But that very correspondence is part of what makes this story accessibleto American YA readers-as does, no doubt, its suspenseful, Hollywood irdre f. Katz is skillfully informative, interweaving historical figuresand facts without losing emotional propulsion and suspense at the same time,she opts to stretch credulity with an expansive correspondence between Valka andPasha, the chattiness of which would have seriously endangered their comrades,and whose liberality with locations shows a naive-or incredible-disregard of thecensors. Most notably, though, Valka worries about hersweetheart Pasha in the infantry when the chance comes to save him, she commitstreason to do so. Nazi fire, terribleweather, darkness, the loss of comrades, even commands to bomb their owncountrymen all come into play, exercising Valka’s aeronautical and emotionalresources with dramatic effect. Soon she’soperating as a bomber pilot, assigned to one of the slow, low-flying planes usedfor night attacks, with her beloved cousin Iskra as her navigator. Katz’s highly readable novel offers an entry into the story of the Soviet Union’sfamed WWII squadrons of airwomen, the “Night Witches.” An accomplishedpilot of a quirky, unreliable small plane, Valka leaps at the chance to sign upfor the Motherland’s first all-women fighter and bomber regiments. VERDICT Recommended for school and public library collections as a strong historical fiction addition.- Kristin Unruh, Siersma Elementary School, Warren, MI Give to fans of Kathryn Lasky’s Night Witches. When Pasha’s group comes face-to-face with the Germans, Valka and Iskra must decide if they want to remain allegiant to the regiment or to risk being captured-and therefore becoming traitors to the State-to rescue Pasha. Luckily, the head of the Aviation Group-renowned female pilot Major Marina Raskova-is able to pull some strings to bring Iskra and Valka together as navigator and pilot. After several weeks of flight training and classes, Iskra is imprisoned because of her parents’ supposed treachery toward Russia four years prior. At one time, it was a man’s job-but not anymore. It has always been Valka’s dream to be a fighter pilot, shooting down enemy planes one by one.

Readers gain two perspectives of the war: Valka and her navigator cousin Iskra’s flying adventures and Pasha’s view from the front lines where the Germans are creeping up on the Red Army. Told through letters between 18-year-old pilot Valka and her “close friend” Pasha-who seems more like a boyfriend-this book primarily covers the story of the Night Witches in Russia during World War II.

Night witches by kathryn lasky