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chloeandherbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this , I was sent an ARC by the author. I will be posting my full review soon.
FULL REVIEW
*I was provided an ARC by the author however all opinions are my own*
Release date : 3rd October 2017
4.5 Stars
“The truth is that in a war like this there’s no separating who is in danger and who isn’t”
Among the red stars is a well written, action packed story about a young Russian pilot named Valyushka who joins an all female bomber regiment. What makes this story even better is the fact that it is inspired by the true story of the Night Witches - the women of the 588th bomber regiment. Pasha is a young pioneer who builds radio sets and is eventually enlisted into the Russian army.
Most of the novel is told through letters sent between Pasha and Valka , I really enjoyed this writing style as it made me feel more emotionally attached to the characters as they were honest about their feelings whilst being separated by the war. It also shows the devastation of war and how it can effect everyone.
“I looked up into the vast, beautiful, perilous sky. Women would continue to brave it. They’d know the cost and they’d do it anyway.”
Another aspect of the novel that I enjoyed was the friendships explored by the author between Valka and her fellow pilots and navigators. One of my favourite relationships explored in the book is between Valka and her cousin Iskara as they are more like sisters than cousins and she becomes Valka’s navigator. I also love the plot twist involving Iskara !!! She also forms friendships with her fellow pilots like Polina which I loved.
Valyushka is a strong character who is an independent free-thinker she that will do anything to protect others. I loved that she goes against her orders at the end and saves Pasha.
I really enjoyed this and I recommend it especially if you enjoy books that have a strong female friendships or books about female pilots like Code Name Verity or Rose Under Fire.
FULL REVIEW
*I was provided an ARC by the author however all opinions are my own*
Release date : 3rd October 2017
4.5 Stars
“The truth is that in a war like this there’s no separating who is in danger and who isn’t”
Among the red stars is a well written, action packed story about a young Russian pilot named Valyushka who joins an all female bomber regiment. What makes this story even better is the fact that it is inspired by the true story of the Night Witches - the women of the 588th bomber regiment. Pasha is a young pioneer who builds radio sets and is eventually enlisted into the Russian army.
Most of the novel is told through letters sent between Pasha and Valka , I really enjoyed this writing style as it made me feel more emotionally attached to the characters as they were honest about their feelings whilst being separated by the war. It also shows the devastation of war and how it can effect everyone.
“I looked up into the vast, beautiful, perilous sky. Women would continue to brave it. They’d know the cost and they’d do it anyway.”
Another aspect of the novel that I enjoyed was the friendships explored by the author between Valka and her fellow pilots and navigators. One of my favourite relationships explored in the book is between Valka and her cousin Iskara as they are more like sisters than cousins and she becomes Valka’s navigator. I also love the plot twist involving Iskara !!! She also forms friendships with her fellow pilots like Polina which I loved.
Valyushka is a strong character who is an independent free-thinker she that will do anything to protect others. I loved that she goes against her orders at the end and saves Pasha.
I really enjoyed this and I recommend it especially if you enjoy books that have a strong female friendships or books about female pilots like Code Name Verity or Rose Under Fire.
sepitz's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
itsme_lori's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fiction isn't typically a favorite genre of mine, especially ones set during wars. But I couldn't help but be intrigued by this one because it's based on a true story and about strong women fighter pilots. I really couldn't pass this one up. So when I saw it at ALAAC, I was super excited to grab a copy. I didn't read it right away but when I finally picked it up, I really could not put it down. I was fully drawn into the story of Valka and her cousin, Iskra, and their desire to be fighter pilots for their home country of Russia during WWII. I loved their relationship and how close they were, I loved seeing parts of their home and reading about Russia, and I loved the relationships that developed between all of the women pilots and workers on the front lines. I also really liked reading about Pasha and his part in the war. His POV from the front lines and being so young and losing so many people was definitely emotional. I think I liked the letter writing the least of everything in the book but only because it really slowed down the story at some points. I almost wish it had just been two different POVs rather than writing letters to each other but I appreciated being able to see their relationship develop while being separated by the war. I also actually liked their relationship because it felt real. They had known each other their whole lives and had been close even before the war so it didn't feel like the war and danger and separation and everything else created a relationship between them, it just brought out their feelings that were already there. I didn't love how the ending seemed to focus more on the two of them when most of the book was focused on the war and its effects on Valka and those around her and the relationships she developed with the other women. Especially when I loved how close so many of them became and how supportive they were of each other when there seem to be so few books that have women really supporting and caring for other women. But in the end, I really liked this book and it still surprises me that a YA historical fiction story about a war ended up being a book I couldn't put down.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
For a book about female fighter pilots in World War II Russia, it's boring. I love the Night Witches and anything remotely tied to them and prepared to love this book. But letter writing between two people is so boring to read when nothing is happening. I don't want reports of action. I want the action.
Quit at 100 pages.
Quit at 100 pages.
lbcecil's review against another edition
4.0
I was very lucky to have been given the opportunity to interview the author, Gwen C. Katz. Please take a look at the interview here.
Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz is the WWII feminist book you didn’t know you needed. Inspired by the true story of the Russian Night Witches, Katz takes the reader on an epic, life-changing journey with characters we can emphatically relate to today. From the very first page, I was drawn into this story and could tell it would be a 5-star book by the end of the first chapter.
Among the Red Stars is a tale of strength, aspiration, dreams, love and friendship. It’s the story of Valka as she struggles to prove her worth for the war effort, and it’s a story about Pasha, her best friend, through a series of year-long letters that show you the depravity of war and the hopefulness of growing love.
Even though this story is set during WWII and in a foreign land I couldn’t possibly understand, I found myself connecting deeply with every character in the novel and their circumstances. Read the above quote and tell me you don’t connect to that – I may not be a pilot and I don’t have to disguise myself as a man for my dream job, but I have had to prove myself time and time again simply because I am a woman. I too have had to move heaven and earth to get to where I am today, and it is a testament to Katz’s brilliant writing that women who read this book can see themselves in characters who lived in a different century. We may not have the same struggle as they do, but we understand it.
Valka has easily become one of my favourite YA protagonists and she now holds a position in my prestigious ‘badass ladies’ shelf on Goodreads. She’s ambitious, strong-willed, loyal and fierce. She wants to be the Red Army’s greatest fighter pilot and will stop at nothing to ensure her dream becomes a reality, but as the story develops, Valka comes to understand that war is not as glorious as she thought it would be. Valka’s weakness is her own hubris, but she overcomes it much like she overcomes the rampant sexism of the 1940s (which – surprise, surprise – is very similar to todays!).
I am enacting the ‘Protect-Pasha-2k17-Society’ because this boy is an actual angel and needs to be protected … although Valka is pretty good at doing that already. Pasha is one of the sweetest, gentlest characters I’ve ever come across in YA, and I sorely wish he were a real person so we could be friends. He’s Valka’s best friend, and he never treats her with disrespect due to her gender, unlike many of the other men in the novel. He is a pacifist at heart, and struggles with being conscripted into the Red Army, even as a radio operator. I was also very intrigued by his synesthesia, a condition where sound, letters, shapes, or numbers have a sensory perception, such as smell, colour, or even flavour. When Pasha hears people speak, he visualises colour.
The novel is told through a mix of narration from Valka, an ambitious 18-year-old girl, and of letters between her and Pasha. The letters were by far my favourite parts of the novel as the reader can physically see their friendship developing into so much more as through these letters they are brave enough to say what they can’t in person. But the letters are also significant as they shed light into what was happening at the Front with the war effort, and you learn how deeply unorganised and unprepared Russia was for war and all the poor souls who suffered for it. Katz’s writing is just superb as she vividly describes historical fact, while developing distinct and empathetic characters. At its core, this novel is about hope during the darkest times, and with every that is happening in the world today, I hope many people read it and learn from it.
But what I love most about Among the Red Stars is the fact that there is no girl hate! Yes, I’ve finally found a novel where, although not all the girls are friends, there is no unnecessary girl hate because of a guy or to create drama or just because!! Throughout this novel, I had that fantastic quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in my head: ‘We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful, otherwise you will threaten the man … We raise girls to see each other as competitors, not for jobs or accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men.’ In Among the Red Stars, the female pilots are all in healthy competition with one another to prove themselves the best fighter pilot, but they all cheer and encourage each other too. It’s a fantastic representation of positive female relationships and I want more books to feature these friendships too.
Among the Red Stars is one of the best books I have read this year. It’s a riveting, touching story that will stay with readers a long time. Please do yourselves a favour and get your hands on a copy of this book the moment it’s released. You’ll thank me for it. I love the book so much that even though I received a free copy of it, I’ve already preordered a finished copy! If that doesn’t tell you how good this book is, I don’t know what else will.
Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz is the WWII feminist book you didn’t know you needed. Inspired by the true story of the Russian Night Witches, Katz takes the reader on an epic, life-changing journey with characters we can emphatically relate to today. From the very first page, I was drawn into this story and could tell it would be a 5-star book by the end of the first chapter.
Among the Red Stars is a tale of strength, aspiration, dreams, love and friendship. It’s the story of Valka as she struggles to prove her worth for the war effort, and it’s a story about Pasha, her best friend, through a series of year-long letters that show you the depravity of war and the hopefulness of growing love.
Even though this story is set during WWII and in a foreign land I couldn’t possibly understand, I found myself connecting deeply with every character in the novel and their circumstances. Read the above quote and tell me you don’t connect to that – I may not be a pilot and I don’t have to disguise myself as a man for my dream job, but I have had to prove myself time and time again simply because I am a woman. I too have had to move heaven and earth to get to where I am today, and it is a testament to Katz’s brilliant writing that women who read this book can see themselves in characters who lived in a different century. We may not have the same struggle as they do, but we understand it.
Valka has easily become one of my favourite YA protagonists and she now holds a position in my prestigious ‘badass ladies’ shelf on Goodreads. She’s ambitious, strong-willed, loyal and fierce. She wants to be the Red Army’s greatest fighter pilot and will stop at nothing to ensure her dream becomes a reality, but as the story develops, Valka comes to understand that war is not as glorious as she thought it would be. Valka’s weakness is her own hubris, but she overcomes it much like she overcomes the rampant sexism of the 1940s (which – surprise, surprise – is very similar to todays!).
I am enacting the ‘Protect-Pasha-2k17-Society’ because this boy is an actual angel and needs to be protected … although Valka is pretty good at doing that already. Pasha is one of the sweetest, gentlest characters I’ve ever come across in YA, and I sorely wish he were a real person so we could be friends. He’s Valka’s best friend, and he never treats her with disrespect due to her gender, unlike many of the other men in the novel. He is a pacifist at heart, and struggles with being conscripted into the Red Army, even as a radio operator. I was also very intrigued by his synesthesia, a condition where sound, letters, shapes, or numbers have a sensory perception, such as smell, colour, or even flavour. When Pasha hears people speak, he visualises colour.
The novel is told through a mix of narration from Valka, an ambitious 18-year-old girl, and of letters between her and Pasha. The letters were by far my favourite parts of the novel as the reader can physically see their friendship developing into so much more as through these letters they are brave enough to say what they can’t in person. But the letters are also significant as they shed light into what was happening at the Front with the war effort, and you learn how deeply unorganised and unprepared Russia was for war and all the poor souls who suffered for it. Katz’s writing is just superb as she vividly describes historical fact, while developing distinct and empathetic characters. At its core, this novel is about hope during the darkest times, and with every that is happening in the world today, I hope many people read it and learn from it.
But what I love most about Among the Red Stars is the fact that there is no girl hate! Yes, I’ve finally found a novel where, although not all the girls are friends, there is no unnecessary girl hate because of a guy or to create drama or just because!! Throughout this novel, I had that fantastic quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in my head: ‘We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful, otherwise you will threaten the man … We raise girls to see each other as competitors, not for jobs or accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men.’ In Among the Red Stars, the female pilots are all in healthy competition with one another to prove themselves the best fighter pilot, but they all cheer and encourage each other too. It’s a fantastic representation of positive female relationships and I want more books to feature these friendships too.
Among the Red Stars is one of the best books I have read this year. It’s a riveting, touching story that will stay with readers a long time. Please do yourselves a favour and get your hands on a copy of this book the moment it’s released. You’ll thank me for it. I love the book so much that even though I received a free copy of it, I’ve already preordered a finished copy! If that doesn’t tell you how good this book is, I don’t know what else will.
endlessmidnight's review against another edition
4.0
This was a rather interesting novel, about the Russian female pilots during World War II.
I greatly enjoyed the way the story was narrated, leaving some of the details out, and using letters to fill in the spaces. It worked to a great extent, as it allowed me to see the way the war impacted them.
And at the end of the day, it was all about moving forward. Regardless of what they left behind, and remembering all of them. The ending, in my mind was perfection and captured the way it should have ended in the first place.
The plot, is very much like reality. Although I do wish that there were more tension regarding Valka’s struggle, and that her accepting her regiment wasn’t so easy. Although I liked the way that she did it because of her cousin, because she wanted to be with her. And that was something that I enjoyed.
As for the way it turned out, the climax was actually given some thought. It challenged what Valka was thinking, it challenged what length she will go to for the sake of those she wanted to protect. Rather suitable even if it meant disobeying orders. And those are really not something that is taken lightly in the country. At all.
Overall, pretty enjoyable and the main character is incredibly likeable. I do reconmend this if you’re interested in a war story, from the Soviet perspective and this works, very well.
I greatly enjoyed the way the story was narrated, leaving some of the details out, and using letters to fill in the spaces. It worked to a great extent, as it allowed me to see the way the war impacted them.
And at the end of the day, it was all about moving forward. Regardless of what they left behind, and remembering all of them. The ending, in my mind was perfection and captured the way it should have ended in the first place.
The plot, is very much like reality. Although I do wish that there were more tension regarding Valka’s struggle, and that her accepting her regiment wasn’t so easy. Although I liked the way that she did it because of her cousin, because she wanted to be with her. And that was something that I enjoyed.
As for the way it turned out, the climax was actually given some thought. It challenged what Valka was thinking, it challenged what length she will go to for the sake of those she wanted to protect. Rather suitable even if it meant disobeying orders. And those are really not something that is taken lightly in the country. At all.
Overall, pretty enjoyable and the main character is incredibly likeable. I do reconmend this if you’re interested in a war story, from the Soviet perspective and this works, very well.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
Inspired by her hero Marina Raskova, Valka Koroleva, 18, wants nothing more than to fly for her country, the Soviet Union. Already a pilot, Valka’s first attempts to join the Red Army Air Force or VVS (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily) are initially turned down, but by September 1941, things have changed and they put out a call for qualified female pilots.
And Valka is beside herself to learn that Marina Raskova will be in charge of the women pilots, and to be accepted into the initial training program Aviation Group 122 along with her cousin Iskra Koroleva, 21.
Meanwhile, Valka’s childhood friend Pasha Danilin, 17, has been conscripted and is serving as a radioman in the Red Army. As enthusiastic as Valka is fight the fascists, Pasha is just the opposite. A sensitive person, who hears the sounds of the world in different colors, Pasha is just not cut out for war.
Valka’s cousin Iskra, with whom she is very close, is the daughter of “wreckers,” who were accused of sabotaging the 1937 census. They were arrested and imprisoned, and this fact follows and causes problems for Iskra, even in the VVS.
The majority of the novel is focused on pilot Valka and navigator Iskra’s experiences on the ground and in the air, with a great deal of attention given to the sexism that the women pilots had to deal with while proving themselves to excellent aviators and brave fighters. Not that dropping bombs on enemies is done easily - Valka and Iskra are fully aware that they are taking lives.
Most of the action is told through an exchange of letters between Valka and Pasha, which also allows for orienting the reader timewise. Not only does the reader get a clear picture of what is going on, but they also get a lot of factual background information. This is one of those books that prompted me to look up people, places, and events that are included, to find out more.
Katz also develops the feelings that Pasha and Valka have for each other, taking them from friendship to a deeper love. I hate to use the word romance here as some have, because that might lead some readers to think this is a romance novel, when in reality it is excellent historical fiction with a romantic sub-story.
Among the Red Stars is a nice blend of fiction and reality. Through Valka and Iskra, Katz traces the difficulties faced in creating the training Aviation Group 122 that later became the three regiments - the 586th, the 587th, and the 588th. Mixed among her fictional characters are some real heroic women aviators who fought and even lost their lives in WWII. And Katz does not hold back on some of her descriptions of the fighting - air and ground.
Among the Red Stars is an exciting debut novel, occasionally bogged down by the descriptions, but otherwise very well worth reading, especially if you like historical fiction, or have an interest in WWII history, women’s history, aviation. Katz includes more information about Aviation Group 122 and the fate of some of the Russian women who flew in WWII.
FYI: the success of the Russian women aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, in which Valka and Iskra serve, earned them the name Nachthexen or Night Witches by the Germans.
Pair this with Flygirl by Sherrie L. Smith and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein for an interesting comparison of fictional representations of female pilot experiences in WWII.
For anyone interested in more information about the women who flew for the Soviet Union in WWII, these two were recommended by Gwen Katz, author of Among the Red Stars. They are A Dance with Death: Soviet Airwomen in WWII by Anne Noggle, published by Texas A&M University Press, 1994, 2007; and Wings, Women, and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat by Reina Pennington, University Press of Kansas, 2007.
This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was a ARC provided by the author
And Valka is beside herself to learn that Marina Raskova will be in charge of the women pilots, and to be accepted into the initial training program Aviation Group 122 along with her cousin Iskra Koroleva, 21.
Meanwhile, Valka’s childhood friend Pasha Danilin, 17, has been conscripted and is serving as a radioman in the Red Army. As enthusiastic as Valka is fight the fascists, Pasha is just the opposite. A sensitive person, who hears the sounds of the world in different colors, Pasha is just not cut out for war.
Valka’s cousin Iskra, with whom she is very close, is the daughter of “wreckers,” who were accused of sabotaging the 1937 census. They were arrested and imprisoned, and this fact follows and causes problems for Iskra, even in the VVS.
The majority of the novel is focused on pilot Valka and navigator Iskra’s experiences on the ground and in the air, with a great deal of attention given to the sexism that the women pilots had to deal with while proving themselves to excellent aviators and brave fighters. Not that dropping bombs on enemies is done easily - Valka and Iskra are fully aware that they are taking lives.
Most of the action is told through an exchange of letters between Valka and Pasha, which also allows for orienting the reader timewise. Not only does the reader get a clear picture of what is going on, but they also get a lot of factual background information. This is one of those books that prompted me to look up people, places, and events that are included, to find out more.
Katz also develops the feelings that Pasha and Valka have for each other, taking them from friendship to a deeper love. I hate to use the word romance here as some have, because that might lead some readers to think this is a romance novel, when in reality it is excellent historical fiction with a romantic sub-story.
Among the Red Stars is a nice blend of fiction and reality. Through Valka and Iskra, Katz traces the difficulties faced in creating the training Aviation Group 122 that later became the three regiments - the 586th, the 587th, and the 588th. Mixed among her fictional characters are some real heroic women aviators who fought and even lost their lives in WWII. And Katz does not hold back on some of her descriptions of the fighting - air and ground.
Among the Red Stars is an exciting debut novel, occasionally bogged down by the descriptions, but otherwise very well worth reading, especially if you like historical fiction, or have an interest in WWII history, women’s history, aviation. Katz includes more information about Aviation Group 122 and the fate of some of the Russian women who flew in WWII.
FYI: the success of the Russian women aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, in which Valka and Iskra serve, earned them the name Nachthexen or Night Witches by the Germans.
Pair this with Flygirl by Sherrie L. Smith and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein for an interesting comparison of fictional representations of female pilot experiences in WWII.
For anyone interested in more information about the women who flew for the Soviet Union in WWII, these two were recommended by Gwen Katz, author of Among the Red Stars. They are A Dance with Death: Soviet Airwomen in WWII by Anne Noggle, published by Texas A&M University Press, 1994, 2007; and Wings, Women, and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat by Reina Pennington, University Press of Kansas, 2007.
This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was a ARC provided by the author
tsundoku_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
viktorian's review against another edition
2.0
I love reading all the details with the Night Witches (please give me all the books with this, please), the Russian POV of WWII (please give me all the books with this, please), and all the girl power mixed with the alienation of their duties and moral uncertainty—those were a solid 4. But the romance and the letters nearly tanked it. This book would've been so much better without those dull elements; it messed with the narrative voice and hindered the pacing (rather than the useful time jump they should've been), the romantic chemistry was just never there for me, and it all leads to a sort of preposterous plot device that even I couldn't suspend my imagination for.
(Also, just a note: girlfriend had way better chemistry with her female cousin than anyone else. Like, seriously, if you just changed Iskra from her cousin to her father's best friend's daughter and got rid of the blah male love interest, you have five star potential all over the freaking place. Iskra was such an interesting, multidimensional character, and the book didn't have nearly enough of her. I would ship them so hard.)
tl;dr: Come for the Night Witches (and Iskra!). But... you should probably prepare to roll your eyes on a fairly frequent basis. Kathryn Lasky's Night Witches has better details and a better plot, but the narrative voice isn't as good as Among the Red Star's.
Pre-Reading: Yas, more Night Witches, yas!
(Also, just a note: girlfriend had way better chemistry with her female cousin than anyone else. Like, seriously, if you just changed Iskra from her cousin to her father's best friend's daughter and got rid of the blah male love interest, you have five star potential all over the freaking place. Iskra was such an interesting, multidimensional character, and the book didn't have nearly enough of her. I would ship them so hard.)
tl;dr: Come for the Night Witches (and Iskra!). But... you should probably prepare to roll your eyes on a fairly frequent basis. Kathryn Lasky's Night Witches has better details and a better plot, but the narrative voice isn't as good as Among the Red Star's.
Pre-Reading: Yas, more Night Witches, yas!
knight101's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0