2017 SerendipiTEA Tour: AMONG THE RED STARS by Gwen C. Katz

Friday, April 7, 2017


Hey everyone! I'm super excited to be participating in the 2017 SerendipiTEA tour and highlighting Among the Red Stars! If you're new here you might be unaware, but this is one of my most anticipated books of 2017. Definitely go google the Night Witches if you don't know about them and then come back and yearn for this book with me. It's gonna be so awesome.

About the Book:


Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

World War Two has shattered Valka’s homeland of Russia, and Valka is determined to help the effort. She knows her skills as a pilot rival the best of the men, so when an all-female aviation group forms, Valka is the first to sign up.

Flying has always meant freedom and exhilaration for Valka, but dropping bombs on German soldiers from a fragile canvas biplane is no joyride. The war is taking its toll on everyone, including the boy Valka grew up with, who is fighting for his life on the front lines. 

As the war intensifies and those around her fall, Valka must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend the skies she once called home.

Inspired by the true story of the airwomen the Nazis called Night Witches, Gwen C. Katz weaves a tale of strength and sacrifice, learning to fight for yourself, and the perils of a world at war.

Buy Links:


About the Author:


Gwen C. Katz is a writer, artist, and retired mad scientist who lives in Altadena, California with her husband and a revolving door of transient mammals.

Links:


About the Tea:

Russians love tea and have their own particular way of enjoying it. Water is boiled in a samovar, a large container heated by coals, and mixed with a strong tea concentrate. It is usually served in glasses, not cups. 

Indian black tea, especially Assam, is the most popular, and in the Soviet era, it was the only tea available. At a time when an entire apartment building might have to share one kitchen, many Russians had to do all their cooking over a kerosene Primus stove, the same kind you might take camping. 

During World War II, while the American army was powered by coffee, the Russian army was powered by tea—when they could get it. As a pilot, Valka receives the best food and supplies. Her childhood friend Pasha, in the infantry, is not so lucky. A Russian soldier's ration of coarse loose-leaf black tea could only be distinguished from their tobacco ration by tasting it. In the field, they prepared their tea however they could, sometimes using an empty rations can as a cup when nothing else was available.

My own tea preferences mostly gravitate to the herbal, but for this tour, my tea selection is Sessa Estates Winey Assam black tea. Whether you prepare it in a silver samovar in a palace, over a Primus stove in a collective kitchen, or in an rations can over a campfire, I hope you'll enjoy it. 

Giveaway:


This is a picture of Gwen's contribution to the prizes! It's listed under the Black Tea Package on the last page!

Nobody enter because I want to win it.


Tour Schedule:


April 1st--The Regal Critiques: JM Sullivan with THE WANDERLAND CHRONICLES

April 2nd--Ohana Reads: Leah Henderson with ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL

April 3rd--YA and Wine: KM Robinson with GOLDEN

April 4th--The YA Book TravelerF.M. Boughan with CINDERELLA NECROMANCER

April 5th--YA Wednesdays: Linsey Miller with A MASK OF SHADOWS

April 6th--Bibliobibuli YA: Leslie Hauser with CHASING EVELINE

April 7th--Rattle the Pages: Gwen C. Katz with AMONG THE RED STARS

April 8th--No Post

April 9th--Pirates and Pixie Dust: Amber Duell with FRAGILE CHAOS

April 10th--lollipopsbooks: Abby J. Reed with WHEN PLANETS FALL

April 11th--SimplyAllyTea: Carrie Ann DiRisio with BROODING YA'S HERO GUIDE

April 12--Bookish Fan Girl: Amanda Hanson with SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

April 13th--For the Sake of Reading: Rosalyn Eves with BLOOD ROSE REBELLION

April 14th--Redd's Reads: Meg Eden with POST HIGH-SCHOOL REALITY QUEST

April 15th--Tales of the Ravenous Reader: Kristin L. Gray with VILONIA BEEBE TAKES CHARGE

April 16th--Little Red Bookshelf: Chelsea Sedoti with THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT

April 17th--Emily Reads Everything: Shaila Patel with SOULMATED

Are you as excited for this book as I am? Are you a tea person? How fun is this tour?

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