Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Night Witches by Kathryn Lasky - ESSENTIAL

Lasky, Kathryn Night Witches: a novel of World War II, 224 pages.  Scholastic, MARCH 2017.  Language: G; Mature Content: PG (some very mild racy talk); Violence: PG (war deaths).

Valya, 16, desperately wants to help protect her city of Stalingrad during the attempted Nazi invasion of World War II, by joining her sister Tatyana as a Night Witch – a female U2 pilot. Working tirelessly to take out Nazi searchlights and other targets.  Even should she find her way to the Night Witches, she will still need to prove her abilities and survive each deadly bombing run.

Lasky has illuminated another little-known side of the World War II story – this time bringing a human side to Russians as they provided the second front against the Nazis.  This book is much more accessible than M. T. Anderson’s Symphony for the City of the Dead.  While the title may evoke thoughts of magic, this is purely based in the real world.  I can’t wait to share this with many students.  The only question I have is “What happened to Yuri?!”

MS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

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