Despite having read several novels by Elizabeth Wein, none have lived up to the standard of "Code Name Verity". "Firebird" was about a young female Russian pilot during WWII and, although it was a quick read, it was not engaging.

"Firebird" was supposedly written for reluctant readers but I still think it was too short and lacked depth. It was hard to like any of the characters and there was minimal action except near the end.

Overall, I found this novel to be a disappointing read and one I don't think the target audience will find interesting. ( )

This young adult novella offers a fascinating glimpse into the experiences of Russian women during WWII. When Russia joins the war, Nastia Nabokova, an instructor at the Leningrad Youth Aeroclub, is determined to sign up to fight -- and fly.

I liked how Nastia learns more about the enigmatic Chief Flight Instructor, the only other woman working at the aeroclub and an old friend of Nastia’s parents. I’m not so sure about the framing narrative -- Nastia is writing to explain why she violated orders by landing behind enemy lines. Although I am convinced that Nastia is not a traitor, I’m not convinced that a Russian wartime tribunal would accept her defence. But perhaps that uncertainty is fitting. This is a short book but it’s not a simple one. Part of its complexity is because Nastia is either naively unaware of problems with her culture’s ideology, or else astutely realises that she can’t let any hint of criticism enter her account. Or maybe the truth lies somewhere between the two.

When the Civil War was over, my father became a curator at the Alexander Palace Museum -- the very place where the Czar and his family had lived before the Revolution.
He would tell me, “It’s important to remember the history of the old nation while making a new one, my Nastia. That’s why you’re named Anastasia -- meaning rebirth. An old name for a new generation.” ( )