*Shortlisted

Review by Max, Didsbury High School, Manchester
This book is about how a female in pre-stages before WW2 attending as a British representative in a race in the sky. The name of our protagonist is Northie. Northie is challenged on surviving and making it through the race without getting killed or sabotaged, with everyone not wanting to go back into the trenches of WW1 where only the dead have seen the end war. Each person is either hiding a secret or is a cold-hearted murderer.

In my opinion this book is very fun to read. Every time I read it, I felt as if I were in the same position in the same plane.

The plot was every easy to understand and was at the exact pace it should be at, and everything was very clear.

I would recommend his book to people who enjoy planes are with the idea with woman’s rights this book is a one of a kind and no other can explain how self-fish people can be just to win.

5 stars

Review by Stella, Fortismere School, Muswell Hill, London
I really enjoyed this book! It was set during a very interesting time in history, with a great setup to see viewpoints of different people from different countries about war. I loved the character of Stella, as she felt very realistic, but also very empowering. I also liked Tony because there was a good complexity to his character, which reflected the time period. I think it was interesting because lots of books are set during the war, but this was before it which was a new spin on this time period. The characters all being pilots was very interesting too, as they were all different nationalities, and it felt very realistic to what people felt at that time. I loved how there were so many twists and also political problems which made you think about what life was like, especially for Germans that didn't follow Hitler, or people without a strong nationality. It also had a murder plot which added to the drama as well as romantic tension building up throughout. I would strongly recommend this book.

Review by Faraz, Claremont High School, Harrow, Middlesex
Stateless by Elizabeth Wein unfolds against the backdrop of a post WWII Europe with Stella North at the heart of the narrative, competing in a race around the world. However, Stella’s first flight is marked by the horrifying sight of a crash: from this, a story following Stella’s journey of determination, grappling with past trauma whilst navigating through a world of reconstruction takes flight. 

Throughout the novel, one of the characters who stood out to me the most was Sister Pia. Why? It was her unwavering resilience and compassion which made her one of my favourite characters. You see, despite being a Polish refugee, Sister Pia remained steadfast in her commitment to rebuilding her life and helping other. Reading through her perspiration gave me a truly inspiring example of how strong the human spirit is. 

I would highly recommend Stateless to other readers since it offers a compelling glimpse of a lesser-known period of time whilst still exploring themes of mystery, friendship and resilience. The journeys that all the characters embark on and both exhilarating and inspiring, leaving the reader engaged in every page they read. 

In conclusion, Stateless is a thought provoking and captivating story, which offers a fresh perspective on history, still gripping on to the key elements of a great encapsulating story, which I wholeheartedly believe every child and adult should read.