It’s 1939 and Kristina and her twin brother Leopold have just completed their basic pilot training only 3 months shy of their 19th birthday. The Polish Airforce send Kristina her call up letter first. Leopold is mortified and jealous, but Kristina knows underneath his bluster he is proud of her.

Still working from the same base, Leopold meets up with his sister at the end of every day at dinner, catching up on what’s been happening as the German airforce step up their reconnaissance across the Polish border.

Then suddenly it happens. On 1st September 1939, Germany invades Poland. Leopold is now on active duty and soon the twins’ world is to change forever.

Attack. Gunfire. Resistance. Flight. Kristina is in the air in her beloved plane, but it is a liason, courier plane, without any way for her to protect herself. Exhausted, she lands far from the base, facing yet another threat.

It is still at the end of a gun, but the one brandishing it is a boy stowaway, determined to get to family far from Poland. Working together, they plot their way to freedom, with one pistol, some stolen money and threadbare hopes. Kristina has stolen her plane after all and should be following air force directives…

A novel written for dyslexic or reluctant readers by a Carnegie Medal shortlisted author. White Eagles is a gripping snapshot into the Polish side of the conflict as it is assaulted by German forces. Then as the Polish try to flee, Russians invade from the east.

Female pilots were few in the 1st World War but as character Kristina portrays, women pilots were invaluable.

Targeted at teens due to gun violence.

Author – Elizabeth Wein

Age – Reading Age 8 / Interest Age Teen (Dyslexic Read)

Read the first Chapter here

(2019, Allen & Unwin, Dyslexic Read, Reluctant Readers, WWII, World War 2, Poland, Airforce, Planes, Stowaway, Twins, Loss, Grief, Murder, War, Action, Historical, Family, Brother, Conflict, Courage)