Among the Red Stars

4 stars. I'm kind of surprised that even after all this time this book is in sleeper status for appreciation? It's a great story of the Nachthexen - the Night Witches of the Soviet Air Force during World War II. While the main protagonist is fictional, most of the supporting characters are not. It's a touching story about the difficult fight for equal rights for women and surviving the horrors of war. I liked that Valka took on the attitude of a determined patriot while Pasha was the tender-hearted tinkerer. Much of the story is written out in letters between the two of them, and it was an effective vehicle to give us an intimate look at their emotions without requiring too much cringe dialogue. A great, quick read that would be a good companion to Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author! Thanks! All opinions are my own! Book: Among the Red Stars Author: Gwen Katz Book Series: Standalone Rating: 4/5 Publication Date: October 3, 2017 Genre: YA Historical Fiction Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, violence, gore, death) Publisher: HarperTeen Pages: 384 Amazon Link Synopsis: World War Two has shattered Valka’s homeland of Russia, and Valka is determined to help the effort. She knows her skills as a pilot rival the best of the men, so when an all-female aviation group forms, Valka is the first to sign up. Flying has always meant freedom and exhilaration for Valka, but dropping bombs on German soldiers from a fragile canvas biplane is no joyride. The war is taking its toll on everyone, including the boy Valka grew up with, who is fighting for his life on the front lines. As the war intensifies and those around her fall, Valka must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend the skies she once called home. Inspired by the true story of the airwomen the Nazis called Night Witches, Gwen C. Katz weaves a tale of strength and sacrifice, learning to fight for yourself, and the perils of a world at war. Review: I really liked this book for the most part. The character development was well done, the plot was intriguing, and the writing was amazing! The world building was also well done and the girl power in this book was great as well! However, it was kinda weird to pair it with the romance heavy letters between the main character and her love interest. It did liven up the book, especially during the slow moments, but the letters also took the reader away from the moment in my opinion. Verdict: A well done story from an angle of WWII that you haven’t read a lot about! Definitely a favorite now!