A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II

by Elizabeth Wein

Overview

Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist!

The gripping true story of the only women to fly in combat in World War II—from Elizabeth Wein, award-winning author of Code Name Verity

In the early years of World War II, Josef Stalin issued an order that made the Soviet Union the first country in the world to allow female pilots to fly in combat. Led by Marina Raskova, these three regiments, including the 588th Night Bomber Regiment—nicknamed the “night witches”—faced intense pressure and obstacles both in the sky and on the ground. Some of these young women perished in flames. Many of them were in their teens when they went to war.

This is the story of Raskova’s three regiments, women who enlisted and were deployed on the front lines of battle as navigators, pilots, and mechanics. It is the story of a thousand young women who wanted to take flight to defend their country, and the woman who brought them together in the sky.

Packed with black-and-white photographs, fascinating sidebars, and thoroughly researched details, A Thousand Sisters is the inspiring true story of a group of women who set out to change the world, and the sisterhood they formed even amid the destruction of war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062453044
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	11/21/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	362
Sales rank:	586,988
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth Wein is the holder of a private pilot’s license and the owner of about a thousand maps. She is best known for her historical fiction about young women flying in World War II, including the New York Times bestselling Code Name Verity and Rose under Fire. Elizabeth is also the author of Cobalt Squadron, a middle grade novel set in the Star Wars universe and connected to the 2017 release The Last Jedi. Elizabeth lives in Scotland and holds both British and American citizenship. Visit her online at www.elizabethwein.com.

<strong>Elizabeth Wein</strong> is the holder of a private pilot’s license and the owner of about a thousand maps. She is best known for her historical fiction about young women flying in World War II, including the New York Times bestselling Code Name Verity and Rose under Fire. Elizabeth is also the author of Cobalt Squadron, a middle grade novel set in the Star Wars universe and connected to the 2017 release The Last Jedi. Elizabeth lives in Scotland and holds both British and American citizenship. Visit her online at www.elizabethwein.com.

Editorial Reviews

In A Thousand Sisters, Wein has finally written the nonfiction narrative that seems to have been living inside her. Young adult readers are going to appreciate it: a powerful tale about real women who waged war against the Nazis, and won.…Wein hasn't just brought a lost generation of airwomen back to life. A Thousand Sisters should inspire a new generation of young girls—and boys, too. This story proves what every child should know: A woman can do anything.

The New York Times Book Review - Keith O'Brien

11/19/2018
In this engrossing account, Wein (The Pearl Thief) introduces three Soviet regiments of female combat pilots during WWII. The chapters cover the ambitions, training, daily life, horrors, and successes of the “thousand sisters” who volunteered to join their commander, Marina Raskova, for this perilous work. The opening sections about Raskova’s rise to prominence are particularly well-written and include helpful background on the Soviet Union’s formation, Stalin, and the 1930s, as well as the 1938 flight of the Rodina, which made Raskova a household name. Once the regiments disperse to separate locations, each with a different mission and type of aircraft, the narrative becomes trickier to manage. Wein successfully reminds readers of locations and who’s who, but some of the later chapters suffer from name overload. Still, readers will be impressed by her clear, casual style and her affecting introduction to these courageous, determined pilots, mechanics, and navigators. Insets provide information on side subjects, such as radar vs. radio and female pilots in the U.S. and Britain. Abundant archival photos, a bibliography, and source notes support the story. Ages 13–up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

A masterful writer of fiction turns her powers to nonfiction (that alone is cause for celebration) to tell us an action-packed World War II story, full of thrills and tragedy, over-the-top heroism and tiny details that make her scenes and people come to life.” — Steve Sheinkin, author of Bomb and Undefeated

“What a writer! And an historian, too! Told through the superbly researched, powerful and poignant stories of the women involved, Elizabeth Wein gives due to the Soviet Union’s valiant women flyers of World War II.” — Candace Fleming, award-winning author of The Family Romanov

“A powerful tale…. This story proves what every child should know: A woman can do anything.” — New York Times Book Review

“A richly detailed work of nonfiction.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“[A] complex and inspiring story...This important book soars.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Wein relates episodes of daring, heroism, and tragedy that fully match male-centric war stories but also acknowledges that there were gender-related tensions to be overcome regarding competitive flyboys and skeptical commanders.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Exceptionally well researched …  [and] packed with lively detail.” — ALA Booklist

“[An] affecting introduction to these courageous, determined pilots, mechanics, and navigators.” — Publishers Weekly

“An easy, friendly writing style — deceptive, given the acuity of Wein’s perceptions and the extent of the material she manages — invites readers into the company of a formidable sisterhood.” — Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

Exceptionally well researched …  [and] packed with lively detail.

ALA Booklist

An easy, friendly writing style — deceptive, given the acuity of Wein’s perceptions and the extent of the material she manages — invites readers into the company of a formidable sisterhood.

Horn Book Magazine

A powerful tale…. This story proves what every child should know: A woman can do anything.

New York Times Book Review

A masterful writer of fiction turns her powers to nonfiction (that alone is cause for celebration) to tell us an action-packed World War II story, full of thrills and tragedy, over-the-top heroism and tiny details that make her scenes and people come to life.

Steve Sheinkin

What a writer! And an historian, too! Told through the superbly researched, powerful and poignant stories of the women involved, Elizabeth Wein gives due to the Soviet Union’s valiant women flyers of World War II.

Candace Fleming

Wein relates episodes of daring, heroism, and tragedy that fully match male-centric war stories but also acknowledges that there were gender-related tensions to be overcome regarding competitive flyboys and skeptical commanders.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Wein relates episodes of daring, heroism, and tragedy that fully match male-centric war stories but also acknowledges that there were gender-related tensions to be overcome regarding competitive flyboys and skeptical commanders.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Wein relates episodes of daring, heroism, and tragedy that fully match male-centric war stories but also acknowledges that there were gender-related tensions to be overcome regarding competitive flyboys and skeptical commanders.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

12/01/2018
Gr 9 Up—From Wein, author of Code Name Verity, comes a nonfiction account of the women pilots of the Soviet Union. Starting prior to World War II, Wein describes how aviation became a hobby and passion for many young women in the Soviet Union. When World War II started, life under the Soviet system meant women could serve as pilots, theoretically equal to men, in the war effort. Wein provides a meticulously detailed account of Marina Raskova's Aviation Regiments: the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, the 587th Bomber Aviation Regiment, and the 588th Night Bomber Aviation Regiment. These three were largely staffed with women volunteers and fought on the frontlines of the war. The author provides an intimate look at the pilots' lives, both personal and military, as they work to defeat the Nazis. Likewise, Wein does not shy away from describing the difficult and often terrifying aspects of living under Stalin, including descriptions of man-made famines and the Great Purge. Some readers may have difficulty keeping track of all of the figures, but Raskova often acts as an anchor to assist readers in following the numerous and complex accounts. VERDICT Recommend this richly detailed work of nonfiction to fans of Monica Hesse and Wein's historical fiction.—Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

School Library Journal

Amy Landon’s low, slightly smoky voice delivers the true story of young women in Stalinist Russia who were trained as pilots yet denied their place at the front as WWII broke out. Landon’s slightly breathy narration, marked by an attention to pacing and careful enunciation, allows listeners to follow the difficult Russian names and places, as well as the missions of the women pilots who were the heart of Marina Roskova’s air regiments. The emotion Landon gives to their many losses changes as their piloting performance slowly improves, causing the Germans to dub them “the Night Witches” for their unceasing nighttime raids. Wein’s account of their unacknowledged but important contribution to war, a departure from her earlier titles (CODE NAME VERITY), deserves a wide audience. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile

Amy Landon’s low, slightly smoky voice delivers the true story of young women in Stalinist Russia who were trained as pilots yet denied their place at the front as WWII broke out. Landon’s slightly breathy narration, marked by an attention to pacing and careful enunciation, allows listeners to follow the difficult Russian names and places, as well as the missions of the women pilots who were the heart of Marina Roskova’s air regiments. The emotion Landon gives to their many losses changes as their piloting performance slowly improves, causing the Germans to dub them “the Night Witches” for their unceasing nighttime raids. Wein’s account of their unacknowledged but important contribution to war, a departure from her earlier titles (CODE NAME VERITY), deserves a wide audience. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile

2018-10-23

In her first work of nonfiction for teens, Wein (The Last Jedi, 2017, etc.) details the complex and inspiring story of the only women combat pilots of World War II.

The "Great Patriotic War" was already under way by the time Marina Raskova—a famous, record-breaking pilot—convinced the Soviet Union to create women's air regiments. Using photographs and primary source quotations, Wein brings these regiments of young women to life, tracing their harrowing experiences before, during, and after the war. A detailed overview of the Russian political and social landscape in the first half of the 20th century is interwoven throughout the narrative, contextualizing the Soviet Union's involvement in World War II. Wein thoughtfully addresses her readers' contemporary understanding of identity politics, acknowledging the homogeneity of her white (despite the ethnic diversity of the USSR), straight subjects and the ways that Soviet ideologies about gender align with or differ from the expectations of contemporary American readers. The Soviet women's experiences are placed in context through comparisons with the roles of women pilots in the Royal Air Force and the United States military. Vivid descriptions of their personal sacrifices and the deep bonds they formed connect readers to the story. Careful footnotes provide information about unfamiliar vocabulary, and pagelong sidebars round out the history with tangential but fascinating facts.

For readers invested in military and/or feminist history, this important book soars. (source notes, bibliography) (History. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews