Coming of Age inside the Well of a T-34

(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review through Goodreads' First Reads program.)

Roughly 800,000 women served in the Soviet Armed Forces during World War II (also known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War): as pilots, snipers, machine gunners, tank crew members, and partisans. Of these, a quarter were decorated, and 89 received the highest honor, the Hero of the Soviet Union.

A number of children also fought in the war. Prior to WWII, the age of conscription for men was 19; just before the war began, it was lowered to 17. Teenagers and children fought in insurrections, belonged to youth movements, and in some cases, orphans were allowed join the Red Army in an official capacity. (See e.g.)

In the graphic novel series Katusha: Girl Soldier of the Great Patriotic War, Wayne Vansant shines a light on these lesser-known aspects of World War II.

Refugees from their native country of Ukraine, Book 2: The Shaking of the Earth sees Katusha and her adopted older sister Milla ("Big and Little Tymoshenko") arrive in Russia just in time for the bombing of Stalingrad on August 23, 1942. The young women quickly graduate from partisans to militia members, as they're recruited to defend the women and children still remaining in the city. In an attempt to keep them safe (wherein "safe" is a relative term), their father later arranges for them to attend tank driving school in Chelyabinsk. After several months of study, they're sent to the front lines to fight with the Red Army, where Milla earns the honor of Hero of the Soviet Union for her bravery at the Battle of Prokhorovka in July 1943.

Katusha is just seventeen years old at the outset of Book 2; she celebrates her 18th birthday on the battlefield. Katusha is a coming of age story that takes place under the harshest conditions imaginable. Along with her budding feelings for an older officer, Katusha must come to grips with the violence, loss, and deprivations that are part of everyday life during wartime.

The middle of three installments, I'm having a difficult time rating Book 2: I entered to win copies of Books 1 and 2 through Goodreads, but only scored Book 2. And I'm not sure I enjoyed the story enough to purchase Book 1 on my own (or at least not at the current prices). While the war stories are easy enough to follow, I feel like I'm missing quite a bit of background information on the characters, especially Katusha and Milla, and their time in Ukraine prior to the beginning on WWII. (Um, Milla is sleeping with her uncle? I know she's adopted, but still!) If you're interested in the series, definitely read them in sequence from the beginning!

That said, the artwork is above par and the storytelling, engaging. There's quite a bit of discussion about weaponry (particularly tanks) and battle strategy, which makes sense, but mostly bored me to tears. Vansant touches upon the female experience during wartime, though not in the detail I'd hoped. Milla's backstory is especially engaging; I'd love for Vansant to delve into collectivization in Ukraine further. I was surprised to see so many families serving together (e.g., Katusha, Milla, and their Uncle Taras).

Katusha and Milla elect to fight as Russians in the "Patriotic War" in the hope that they may someday return home to their native Ukraine - making the series title somewhat ironic. Should they find their way back in Book 3, it will only be at a great cost.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2014/04/30/katusha-book-2-by-wayne-vansant/ ( )