Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

STATELESS is another excellent piece of historical fiction written by Elizabeth Wein; some of her other titles include Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, and Black Dove White Raven. She sets her latest novel in August 1937 where a dozen young adults are promoting peace by participating in an air race with separate legs between a variety of European cities like Salisbury, Brussels, Hamburg, Venice, and Paris. Initially, all of those characters (and their planes) need an introduction, but Wein swiftly concentrates the action around Stella North, who represents the UK, Tony Roberts, who represents France, and Sebastian Rainer, a Luftwaffe pilot flying for Germany. They have to learn to trust each other when another competitor disappears (possibly murdered) and it seems that someone involved with the race is now targeting them. The race itself moves the story along, of course, but there is much more exciting action and danger in this historically accurate mystery. Be sure to read the author’s note where Wein not only explains the title and some of her sources, but also draws parallels to today’s issues, especially the situation in Ukraine. STATELESS is highly recommended and received a starred review from School Library Journal.