White Eagles and Firebird

by Elizabeth Wein, Rachael Beresford (Reader)

White Eagles : Summer 1939. With Europe on the brink of war, 18-year-old Kristina Tomiak has been called up to join the White Eagles, Poland's valiant air force. When the Nazis reach the town where she is based, Kristina makes a daring escape, but she doesn't realise that she's carrying a stowaway in her plane. Will Kristina be able to navigate the most challenging flight of her life and reach safety amid the turmoil of war? Firebird : Nastia is no traitor. She is a fearless pilot, the daughter of revolutionaries, and now, as the Second World War descends on Russia, she must fight to defend the glorious Motherland. But all is not as it seems and when the battles begin, secrets are revealed and everything that Nastia once knew is challenged.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Aviation, Historical, Fiction

Audio CD

Published January 15, 2021

About the author

TIME magazine has put Code Name Verity on its list of "100 Best YA books of All Time."

O.o

https://time.com/collection/100-best-...

Reviews

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was born in a nation at war. I grew up in the shadow of war. And, like everyone else my own age, I had been waiting all my life for "the future war". [Firebird]

Two short novels written for less-confident readers, featuring young female pilots in the Second World War: I listened to the audiobook, read clearly and evocatively by Rachael Beresford.

In White Eagles, 18-year old Kristina Tomiak is called up to join the Polish air force -- the White Eagles. Her twin brother Leopold is envious that his call-up papers haven't arrived. A damaged plane lands at the airfield, reporting an encounter with the Luftwaffe: the pilot is injured, the passenger is dead. Kristina needs to get precious information to Lvov -- and it's the end of August, 1939.

The rest of the story deals with Kristina's escape from the Nazis and flight across Europe, accompanied only an unexpected stowaway who's determined to get to England. It's an exciting and inspiring tale, told in the third person, with lots of grounding details (a pilot charging across a bed of marigolds to get to his plane; a friendly mechanic who's happy to be paid in Hannukah chocolate and apples) and all the peril, violence and terror that goes with the territory.  I enjoyed this, but loved Firebird more.

Firebird, set in 1941-42, begins with young fighter pilot Nastia (short for Anastasia: 'Naystia', not 'Nastier') defending herself to a tribunal: 'I am no traitor'. She's a loyal citizen of the Soviet Union, a true revolutionary: her father was involved in the execution of the Romanovs, and her mother was a spy. Now, as the Second World War descends on Russia, she must fight to defend the glorious Motherland. But all is not as it seems and when the battles begin, secrets are revealed and everything that Nastia once knew is challenged.

Despite having more flight experience than anyone else in her cohort, she's relegated to training pilots while the lads go off to the front line. But the Chief -- the only other woman instructor at the Leningrad Youth Aero Club, 'an abrasive, loud woman with bleached blonde hair... and a face that was always heavy with powder and lipstick' -- points out that new pilots must be trained. When they finally go to war, it's the Chief who inspires Nastia, and the Chief who Nastia follows in a desperate air battle. And when the Chief parachutes from her damaged plane, Nastia makes the decision that brings her in front of that tribunal.

The twist in this story delighted me: I've just listened to the final few chapters again. It's cleverly foreshadowed and thoroughly pleasing (and, as Wein acknowledges in her afterword, historically implausible). Nastia's first-person narrative, coloured with all the emotions of wartime, felt really immediate and compelling.

There's a third book in the 'War Birds' series, The Last Hawk, which I hope to be able to read soon. Though the novellas in this series were written for younger, less confident readers, Wein pulls no punches: there is brutality, assault and peril. And, alongside those, there is a strong sense of hope, pride and joy.

[TwoDrinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tried to read this twice as wasn’t fussed on the narrator’s take on one of the voices. Enjoyed the contrasting view points. Would recommend to teens doing WW2 as think it gives another view to help themmsee another side.

[JoLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This bind-up consists of two stories by Elizabeth Wein. White Eagles is about a Polish pilot and Firebird is about a Russian pilot. Elizabeth Wein writes a very niche genre--early aviators (primarily female)--and she does it so well.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 stars - White Eagles
2.5 - Firebird

2 quick easy war stories that were good and dealt with some important topics

[Raz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complete review available: White Eagles and Firebird

It was really interesting to learn about the war and politics from a non-British perspective, and actually, I'd have liked more from both of the stories. There was much potential and I don't think it was all totally explored.