Firebird

Drawing from extensive research on the House of Romanov and Russian female pilots in WWII, per an author's note, Wein (Stateless) crafts a thrilling series opener whose swift pace rivals that of a fighter plane. Russian teen Nastia graduates high school just as WWII begins. Her mother was a spy, and her father was part of the unit that killed Czar Nicholas II, and their stories have long fascinated Nastia, who was raised to be a fierce Soviet patriot eager to fight for her motherland; she joined after-school clubs to prepare for combat and trained as a pilot. At the war's onset, she's tasked with training male pilots. But after her hometown of Leningrad is taken hostage and her unit is forced to evacuate to Moscow, Nastia--along with her mysterious mentor and her father's former comrade, the Chief--is drafted into the first all-woman aviation unit, led by renowned female pilot Marina Raskova. Fascinating details of the war, such as the impact of extreme cold in the winter of 1942, are peppered throughout taut battle scenes. Nastia's bravery and commitment to her country is palpable across this dynamically told war tale that reimagines well-known history. Ages 13--up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Sept.)

A young Soviet pilot must defend her loyalty to the Motherland in this entry in a series that's thoughtfully designed for struggling and reluctant readers. Anastasia Viktorovna Nabokova, a recent high school graduate working as a flight instructor at the Leningrad Youth Aeroclub, longs to follow in her mother's footsteps and serve her country as a spy. When World War II arrives in Leningrad in June 1941, she tries to join the air force but is told she's needed to train more pilots. But as the Germans continue to bombard her country, Nastia and other young women end up at the Soviet air force academy. After landing her plane behind enemy lines to help her downed mentor, the woman she calls the Chief, Nastia faces the challenge of defending her actions and proving her unwavering loyalty. According to Stalin's Order Number 227, anyone who retreats or is taken prisoner is assumed to be guilty of treason and faces the death penalty. Wein conveys vivid imagery of intense battle scenes and the war's devastating impact on the Soviet people, including starvation and loss, in a deeply moving way. Nastia's fierce loyalty to her country and commitment to her work shine through, supporting the engrossing and fast-moving plot with depth of characterization. An action-packed exploration of courage and loyalty. (author's note)(Historical fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.