A THOUSAND SISTERS The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II

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 [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]