Year group
Year 7 to Year 9 (one use of offensive language)

Perfect for...
A whole class text to read and discuss together.

Publisher
Barrington Stoke

Why this book?
The conflict in Ukraine has brought war into our homes through news reports and social media platforms. These reports have both horrified and captivated, with stories of loss and courage which have provoked intrigue at the stoicism of everyday people, prepared to take up arms and defend their country. Having recently visited Estonia, a country that was under Soviet rule until 1991, recent events made its history all the more of interest, especially our tour guides’ mention of being part of the Estonian Defence League, evoking similarities with the Ukrainian populations’ protection of its country. So it was that I read Firebird with a new perspective, having originally been drawn to it as a story with a strong female lead. This aspect of the short novel is very much central to its narrative and the main characters’ relationships are well written, running through the story to its unexpected ending, but the historical details are all the more pertinent to read in today’s present circumstances.

Published by Barrington Stoke in a dyslexia friendly font, it is suitable for pupils with a reading age of 8 and aimed at an interest age of ‘teen’. It is therefore easy for struggling readers to access and provides interest and discussion for a wider range of pupils.

About the author
Elizabeth E. Wein is an American-born writer best known for her young adult historical fiction. She has a passion for planes and possesses a private pilot licence which she received in 2003. It is her love of flying that partly inspired her books with pilot lead characters, such as Firebird and Code Name Verity. 

Synopsis
Firebird is set at the start of WWII as Germany invades Russia, and the first person narrative comes from Nastia, the teenage daughter of revolutionaries and a female instructor at the Leningrad Youth Aeroclub. The story follows Nastia as she battles to be allowed to fly in the war, her friendship with the female Chief at the Aeroclub. During their discussions, Nastia (and the reader) start to question her parents’ involvement in the demise of Czar Nicholas II, and his family.

Whilst this is a fictional story, there are historical details woven into the tale which provoke comparisons with events we have seen in recent news reports; the narrative is from a Russian point of view but these comparisons could provide opportunities for discussion around the ethics of warfare, propaganda and the perspectives of differing sides in a conflict, further research into WW2 and the attitudes to the female characters’ jobs in what would have been a mainly male dominated profession.

Style
This is a first person narrative, written from teenage Nastia’s point of view as a young Russian flight instructor. We learn of her patriotism and loyalty to her country and parents, and join her as she develops a sense of questioning of what she has been told and believed as she grew up. It is an easy read in terms of the language used, but presents opportunities for discussions around historical representations and ethics.

Themes
This book deals with the ethics of war, gender stereotyping and equality. It is a coming of age story and considers friendship and loyalty set in a historical context.