Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein

Title: Black Dove, White Raven
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Source: ALA MW

Summary from Goodreads:

Emilia and Teo's lives changed in a fiery, terrifying instant when a bird strike brought down the plane their stunt pilot mothers were flying. Teo's mother died immediately, but Em's survived, determined to raise Teo according to his late mother's wishes-in a place where he won't be discriminated against because of the color of his skin. But in 1930s America, a white woman raising a black adoptive son alongside a white daughter is too often seen as a threat.

Seeking a home where her children won't be held back by ethnicity or gender, Rhoda brings Em and Teo to Ethiopia, and all three fall in love with the beautiful, peaceful country. But that peace is shattered by the threat of war with Italy, and teenage Em and Teo are drawn into the conflict. Will their devotion to their country, its culture and people, and each other be their downfall or their salvation?

In the tradition of her award-winning and bestselling Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein brings us another thrilling and deeply affecting novel that explores the bonds of friendship, the resilience of young pilots, and the strength of the human spirit.

Review

Black Dove, White Raven was a change of pace from Wein's two previous novels, but I found it to be just as impactful, in its own way.

BDWR is the story of Em and Teo and their adventures together. They are inseparable because their mothers were inseparable, until a freak plane crash took Teo's mother, Delia, from them all. After Em's mother, Rhoda, pieces herself back together, she moves Em and Teo to Ethiopia, the birthplace of Teo's father and a place where her children can live free of judgment according to Delia's dream. But what should have been a simple but peaceful life ends up anything but when Italy decides to invade and the country is thrown into war.

BDWR is one of those books that sneaks up on you. What started as the musings of two children, telling their story by way of entries in their school theme books, ends up as a fight for survival, with the story continued through entries in their flight logs. The seriousness of this story escalates with every page. I was charmed in the beginning, because of the innocence with which this story read, but was beyond moved in the end due to the many acts of love, friendship, selflessness, bravery - you name it. Just like with both of Wein's previous novels, I shed tears for these characters and what they had to endure, some of which I never saw coming and completely broke my heart.

Em and Teo are going to stay with me for a long time, for who they are as individuals and as a team. They were good and true and loyal and they deserved the world. I loved how they drew strength from their alter egos, Black Dove and White Raven, when their world started crumbling around them. I loved how they put each other first, stood by one another, and knew exactly what the other was thinking. I loved their determination to stay together, driven by shear force of will. Everything about them warmed my heart.

Part of the what got my attention while reading this book is that it was historical fiction unlike any I have ever read. I know next to nothing about Ethiopia or its history so almost everything in this book was new to me. It was eye-opening, to say the least.

Oh, and did I mention that Wein's writing is beautiful? Well you may have gathered that already...

I will forever and always recommend Elizabeth Wein's books. Every single one has left a mark on me. Her stories are relevant. Her words are powerful. Her characters are inspiring. Bottom line, she is brilliant. 

ARC REVIEW #167: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Title: Rose Under Fire

Author: Elizabeth Wein

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: September 10, 2013

Pages: 368, Hardcover
Source: ARC obtained at BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that’s in store for her?

Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.

"KITE-FLYING (by Rose Justice)

Hope has no feathers.

Hope takes flight

Tethered with twine

like a tattered kite,

slave to the wind's

capricious drift,

eager to soar

but needing lift.

Hope waits stubbornly,

watching the sky

for turmoil, feeding on

things that fly:

crows, ashes, newspapers,

dry leaves in flight

all suggest wind

that could lift a kite.

Hope sails and plunges,

firmly caught

at the end of her string - 

fallen slack, pulling taught,

 ragged and featherless.

Hope never flies

but doggedly watches

for windy skies."

How do you begin to write a review for a book that has left such a lasting impression on your heart? Some reading experiences are so profound that you literally cannot string together words well enough to explain it. Rose Under Fire is one of the most moving books I have ever read in my life. It might be the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. 

I thought Code Name Verity was a powerful book, but this book touched me far more. Code Name Verity was a beautiful story of friendship. A story of loyalty to one's country. A story of strength. But as sad as it was, it did not break my heart in the same way as this one did. And I think I feel this way because, to me, Rose Under Fire was so much more horrifying and on such a greater scale. Even knowing Rose's fate from the beginning did not make it any easier to read because it is the fate of all those others that stays with me.

I know this book was only fiction, but it is based on events that really happened. Rose, Roza, Lisette, Elodie, Karolina, Irina - they may only be characters in a book, but once upon a time there were real people like them that had to suffer the conditions that they did. And some who had to suffer much much worse. And that fact fills me with such despair I cannot even begin to put it into words. I feel a huge weight on my heart for all of those souls. 

And at the same time, I am in such awe of these girls, of anyone who has ever had to endure such devastating circumstances. The strength that these women displayed. The friendship and compassion towards each other. The small acts of rebellion. What an inspiration they are. What a demonstration of survival. 

Elizabeth Wein's writing is as wonderful as always. Somehow she manages to tell a story that in one sense is so vicious and in another sense is so virtuous. She writes in a way that allows readers to absorb the details without being too overwhelmed by the truth. She doesn't have to spell everything out. We know that which is left unsaid. And this way, we can appreciate the good in the story, without being inundated by the bad. 

I genuinely believe that Rose Under Fire is a gift that Elizabeth Wein has bestowed upon us. This story is such a testament to what human beings are capable of, both good and evil. It is a tragically beautiful story of a time in our history that we can never forget. I loved it with every fiber of my being.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Egmont Press
Release Date: February 6th 2012
Pages: Paperback, 452 pages
Format: Audiobook

Summary from Goodreads:
I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again.

He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Before I have things thrown at me for my 3 star rating, I am in no way saying this was a bad book. It just was not for me. I knew going into it that Code Name Verity was going to be out of my comfort zone but I heard such great things about it that I felt like I had to give it a try.

Why it was not for me: Historical fictions in general are not usually my thing; I have a tendency to lean more towards paranormal/dystopian books. Code Name Verity started off quite slow and at points I felt like I had to really focus on the story or else my mind would wander. While it did pick up later, I wish there was a bit more action in the beginning. Not that is was a big deal because sometimes it is refreshing, but there was no romance in the story, no love story.

What I did enjoy: The strong sense of friendship between Maddie and Queenie. When the narration switched, the story quickly improved and picked up in pace. Even though the narrators did not alternate, I did enjoy the fact that there were two narrators. I also LOVED that the story was about strong females and their duties during the war; it is not a perspective we usually get. The ending hurt my heart yet it was full of love and tough decisions in a time of war.

Overall, it was a 3 star read; I thought the story was written beautifully but started off too slow for my liking. Code Name Verity is a blend of friendship, survival, war told from the perspectives of two best friends. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a more serious read or if you are interested in a historical fiction story with strong female characters.