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Among the Red Stars
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.
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.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2017
39 people are currently reading
2769 people want to read
About the author
Gwen C. Katz
22 books44 followersWriter, artist, game designer, part-time mad scientist (retired).
As a rule, I stay off Goodreads. Find me on Twitter.
As a rule, I stay off Goodreads. Find me on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
March 18, 2019
This is the second book I’ve read recently about the Night Witches, and I have to say, I loved it just as much as the first. I am fascinated by these women, and there’s always more to learn and another perspective.
Valka is living in Russia during World War II. Her country is broken apart, and she wants nothing more than to help in some way. She’s already a pilot, and she knows she’s a great one. An all-female group of pilots is named, and she signs up immediately.
Valka’s plane is rather delicate in the best of conditions, and her mission is to drop bombs on German soldiers. This job is not easy. No aspect of war is, including a good friend of Valka’s, Pasha, who is fighting on the front lines.
The war continues to worsen, and Valka is at a crossroads. Will she continue with the Night Witches?
Among the Red Stars is narrated by Valka with letters between Pasha and Valka included as well. I LOVED these complex characters and was completely invested in what happened to them.
Valka is fierce and indomitable while she is expected to be weak by the men around her. Pasha is vulnerable while he is expected to be fierce.
Gwen Katz’s author’s note gives insight into the research she conducted to write this story. It never feels fact heavy, though. Instead, it feels powerfully emotional, and I was drawn in and immediately captivated with the storytelling. I sincerely hope Gwen Katz is writing another book!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Valka is living in Russia during World War II. Her country is broken apart, and she wants nothing more than to help in some way. She’s already a pilot, and she knows she’s a great one. An all-female group of pilots is named, and she signs up immediately.
Valka’s plane is rather delicate in the best of conditions, and her mission is to drop bombs on German soldiers. This job is not easy. No aspect of war is, including a good friend of Valka’s, Pasha, who is fighting on the front lines.
The war continues to worsen, and Valka is at a crossroads. Will she continue with the Night Witches?
Among the Red Stars is narrated by Valka with letters between Pasha and Valka included as well. I LOVED these complex characters and was completely invested in what happened to them.
Valka is fierce and indomitable while she is expected to be weak by the men around her. Pasha is vulnerable while he is expected to be fierce.
Gwen Katz’s author’s note gives insight into the research she conducted to write this story. It never feels fact heavy, though. Instead, it feels powerfully emotional, and I was drawn in and immediately captivated with the storytelling. I sincerely hope Gwen Katz is writing another book!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
June 14, 2017
Pasha, a gentle teen boy who hears in colour, is conscripted into the Russian army and forced to go to war when his heart is full of peace.
Valka, a fierce and formidable teen girl who has spent hundreds of hours flying an old scrap of a plane whose engine regularly cuts out mid-flight, has to fight to become one of a tiny group of female pilots who are permitted to assist in the war efforts--and then keep fighting every single day to keep from making any error that might give the oh-so-capable men an excuse to kick the incompetent women out of their war.
Told in a mix of narration from Valka's POV and of letters between Pasha and Valka, AMONG THE RED STARS is a riveting, intelligent story with characters who are just as flawed as they are lovable--in the best way. I loved Valka's fierceness, and I have a special place in my heart just for Pasha.
And according to the author's note at the end, the whole story is based on meticulously researched historical facts about The Night Witches (the Russian female pilots involved in WWII). I knew pretty much nothing about them before reading AMONG THE RED STARS, and I learned a ton--but not in a way that felt like learning. This book is anything but dry. It's riveting and emotional and I cried though probably the last fifty pages of epicness. I definitely recommend this one.
Valka, a fierce and formidable teen girl who has spent hundreds of hours flying an old scrap of a plane whose engine regularly cuts out mid-flight, has to fight to become one of a tiny group of female pilots who are permitted to assist in the war efforts--and then keep fighting every single day to keep from making any error that might give the oh-so-capable men an excuse to kick the incompetent women out of their war.
Told in a mix of narration from Valka's POV and of letters between Pasha and Valka, AMONG THE RED STARS is a riveting, intelligent story with characters who are just as flawed as they are lovable--in the best way. I loved Valka's fierceness, and I have a special place in my heart just for Pasha.
And according to the author's note at the end, the whole story is based on meticulously researched historical facts about The Night Witches (the Russian female pilots involved in WWII). I knew pretty much nothing about them before reading AMONG THE RED STARS, and I learned a ton--but not in a way that felt like learning. This book is anything but dry. It's riveting and emotional and I cried though probably the last fifty pages of epicness. I definitely recommend this one.
Want to read
May 5, 2016It tells the story of a girl willing to risk it all for her dream to be a pilot
HELL YEAH
and her romance with a boy who becomes trapped behind enemy lines
HELL NO
April 21, 2020
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.
December 9, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.
With over 100 hours flying a piece of junk, Valka is a fiercely determined pilot. When WWII shatters Valka's homeland, and an all-female aviation group is created, Valka is adamant to aid the war effort. She has always loved the exhilaration of flying, but behind enemy lines, the war takes its toll on everyone, including Valka's childhood friend Pasha who is fighting for his life on the front lines. As the war intensifies, and Valka begins to lose those around her, she must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend her homeland. Inspired by the Russian 'Night Witches' during World War II, Among The Red Stars is a riveting story of strength and sacrifice and the perils of war.
I am always on the lookout for YA historical fiction featuring female pilots ever since I fell in love with Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Among The Red Stars hit just the right spot, and it's definitely a new favourite of mine. Valka is a fantastic, passionate protagonist. I loved the narration, and the letters between her and Pasha. The historical setting is fabulous. Katz has done a lot of research and created an immersive setting in World War II Russia.
I loved all the side characters and the female friendship. I adore books about girls supporting girls, and surpassing the expectations of their male peers. Adore! And on to the romance! It's friends-to-lovers, it's slow burn, it's sweet and hesitant and I loved it.
I can't believe how much I loved this! I get heart eyes just thinking about it.
If you're looking for some books about female pilots, I would recommend Code Name Verity & Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, and the fantastic Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith, and now; Among The Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz.
With over 100 hours flying a piece of junk, Valka is a fiercely determined pilot. When WWII shatters Valka's homeland, and an all-female aviation group is created, Valka is adamant to aid the war effort. She has always loved the exhilaration of flying, but behind enemy lines, the war takes its toll on everyone, including Valka's childhood friend Pasha who is fighting for his life on the front lines. As the war intensifies, and Valka begins to lose those around her, she must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend her homeland. Inspired by the Russian 'Night Witches' during World War II, Among The Red Stars is a riveting story of strength and sacrifice and the perils of war.
I am always on the lookout for YA historical fiction featuring female pilots ever since I fell in love with Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Among The Red Stars hit just the right spot, and it's definitely a new favourite of mine. Valka is a fantastic, passionate protagonist. I loved the narration, and the letters between her and Pasha. The historical setting is fabulous. Katz has done a lot of research and created an immersive setting in World War II Russia.
I loved all the side characters and the female friendship. I adore books about girls supporting girls, and surpassing the expectations of their male peers. Adore! And on to the romance! It's friends-to-lovers, it's slow burn, it's sweet and hesitant and I loved it.
I can't believe how much I loved this! I get heart eyes just thinking about it.
If you're looking for some books about female pilots, I would recommend Code Name Verity & Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, and the fantastic Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith, and now; Among The Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz.
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November 13, 2023
When fascist Germany attacks the Soviet Union in June, 1944, Valka sees her chance to prove herself to her country as a famous fighter pilot. When she's finally able to join the first all-women aviation regiment, she's disappointed to be assigned to the 588th Night Bomber Regiment instead of the more prestigious fighter squadron. But Valka and her friends are about to make history...
Okay, call me a sucker for anything Night Witches related, but if it's about the 588th, I'm going to read it! This is the best Night Witches book I've ever read. There's so much meticulous research, emotion and life in the characters, and my heart broke for Vasha, Iskra, Pasha and Petya as they struggled through wartime in the heart of the callous Soviet Union.
The Night Witches were the only all-woman aviation squadron in WWII (their sister squadrons, the 586th Fighter Regiment and the 587th Day Bomber Regiment eventually accepted men into their ranks), and terrified the Germans with their soundless approach and sudden bombing runs, as the pilots would cut the engines of their rickety U-2 (later called Po-2) trainers and glide over their targets. They also were famous for doing things faster, safer and more accurately than their male night-bombing counterparts.
If you've never heard of them—read this book!
Okay, call me a sucker for anything Night Witches related, but if it's about the 588th, I'm going to read it! This is the best Night Witches book I've ever read. There's so much meticulous research, emotion and life in the characters, and my heart broke for Vasha, Iskra, Pasha and Petya as they struggled through wartime in the heart of the callous Soviet Union.
The Night Witches were the only all-woman aviation squadron in WWII (their sister squadrons, the 586th Fighter Regiment and the 587th Day Bomber Regiment eventually accepted men into their ranks), and terrified the Germans with their soundless approach and sudden bombing runs, as the pilots would cut the engines of their rickety U-2 (later called Po-2) trainers and glide over their targets. They also were famous for doing things faster, safer and more accurately than their male night-bombing counterparts.
If you've never heard of them—read this book!
December 9, 2017
I really loved Among the Red Stars. I loved the historical setting, i'm ALWAYS a sucker for books about female pilots. I loved the friendships. I love girls supporting girls. I loved the slow burn romance. Valka was fierce, dedicated, and passionate. If you love books like Code Name Verity, then I highly suggest you pick this one up.
April 26, 2017
Phenomenally written and genuinely thrilling, AMONG THE RED STARS captures an incredibly badass true story, one of those historical events you discover and can't believe no one's written about yet. The prose is evocative, capturing the period in vivid historical and technical detail, while never losing sight of the very human and relatable characters at the core. It takes exceptional skill to balance thrilling action scenes with the painful cost of war, and Gwen excels. An excellent and informative read.
Read
December 2, 2017For 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.
March 2, 2022
Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz was such a fascinating read about the Russian Night Witches of World War II. I don't know why I'd been putting it off considering how much I usually like reading about the WASP, women in WWII, an early aviation. I knew very little going in about the group going in, but now I absolutely need to know more about them. If you're looking for some great YA historical fiction set during wartime, this is a must read. By the way, don't forget to read the author's note which delves a little into the fictional and real world elements featured in this novel.
January 4, 2020
4 🌟!!!
A lovely historical fiction tale about the Night Witches, during WW2 featuring brave women fighter pilots, a hint of romance, and based on true events. This was a great read, and yet another book that I've read telling about the bravery and strength of the women of WW2. Highly recommend for those who adore strong pieces of historical fiction!
Further review to come!
A lovely historical fiction tale about the Night Witches, during WW2 featuring brave women fighter pilots, a hint of romance, and based on true events. This was a great read, and yet another book that I've read telling about the bravery and strength of the women of WW2. Highly recommend for those who adore strong pieces of historical fiction!
Further review to come!
January 7, 2018
This book grabbed on and didn't let go.
What these women went through to prove themselves, to simply go after their dream of being able to fly and fight for their country alongside the men--and then go on to kick ass all over town--was so liberating and beautiful and exciting, and BRAVE. The Night Witches not only inspired me, but grabbed my arm and took me with them. Love, dedication, heroism, fierce feminism (in a time when this was almost unheard of), friendship, camaraderie, the letters tucked with care between the pages, and of course, the ever-present punching of Nazi's, was why I didn't want to put the book down.
I've been enamored with this era of flying, and especially night flights, since reading Antoine de Saint Exupery's (brilliant) books of flying during the war, but hadn't known the Night Witch's story until now. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this exciting and enlightening debut.
What these women went through to prove themselves, to simply go after their dream of being able to fly and fight for their country alongside the men--and then go on to kick ass all over town--was so liberating and beautiful and exciting, and BRAVE. The Night Witches not only inspired me, but grabbed my arm and took me with them. Love, dedication, heroism, fierce feminism (in a time when this was almost unheard of), friendship, camaraderie, the letters tucked with care between the pages, and of course, the ever-present punching of Nazi's, was why I didn't want to put the book down.
I've been enamored with this era of flying, and especially night flights, since reading Antoine de Saint Exupery's (brilliant) books of flying during the war, but hadn't known the Night Witch's story until now. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this exciting and enlightening debut.
December 29, 2018
For some reason, this year I have heard about a couple of books that came out or are coming out, about the Night Witches of WWII. I hadn’t read any of the books but I was interested in the subject matter and historical take on these brave women.
I wanted to pick up one of the, what I like to call, Night Witches books but I just didn’t think of it when I was at the bookstore or my library. Then one day in late November I got an email pitching this book featuring the Night Witches that was more of a YA book and I practically pounced on the request!
From a historical stand point, I think anything about the Russian Night Witches, is incredibly important and interesting, but my reading year was coming to a close and I didn’t really want to read anything overly taxing and long, so when I saw that this book was geared toward a more YA audience, I was eager to review it.
So right off the bat, I loved this book. The author has a wonderful prose and writes exceptionally well. While this book is labeled YA, it’s not a simple read—it has substance and history that is interesting and relevant for many readers of all ages. I saw that one reviewer said that adults will love this book because the author tackles hard and difficult issues with honesty, and I absolutely agree with this. This book had some hard, very real issues that the main character had to address and come through but the author makes sure that her heroine rises to each challenge which makes her stand out and mature beyond her years and I completely agree that as an adult reader, I enjoyed this book.
At first, Valka our heroine, is a little young and naive but as the story moves along, Valka is tested over and over again and we see this shift in her character that is exciting to watch. While there is some romance in this book, it’s not the focus of the story which I loved. I’m all for romance but the subject matter begs the readers full attention and I thought that the author did a wonderful job letting that shine. I worked in a high school for twelve years and I feel a book like this with a main character who is interesting and unique, is a book that so many girls these days need to read. It’s important that young girls have positive, strong, feminist role models even if they are fictionalized.
I loved reading about the training and missions these women endured and on that alone this would have been a five star read, but add in all of the other plot lines, then this book became one of my favorite reads of the year. This is my first experience with YA historical fiction/thriller—-especially set in this time period, but I am loving it and eager to read more.
As a historian myself, I like my historical fiction to be authentic and well researched, and I certainly felt that we got that with this book. It’s clear that the author loves the hell out of her subject matter and researched it extensively. I am excited to read more by this author—-this is her debut novel and what a debut it is! This is an author worth watching!
One final note—that cover is pretty awesome. I love the cover art so much, it is interesting and eye catching all at the same time. If I saw it in a bookstore I would instantly grab it for the cover alone.
See my full review here
I wanted to pick up one of the, what I like to call, Night Witches books but I just didn’t think of it when I was at the bookstore or my library. Then one day in late November I got an email pitching this book featuring the Night Witches that was more of a YA book and I practically pounced on the request!
From a historical stand point, I think anything about the Russian Night Witches, is incredibly important and interesting, but my reading year was coming to a close and I didn’t really want to read anything overly taxing and long, so when I saw that this book was geared toward a more YA audience, I was eager to review it.
So right off the bat, I loved this book. The author has a wonderful prose and writes exceptionally well. While this book is labeled YA, it’s not a simple read—it has substance and history that is interesting and relevant for many readers of all ages. I saw that one reviewer said that adults will love this book because the author tackles hard and difficult issues with honesty, and I absolutely agree with this. This book had some hard, very real issues that the main character had to address and come through but the author makes sure that her heroine rises to each challenge which makes her stand out and mature beyond her years and I completely agree that as an adult reader, I enjoyed this book.
At first, Valka our heroine, is a little young and naive but as the story moves along, Valka is tested over and over again and we see this shift in her character that is exciting to watch. While there is some romance in this book, it’s not the focus of the story which I loved. I’m all for romance but the subject matter begs the readers full attention and I thought that the author did a wonderful job letting that shine. I worked in a high school for twelve years and I feel a book like this with a main character who is interesting and unique, is a book that so many girls these days need to read. It’s important that young girls have positive, strong, feminist role models even if they are fictionalized.
I loved reading about the training and missions these women endured and on that alone this would have been a five star read, but add in all of the other plot lines, then this book became one of my favorite reads of the year. This is my first experience with YA historical fiction/thriller—-especially set in this time period, but I am loving it and eager to read more.
As a historian myself, I like my historical fiction to be authentic and well researched, and I certainly felt that we got that with this book. It’s clear that the author loves the hell out of her subject matter and researched it extensively. I am excited to read more by this author—-this is her debut novel and what a debut it is! This is an author worth watching!
One final note—that cover is pretty awesome. I love the cover art so much, it is interesting and eye catching all at the same time. If I saw it in a bookstore I would instantly grab it for the cover alone.
See my full review here
January 3, 2018
Who runs the world? In Gwen Katz debut, AMONG THE RED STARS, girls do. Specifically the young women of the 588th Division VVS Night Bombing Unit. Formed as one of the all female pilot divisions under famed aviatrix Marina Raskova, the 588th carried out daring night bombing raids in U-2 biplanes on Axis targets during WWII, and were so feared by the Germans, they called them The Night Witches.
Their story is told by Valka, a young pilot from the Urals who, together with her cousin Iskra, enters the war as a flyer. Valka wants to be in the fight both to prove that women can fly just as well as men, and to do as much as her childhood best friend, Pasha, a radioman on the front lines with the Red Army. As the war drags on and comrades are lost, Valka changes from an idealistic girl to a hardened soldier who has to do awful things for her cause.
Katz does an amazing job with her three mains and their journey. Iskra, whose parents were taken by Stalin's government as Wreckers for supposedly sabotaging a census, goes from being ultra party loyal in the face of suspicions against her to questioning more and more the politics of the country they're fighting for. And in letters to Valka, we see Pasha, a Synesthete who sees sounds as colors, trying to remain gentle and good in the face of the brutalities at the front.
All three face heartbreaking losses as they try to live out the war, and you'll be on tenterhooks to see if all of them can survive the fight.
When so often those critical of YA complain that girl heroes are unrealistic, Katz gives us real women, drawn from the historical record, who did the extraordinary in a time of war. Their fighters, yes. But they're also young women who love fashion magazines and flowers and who dream of finding love. And none of that makes them any less heroic.
Whether you love tales of WWII, girls being bad ass, or stories of people surviving impossible odds, AMONG THE RED STARS should definitely be your next read.
Their story is told by Valka, a young pilot from the Urals who, together with her cousin Iskra, enters the war as a flyer. Valka wants to be in the fight both to prove that women can fly just as well as men, and to do as much as her childhood best friend, Pasha, a radioman on the front lines with the Red Army. As the war drags on and comrades are lost, Valka changes from an idealistic girl to a hardened soldier who has to do awful things for her cause.
Katz does an amazing job with her three mains and their journey. Iskra, whose parents were taken by Stalin's government as Wreckers for supposedly sabotaging a census, goes from being ultra party loyal in the face of suspicions against her to questioning more and more the politics of the country they're fighting for. And in letters to Valka, we see Pasha, a Synesthete who sees sounds as colors, trying to remain gentle and good in the face of the brutalities at the front.
All three face heartbreaking losses as they try to live out the war, and you'll be on tenterhooks to see if all of them can survive the fight.
When so often those critical of YA complain that girl heroes are unrealistic, Katz gives us real women, drawn from the historical record, who did the extraordinary in a time of war. Their fighters, yes. But they're also young women who love fashion magazines and flowers and who dream of finding love. And none of that makes them any less heroic.
Whether you love tales of WWII, girls being bad ass, or stories of people surviving impossible odds, AMONG THE RED STARS should definitely be your next read.
March 28, 2018
Valka is a Russian girl who is eager to use her flying skills to help out in the war efforts during WWII. When the restriction against women joining is lifted due to desperate times, she and her cousin Iskra join up. Based upon the Night Witches from true history, the story follows Valka and her cousin (who's parents were convicted of being against communism, being "wreckers") as they train and fight for the all-female Aviation Group 122. It also intersperses letters between Valka and a boy from her hometown, Pasha, who was drafted into the war as a radioman and gets trapped behind enemy lines after his entire squad is killed. The story of the girls becoming pilots and flying to fight for their country; of becoming the Night Witches, is solid. The "romance" will likely make you roll your eyes. A lot. It's just super boring
Anything you didn’t like about it? The letters and "romance" between Valka and Pasha really bogged down what was otherwise an interesting story of strong girls being hardcore to help out their country during a war by flying planes and dropping bombs. The tech-lingo also gets to be a bit much at times. The "romance" and overly technical moments do end up taking away from the time to develop the characters as they consider the ramifications of war and their actions which would have been vastly more interesting.
To whom would you recommend this book? Readers looking for a hint of historical girls being amazing with a heavy-handed romance-angle forced into the story to lighten the otherwise dark tone of a war novel.
FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Anything you didn’t like about it? The letters and "romance" between Valka and Pasha really bogged down what was otherwise an interesting story of strong girls being hardcore to help out their country during a war by flying planes and dropping bombs. The tech-lingo also gets to be a bit much at times. The "romance" and overly technical moments do end up taking away from the time to develop the characters as they consider the ramifications of war and their actions which would have been vastly more interesting.
To whom would you recommend this book? Readers looking for a hint of historical girls being amazing with a heavy-handed romance-angle forced into the story to lighten the otherwise dark tone of a war novel.
FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
October 22, 2020
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!
Read
February 7, 2018Valentina (Valka) Koroleva and her cousin Iskra share a dream: to fly in defense of their Soviet motherland against the Nazi forces that have launched a surprise invasion in violation of Hitler’s nonaggression pact with Stalin. So when Valka receives a telegram announcing the formation of all-female fighting and bomber units, the two of them set off for Moscow without hesitation.
The number of applicants far exceeds the slots available, and the competition proves tougher than Valka and her cousin anticipate. But while they do not in the end become elite fighter pilots, they do make the cut for the night bomber unit: Valka as a pilot and Iskra as her navigator. Soon they are flying a shaky biplane constructed of wood and canvas, liable to burst into flames or crash without warning, against the German forces. Meanwhile, Valka’s best friend, Pasha, has been drafted into a ground regiment where he operates a ham radio under harsh conditions. He and Valka exchange regular letters, expressing their different experiences of war.
But fighting for the Soviet Union means coping not only with the enemy but also with Stalin’s paranoia. Iskra’s parents, arrested even before the war, cast a long shadow on her prospects for success despite her willingness to sacrifice her life for her country. Some of Valka’s assigned targets turn out to be people on her own side. Pilots shot down in combat or soldiers captured in an ambush are declared traitors to the state. And she learns that those in authority—or even comrades in arms—are at times the most likely to denounce those suspected of disloyalty, a category that includes insubordination. So although Among the Red Stars is listed as Young Adult, in fact Gwen Katz has written a novel that, because it tackles difficult problems with honesty, will appeal to adults as well. It is also a riveting tale about women in combat, female friendship, and survival against the odds.
Interview with the author at New Books in Historical Fiction.
The number of applicants far exceeds the slots available, and the competition proves tougher than Valka and her cousin anticipate. But while they do not in the end become elite fighter pilots, they do make the cut for the night bomber unit: Valka as a pilot and Iskra as her navigator. Soon they are flying a shaky biplane constructed of wood and canvas, liable to burst into flames or crash without warning, against the German forces. Meanwhile, Valka’s best friend, Pasha, has been drafted into a ground regiment where he operates a ham radio under harsh conditions. He and Valka exchange regular letters, expressing their different experiences of war.
But fighting for the Soviet Union means coping not only with the enemy but also with Stalin’s paranoia. Iskra’s parents, arrested even before the war, cast a long shadow on her prospects for success despite her willingness to sacrifice her life for her country. Some of Valka’s assigned targets turn out to be people on her own side. Pilots shot down in combat or soldiers captured in an ambush are declared traitors to the state. And she learns that those in authority—or even comrades in arms—are at times the most likely to denounce those suspected of disloyalty, a category that includes insubordination. So although Among the Red Stars is listed as Young Adult, in fact Gwen Katz has written a novel that, because it tackles difficult problems with honesty, will appeal to adults as well. It is also a riveting tale about women in combat, female friendship, and survival against the odds.
Interview with the author at New Books in Historical Fiction.
June 16, 2017
3.5 stars
I had to up-vote my rating because the concept and overall impression I have from this book is just awesome! I loved reading about these fantastic female pilots of Russia during WWII, their ferocity, their strength, their fears, and their hopes. Katz's research is obvious in the meaningful details put into the scene, whether it's the personality of an antagonist or the extremely immersive, ashy war setting.
Review to come on Happy Indulgence
"We will prove that we can fly and fight as well as any male regiment. No. We'll prove that we're the best damn bomber regiment the Red Army has ever seen!"
I had to up-vote my rating because the concept and overall impression I have from this book is just awesome! I loved reading about these fantastic female pilots of Russia during WWII, their ferocity, their strength, their fears, and their hopes. Katz's research is obvious in the meaningful details put into the scene, whether it's the personality of an antagonist or the extremely immersive, ashy war setting.
Review to come on Happy Indulgence
"We will prove that we can fly and fight as well as any male regiment. No. We'll prove that we're the best damn bomber regiment the Red Army has ever seen!"
October 1, 2017
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
November 14, 2018
Interesting but not very memorable. However this book is researched very well and I would definitely read any of the authors other works.
December 25, 2017
Once I heard about this book, I instantly flew to Goodreads to check it out and see what it's all about. Then I saw that the name of the MC was Valka and I paused for a moment, trying to figure out what kind of name it was. My guess was that it was a diminutive of Valentina, but in Russian, usually spelled with a 'soft sign', often replaced with an apostrophe in English spellings. But since apostrophes tend to distract and make names look odd, people just forgo them.
But the thing is 'Valka' is still not really a common diminutive for Valentina, Valya is. In fact, Valka as a diminutive is actually kind of rude, sometimes playful and only acceptable to be used by friends and family, and maybe people who know you. It's hard for me to think of an equivalent in English, but it would be like calling someone Dickie after they introduce themselves as Richard to you. You just wouldn't do it unless they tell you it's their preferred nickname and even then you probably wouldn't do it unless you were friends.
I tried to ask the author about it on twitter, but I think I came across kind of curt, and she got a little defensive after explaining that she's just using a common transliteration. I tried to explain that Valka was not the common name, but she just told me I'd have to read the book and find out why the MC chose that name. Since I picked up on the defensive tone, I decided not to press the issue and just thanked her for her time. My guess is that she picked the name because it sounds like Valkary.
Non-Russian authors never seem to get how Russian names work...
But the thing is 'Valka' is still not really a common diminutive for Valentina, Valya is. In fact, Valka as a diminutive is actually kind of rude, sometimes playful and only acceptable to be used by friends and family, and maybe people who know you. It's hard for me to think of an equivalent in English, but it would be like calling someone Dickie after they introduce themselves as Richard to you. You just wouldn't do it unless they tell you it's their preferred nickname and even then you probably wouldn't do it unless you were friends.
I tried to ask the author about it on twitter, but I think I came across kind of curt, and she got a little defensive after explaining that she's just using a common transliteration. I tried to explain that Valka was not the common name, but she just told me I'd have to read the book and find out why the MC chose that name. Since I picked up on the defensive tone, I decided not to press the issue and just thanked her for her time. My guess is that she picked the name because it sounds like Valkary.
Non-Russian authors never seem to get how Russian names work...
October 10, 2017
I have been not-so-patiently waiting to read this book for what seems years, and it did not disappoint. I love airplanes and WWII stories and badass girls and this has all three. The majority of the characters are also real people, which I also love in a book.
But I think one of my very favourite threads in the story was Pasha's friendship with the fellow soldier who wanted to be a priest. Their worldviews are so different in many ways, yet they both are gentle souls who love beauty and would rather be doing anything else besides fighting.
Probably irrelevant, but also true: The rabid Rose Under Fire fangirl in me loved getting a clearer glimpse into the kind of world Irina came from, and why she couldn't ever go back after Ravensbrück.
But I think one of my very favourite threads in the story was Pasha's friendship with the fellow soldier who wanted to be a priest. Their worldviews are so different in many ways, yet they both are gentle souls who love beauty and would rather be doing anything else besides fighting.
Probably irrelevant, but also true: The rabid Rose Under Fire fangirl in me loved getting a clearer glimpse into the kind of world Irina came from, and why she couldn't ever go back after Ravensbrück.
October 10, 2017
Fierce and heart-pounding -- I have been waiting for a book about The Night Witches for my entire life! This is a story that the world needs and Gwen C. Katz has given us an amazing YA historical fiction version. The female friendships were beautiful and inspiring. This book is just as much about WWII and these phenomenal ladies, as well as love and friendship. It is a fantastic quick read, and I highly recommend it!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
November 1, 2017
MY EMOTIONS.
*weeps softly*
*goes back to editing*
Well, I'll never have as good a book on the Night Witches as this, but it ain't going to stop me from trying.
*weeps softly*
*goes back to editing*
Well, I'll never have as good a book on the Night Witches as this, but it ain't going to stop me from trying.
December 26, 2018
(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
When I was offered the chance to review Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz, I jumped at the chance. After reading the great reviews, I knew it was going to be a great book. Luckily, I was not disappointed.
I thought the plot and world building were excellent! The story for Among the Red Stars is mostly told through letters written by Valka, the main character, and her childhood friend, Pasha. Set in Russia during World War II, Pasha was drafted and had no choice but to join, and Valka voluntarily joined because she had been wanting to be a pilot since she was young. The all female bomber regiment isn't taken seriously at first since they are all young and female, but soon enough, it because apparent that these female pilots are the real deal and just as good as their male counterparts. Among the Red Stars is also based in some fact too which made the book that much more interesting. My emotions were all over the place reading this book. I kept on hoping the outcome of the story would be a good one. Among the Red Stars answered all the questions I had, and I would suggest reading the Author's Note at the end of the book because it will give you more insight into the all female Russian bomber regiment. I found it very interesting. The only thing that bothered me was that Valka's parents weren't really mentioned throughout the book. I would have thought that Valka's parents would have written to their daughter during the war. If they didn't want to, it would have been nice to have an explanation as to why they didn't want to write to their daughter. I just found it a bit strange that Valka's parents weren't mentioned at all during the book except for briefly towards the end.
The characters were written very well in Among the Red Stars. It was interesting to learn that many of the characters mentioned in Among the Red Stars were based on actual people who served in World War II. As I've said before, a lot of the story is based on fact which made this book that much more enjoyable. I loved seeing Pasha and Valka grow throughout their letters. I was always hoping they'd be reunited soon because it was obvious how much they really cared about each other. I also loved the relationship between Valka and her cousin Iskra. It was refreshing to read about the love between them. I admired Galya's and Lilya's spirit throughout the war, and I loved how awesome Vera and Tanya were. All the females in Among the Red Stars were amazing, and I admired each and every one of them. I loved the camaraderie between all the girls. I will admit that sometimes it was hard to keep up with who was who during the book due to the Russian names, but I still thoroughly enjoyed every character. If you read the Author's Note at the end of the book, you can learn more about each character that was actually a real person. I loved that Gwen C. Katz added all that information.
The pacing for Among the Red Stars grabs you by the hand and never lets go! Never once did I grow bored of the story. The story never got too fast paced for me where I was confused with what was happening. The pacing was fantastic!
Trigger warnings for Among the Red Stars include violence, death, injuries, war, and sexism.
All in all, Among the Red Stars was a fantastic, thrilling read. I never wanted to put it down. This book had everything from a great group of characters to a fantastic plot. I would definitely recommend Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz to everyone aged 14+. It's such an interesting book as well as an interesting way to learn about a piece of important history.
--
(A special thank you to the author for providing me with a paperback of Among the Red Stars in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
When I was offered the chance to review Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz, I jumped at the chance. After reading the great reviews, I knew it was going to be a great book. Luckily, I was not disappointed.
I thought the plot and world building were excellent! The story for Among the Red Stars is mostly told through letters written by Valka, the main character, and her childhood friend, Pasha. Set in Russia during World War II, Pasha was drafted and had no choice but to join, and Valka voluntarily joined because she had been wanting to be a pilot since she was young. The all female bomber regiment isn't taken seriously at first since they are all young and female, but soon enough, it because apparent that these female pilots are the real deal and just as good as their male counterparts. Among the Red Stars is also based in some fact too which made the book that much more interesting. My emotions were all over the place reading this book. I kept on hoping the outcome of the story would be a good one. Among the Red Stars answered all the questions I had, and I would suggest reading the Author's Note at the end of the book because it will give you more insight into the all female Russian bomber regiment. I found it very interesting. The only thing that bothered me was that Valka's parents weren't really mentioned throughout the book. I would have thought that Valka's parents would have written to their daughter during the war. If they didn't want to, it would have been nice to have an explanation as to why they didn't want to write to their daughter. I just found it a bit strange that Valka's parents weren't mentioned at all during the book except for briefly towards the end.
The characters were written very well in Among the Red Stars. It was interesting to learn that many of the characters mentioned in Among the Red Stars were based on actual people who served in World War II. As I've said before, a lot of the story is based on fact which made this book that much more enjoyable. I loved seeing Pasha and Valka grow throughout their letters. I was always hoping they'd be reunited soon because it was obvious how much they really cared about each other. I also loved the relationship between Valka and her cousin Iskra. It was refreshing to read about the love between them. I admired Galya's and Lilya's spirit throughout the war, and I loved how awesome Vera and Tanya were. All the females in Among the Red Stars were amazing, and I admired each and every one of them. I loved the camaraderie between all the girls. I will admit that sometimes it was hard to keep up with who was who during the book due to the Russian names, but I still thoroughly enjoyed every character. If you read the Author's Note at the end of the book, you can learn more about each character that was actually a real person. I loved that Gwen C. Katz added all that information.
The pacing for Among the Red Stars grabs you by the hand and never lets go! Never once did I grow bored of the story. The story never got too fast paced for me where I was confused with what was happening. The pacing was fantastic!
Trigger warnings for Among the Red Stars include violence, death, injuries, war, and sexism.
All in all, Among the Red Stars was a fantastic, thrilling read. I never wanted to put it down. This book had everything from a great group of characters to a fantastic plot. I would definitely recommend Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz to everyone aged 14+. It's such an interesting book as well as an interesting way to learn about a piece of important history.
--
(A special thank you to the author for providing me with a paperback of Among the Red Stars in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
April 15, 2019
Among the Stars is a book about friendship and hardship and struggle and loyalty and love and fighting for what’s right. It’s about three friends who go into a war to make some kind of difference and end up coming out of it very different people. Valka and Iskra are cousins that have a bond like sisters and Valka and Pasha are friends who, through the letters they send to each other slowly turn into something more. And when you are fighting for your lives and for your future, holding onto the relationships from home can be what keeps you going. Let’s get to the review.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Among the Red Stars mainly focuses on the communication between Valka and Pasha. They send each other letters back and forth, sharing the kind of situations they’re in, who they like, who they don’t, and what they’re scared of. Despite no longer being able to see each other, they still maintain their friendship.
Through these letters, we learn about the conditions Pasha’s unit suffers through, the people he meets as they move from one place to another, and the young boy his unit takes on when they find him starving.
We also learn about Valka’s struggles with commanding officers (she has issues with authority. lol same here), worrying about Iskra, and being suspicious about her fellow pilots when Iskra’s secret comes out.
The book switches between Valka and Pasha’s voice as they exchange letters and as you may know, I love when books have different POVs! It helps break up the story and getting to know more than one character is always fun, especially when they are in such an extreme situation like a war. Valka is flying through the skies with Iskra bombing German resources and Pasha is on the front lines.
While Valka and Pasha are the main characters and their relationship is explored for a good portion of the book, my favorite relationship is between Valka and Iskra. The two cousins are more like sisters and I loved their bond. No matter if they were fighting, working together, or laughing with their fellow pilots, you could always tell how strong their connection is. For most of the book, I was worried one of them was going to die!
There is a point where Iskra goes missing and I was in such a panic that she was going to end up dead. There is also a point where Valka gets hurt and my writer brain thought that her dying could be an interesting twist but my reader brain was screaming “Don’t kill my favorite badass pilot!” (Spoiler alert: It turns out fine.)
The only issue I had with the story was how slow it is. This may sound insane since it’s a book about war but the stakes needed to be heightened more and sooner in the story. On one of the last flights, we see Valka and Iskra go on an exciting and nerve-wracking mission but it happens at almost the very end of the book. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure what the story was building up to. It seemed like one small event after the other
Sure, people die but I never got wholly invested in them in order to really feel what I was supposed to be feeling. I was sad and worried about everyone, but I think the book might have worked better if it started at a point where Valka was already in flight training instead of a week or two before that. The pacing just seemed a bit off
That being said, I didn’t want to finish this book. I wanted it to keep going. The moment after turned the last page, I immediately missed the characters and the world the author created. I wanted to be immersed in it all again. I am giving Among the Red Stars 3.5 out of 5 stars. Despite the pacing, I really enjoyed the story and will most likely read it again. Badass women who work together to bomb Nazis? What’s not to like?!
Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz is out now!
Thank you to Gwen C. Katz for the free copy of her book (and the cute bookmark) in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Among the Red Stars mainly focuses on the communication between Valka and Pasha. They send each other letters back and forth, sharing the kind of situations they’re in, who they like, who they don’t, and what they’re scared of. Despite no longer being able to see each other, they still maintain their friendship.
Through these letters, we learn about the conditions Pasha’s unit suffers through, the people he meets as they move from one place to another, and the young boy his unit takes on when they find him starving.
We also learn about Valka’s struggles with commanding officers (she has issues with authority. lol same here), worrying about Iskra, and being suspicious about her fellow pilots when Iskra’s secret comes out.
The book switches between Valka and Pasha’s voice as they exchange letters and as you may know, I love when books have different POVs! It helps break up the story and getting to know more than one character is always fun, especially when they are in such an extreme situation like a war. Valka is flying through the skies with Iskra bombing German resources and Pasha is on the front lines.
While Valka and Pasha are the main characters and their relationship is explored for a good portion of the book, my favorite relationship is between Valka and Iskra. The two cousins are more like sisters and I loved their bond. No matter if they were fighting, working together, or laughing with their fellow pilots, you could always tell how strong their connection is. For most of the book, I was worried one of them was going to die!
There is a point where Iskra goes missing and I was in such a panic that she was going to end up dead. There is also a point where Valka gets hurt and my writer brain thought that her dying could be an interesting twist but my reader brain was screaming “Don’t kill my favorite badass pilot!” (Spoiler alert: It turns out fine.)
The only issue I had with the story was how slow it is. This may sound insane since it’s a book about war but the stakes needed to be heightened more and sooner in the story. On one of the last flights, we see Valka and Iskra go on an exciting and nerve-wracking mission but it happens at almost the very end of the book. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure what the story was building up to. It seemed like one small event after the other
Sure, people die but I never got wholly invested in them in order to really feel what I was supposed to be feeling. I was sad and worried about everyone, but I think the book might have worked better if it started at a point where Valka was already in flight training instead of a week or two before that. The pacing just seemed a bit off
That being said, I didn’t want to finish this book. I wanted it to keep going. The moment after turned the last page, I immediately missed the characters and the world the author created. I wanted to be immersed in it all again. I am giving Among the Red Stars 3.5 out of 5 stars. Despite the pacing, I really enjoyed the story and will most likely read it again. Badass women who work together to bomb Nazis? What’s not to like?!
Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz is out now!
Thank you to Gwen C. Katz for the free copy of her book (and the cute bookmark) in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2024
(Spoilers?...kind of. Just historical background and some facts that some measure of the plot relies on, but nothing that will derail your enjoyment, I think. Still, consider yourself warned.)
I hadn't gone down a proper internet rabbit hole for a few months. And then I read this book, and the prospect of an all-female Soviet pilot squadron that flew in planes made of canvas and wood and was so feared by the Germans that (reportedly) anyone who shot one down was automatically awarded the Iron Cross - that sent me down an extensive one. It was great. On said rabbit hole, I learned that these pilots, the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, were called the 'Night Witches' by the Germans, on account of this tactic: cutting their engines and swooping down with nothing but a faint whoosh, like a witch's broom. This led me to discover that there is a 2014 heavy metal song called "Night Witches" about this very thing, and while it's not really my kind of music, it was kind of cool to recognize all the historical allusions contained therein. (And then I found a balalaika cover of that song...you get the idea. It was a very productive rabbit hole overall.)
Anyway, this book is great. I was very engrossed. The writing is typical for a YA novel, it didn't greatly enhance the book but it certainly didn't detract from it either. Character voice, also fairly typical. The character romance is sweet but not the main focus, or at least, not for the first 3/4. (It comes way more into focus in the end.) The main thing that drove my enjoyment was the fascinating historical context.
I wasn't a huge fan of the heavy narrative reliance on letters that the characters send to each other. I know that letters are a compelling form of narration, especially in a war story, but they tend to disrupt pacing for me. I also just don't love reading pages of italics at a time.
I love how serious the Russians are about nicknames. Each character has at least one and often two. Overall I recommend this one to YA lovers/history buffs.
+3 stars for history
+1 star for cute romance
+1 star for rabbit hole inducement
-0.5 stars for too many letters
4.5 stars
I hadn't gone down a proper internet rabbit hole for a few months. And then I read this book, and the prospect of an all-female Soviet pilot squadron that flew in planes made of canvas and wood and was so feared by the Germans that (reportedly) anyone who shot one down was automatically awarded the Iron Cross - that sent me down an extensive one. It was great. On said rabbit hole, I learned that these pilots, the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, were called the 'Night Witches' by the Germans, on account of this tactic: cutting their engines and swooping down with nothing but a faint whoosh, like a witch's broom. This led me to discover that there is a 2014 heavy metal song called "Night Witches" about this very thing, and while it's not really my kind of music, it was kind of cool to recognize all the historical allusions contained therein. (And then I found a balalaika cover of that song...you get the idea. It was a very productive rabbit hole overall.)
Anyway, this book is great. I was very engrossed. The writing is typical for a YA novel, it didn't greatly enhance the book but it certainly didn't detract from it either. Character voice, also fairly typical. The character romance is sweet but not the main focus, or at least, not for the first 3/4. (It comes way more into focus in the end.) The main thing that drove my enjoyment was the fascinating historical context.
I wasn't a huge fan of the heavy narrative reliance on letters that the characters send to each other. I know that letters are a compelling form of narration, especially in a war story, but they tend to disrupt pacing for me. I also just don't love reading pages of italics at a time.
I love how serious the Russians are about nicknames. Each character has at least one and often two. Overall I recommend this one to YA lovers/history buffs.
+3 stars for history
+1 star for cute romance
+1 star for rabbit hole inducement
-0.5 stars for too many letters
4.5 stars
January 16, 2022
On the surface, this book has all the elements that appeal to me:
🧭 set in Russia
🧭 set in World War II
🧭 "an all-female bomber unit"
But, I don't think it quite delivered. Main characters are fictional while they are in company of real historical people and some historical incidents are fudged to adjust for plot. While protagonist is somewhat likeable, I wasn't particularly drawn to her at all. The book is told from her perspective which are half told in letters (those she wrote to Pasha and those from Pasha to her). I liked that protagonist did take steps to achieve her dreams but that was only at the beginning and I feel that for the rest of the book, things were happening around her and to those around her but not specifically to her until a particular one near the end and then, it's ended.
🧭 set in Russia
🧭 set in World War II
🧭 "an all-female bomber unit"
But, I don't think it quite delivered. Main characters are fictional while they are in company of real historical people and some historical incidents are fudged to adjust for plot. While protagonist is somewhat likeable, I wasn't particularly drawn to her at all. The book is told from her perspective which are half told in letters (those she wrote to Pasha and those from Pasha to her). I liked that protagonist did take steps to achieve her dreams but that was only at the beginning and I feel that for the rest of the book, things were happening around her and to those around her but not specifically to her until a particular one near the end and then, it's ended.
June 6, 2018
Okay, so I don't want to be whiny, but I was actually CRUSHED that this novel was a m/f novel??? Like, there are so few spaces in history that we can point to and say "queer women were there" and so to write a m/f love story in a space where you COULD have centered a f/f love story just felt....wrong? Also, due to the author's twitter presence and the way they rec'd this novel, I thought it would be f/f anyway, so I felt doubly "cheated". (I'm using that word w apostrophe's bc I don't want to imply there was any malintent. I just...thought I was getting a queer code name verity).
September 7, 2018
I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. It's based on a true story about Russian WWII female pilots called Night Witches. The three main characters and their plot is fictional, but the supporting cast are all real people. I had never read a WWII novel told from a Russian POV so I found that really interesting. It's hard to say why I didn't like it more. I just found it easy to put down and get distracted.
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