Kristina Anderson
A Sister’s Courage by Molly Green has Lorraine “Raine” Linfoot determined to be a pilot from the age of fourteen. In February of 1939, Raine learns that her father is unable to pay for lessons and her mother forbids her from taking them. Raine hangs around the aerodrome in Biggin Hill where she makes the acquaintance of Doug Williams who helps her get a job and teaches her to fly. Raine gets her pilot’s license just before war is declared. When the Air Transport Auxiliary opens their ranks to women, Raine is thrilled to apply. Raine gets accepted and is happy ferrying planes around England. She writes to Doug regularly who is in the RAF and is devastated when his plane goes down. Doug is declared missing presumed dead. Her mother has never accepted Raine’s position as a pilot and will do what she can to get Raine to give up the dangerous and unfeminine occupation. After a time, Raine begins dating Alec Marshall, a pilot. She fears, though, that what happened to Doug could happen to Alec. Life is difficult during the war, but they must push forward if they are to survive and win. A Sister’s Courage is the first book in The Victory Sisters series. Raine, Suzanne and Ronnie Linfoot are three close sisters with a kind, accountant father and a controlling French mother. Raine is an independent, stubborn woman who knows what she wants to do with her life. I enjoyed reading about Raine’s flying experiences before and during the war. I like that the author included Pauline Gower who was a woman ahead of her time. There is some background on Pauline and the ATA included at the beginning of the book in case you are unfamiliar with the pilot or the organization. I thought A Sister’s Courage was easy to read, but the pacing varied. I found the middle of the book to be slow. Raine is a strong female character who desired to be a pilot and did what was needed to achieve her goal. I like that she stood up for herself (most of the time). Raine’s immaturity especially when dealing with her mother went with her young age. Of course, Raine’s mother was a difficult, manipulative woman. The two of them butted heads because they had similar stubborn natures. Simone, the mother, was an unlikeable character (a turn off). I enjoyed the beginning of A Sister’s Courage when it dealt with Raine becoming a pilot and joining the ATA. However, the book then became more of a romance instead of a story about a female pilot in the ATA. I wanted less romance and more high-flying adventures. A Sister’s Courage has a proud pilot, a monster of a mother, romantic relationships, and a wicked war.
