Nadia of the Night Witches

Rating:
Summary: Of historical interest for young readers
Review: "Nadia of the Night Witches" deserves recognition for bringing the wartime deeds of Soviet teenagers to Western children. The book is simply written, but does not sanitize the horror of war. Based very loosely on the factual 588th Women's Regiment of Light Night-Bombers (46th Taman' Guards), it tells the story of an orphaned girl driven by hatred and revenge, who ultimately, under the most trying circumstances, comes to know love and compassion. Although there are some glaring discrepancies-- particularly regarding the combat capabilities of the Po-2 biplane --the author has done some admirable research for the story. The existence of the "night witches", so-named by the Nazi troops they terrorized, is little-known in the West. The tragedy and courage of ordinary Russian citizens during the Great Patriotic War (World War ll) deserves to be remembered. For further reading, young people will also surely enjoy "Night Witches" by Bruce Myles (which is based on actual interviews with surviving veterans of the women's aviation regiments of night-bombers, dive-bombers, and fighters). Teenagers will also find inspiring the memoirs of the Russian girl-partisan Ina Konstantinova, translated by Kazimiera J. Cottam in her book "Defending Leningrad". For readers of all ages, fascinating translated memoirs of the real "night witches" and other Soviet combat pilots can be found in Cottam's book "Women in Air War -- The Eastern Front of World War ll".

Rating:
Summary: Of historical interest for young readers
Review: "Nadia of the Night Witches" deserves recognition for bringing the wartime deeds of Soviet teenagers to Western children. The book is simply written, but does not sanitize the horror of war. Based very loosely on the factual 588th Women's Regiment of Light Night-Bombers (46th Taman' Guards), it tells the story of an orphaned girl driven by hatred and revenge, who ultimately, under the most trying circumstances, comes to know love and compassion. Although there are some glaring discrepancies-- particularly regarding the combat capabilities of the Po-2 biplane --the author has done some admirable research for the story. The existence of the "night witches", so-named by the Nazi troops they terrorized, is little-known in the West. The tragedy and courage of ordinary Russian citizens during the Great Patriotic War (World War ll) deserves to be remembered. For further reading, young people will also surely enjoy "Night Witches" by Bruce Myles (which is based on actual interviews with surviving veterans of the women's aviation regiments of night-bombers, dive-bombers, and fighters). Teenagers will also find inspiring the memoirs of the Russian girl-partisan Ina Konstantinova, translated by Kazimiera J. Cottam in her book "Defending Leningrad". For readers of all ages, fascinating translated memoirs of the real "night witches" and other Soviet combat pilots can be found in Cottam's book "Women in Air War -- The Eastern Front of World War ll".