights Jess's relationships and struggles against societal barriers. Despite efforts to uncover her true identity, the author honors the family’s request for privacy, using fictitious names to protect those involved.