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TWYLA BOOK REVIEWS

Twyla & the Warbirds: Family Lost is one of those books that quietly wraps around you and doesn’t let go. What starts as a story about grief and survival grows into something much bigger—courage, friendship, and a rare kind of strength that sticks with you long after the last page.

Twyla loses her family in a terrible plane accident when she’s just a child. That kind of trauma could easily break someone, but Bellen paints her not as a victim, but as a girl determined to carve a different path. A neighbor boy teaches her how to fly, and from there, her love of the skies becomes the heart of her journey.

The sections set in Honolulu, right before the attack on Pearl Harbor, are some of the most vivid and tense I’ve read in a long time. Twyla isn’t just there—she’s in the air when everything unravels. Somehow, Bellen balances historical fact with deeply personal moments, making it feel less like a war novel and more like a human story that just happens to take place during a war.

What really makes this book stand out is how it celebrates the lesser-known efforts of female pilots in World War II. Twyla finds herself with the W.A.S.P. program—ferrying fighter planes and defying expectations at every turn. These chapters aren’t just exciting; they’re eye-opening. You feel the constant pushback the women face, and yet their determination shines.

I also loved Marina, the Russian pilot Twyla meets during her time in Alaska. She’s bold, dry-humored, and exactly the kind of character who lingers in your memory. Their friendship gives the book a real heartbeat—it’s not just about war or flying, but about the connections that keep us going when everything else feels lost.

Without giving too much away, the final stretch of the book takes a sharp turn that I wasn’t expecting. Twyla’s journey across continents, and what happens when she ends up on the Eastern Front, is harrowing and fast-paced, yet still grounded in character. You’re not just following action—you’re hoping right along with her.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction that focuses on real, flawed, brave people—especially women whose stories deserve more space—this book is absolutely worth your time. It doesn’t glamorize war, but it doesn’t lean into despair either. It walks that fine line where history meets heart, and it does it beautifully.

Twyla & the Warbirds is a powerful reminder of how many stories still haven’t been fully told. I’m glad this one was.

A.   Paige Turner

Twyla & the Warbirds is a series that deserves a spot on the shelf of anyone who loves emotionally resonant historical fiction with a strong female lead and an edge of aerial adventure. Bellen crafts a tale that is both intimate and grand in scale with just the right balance of grit and grace.

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✨Twyla and the Warbirds ✨

Wow! I was genuinely unsure of what to expect from this as it’s not my usual genre but I enjoyed it so much!

This is a bold WWII adventure following Twyla who is an orphan that rises to become a fearless female pilot. The flying scenes are intense and exciting and Twyla’s journey is emotional and inspiring.

It truly is a moving tribute to the forgotten women of war. A solid pick if you’re into underdog stories and strong female leads.

strawberrysunlit

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“This is my country, a poorly shuffled deck of cards … but it is my deck of cards … slipped between the pages of my history book.”

— Twyla & The Warbirds: Family Found (Book 2)

Continuing from the cliffhanger that ended the first book, book 2 of the series sees the titular character thrown into the chaos of World War II on the Russian front. Desperately homesick and grieving over her lost love and old friends, Twyla bravely soldiers on in unprecedented circumstances and becomes the kind of war hero she reveres others for being.

Two prominent threads found throughout the story are legacy and grief. How can Twyla live up to the legacy her father and her late husband left behind and how will she make her own? How can she muddle through the grief of her life when she is surrounded daily by new losses?

Now that I’m finished the series, I’d say my favorite characters other than Twyla are Cornelia and Lily — they manage to stand out in a large cast of characters.

This might be your next read if:

 🍓 You enjoy action sequences

 🍓 You want to explore themes of grief and wartime survival

 🍓 You’re interested in reading about WWII from a Russian perspective

Thanks again to T.W. Bellen for a copy of this book!

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• This is Book 2 in the series, do check my earlier post #twylawarbirdsbook1 for Book 1's review.

Twyla & the Warbirds - Family Found follows Twyla’s journey on the Eastern Front of WWII. This was my first time reading about the Eastern Front, and I was fascinated by the vivid details. Twyla must constantly adapt in order to survive. I felt every bit of Twyla’s turmoil as her life spiralled out of control under the unpredictable nature of war zones.

 My favourite part of the book was Twyla’s powerful transition from ferry pilot to combat pilot. I also enjoyed reading about the bonds between the characters, which beautifully highlights that family isn’t always blood related. Just like in Book I, we come across many likeable characters whom we quickly grow fond of.

I was especially looking forward to the exploration of Twyla's ancestral heritage, and I wasn’t disappointed. This installment addressed every question I had from Book I.

The combat-heavy story moves at a fast pace that keeps the reader hooked throughout. Twyla and the Warbird Family Found is packed with action, love, loss, and sacrifice. The storyline flows so seamlessly that it blurs the line between fact and fiction. The author’s vivid writing transports you straight into the cockpits of the combat pilots.

The ending is both wholesome and emotive. “This deeply moving book leaves a lasting impact, showing how people in war-torn nations placed their country above all. It is also intriguing to reflect on how the dynamics of international politics have shifted since WWII.

Risha Nautiyal wrote:

  This is a story about a little girl who dreamt impossible at a time when thinking about joining airforce as a woman was considered a taboo.

A little girl who had been through a lot since she was a kid ,losing both parents, being left with a aunt who didn’t care about her well-being,being molested;Twyla had gone through everything which could have broken anyone,let alone a 9 year old little girl.

 Until one day, when she met Llewellyn(Lewis) ,who gave her hope that her dream may come true & practically saved her from her cunning relatives !🫶🏻

Twyla’s dream came true when she joined W.A.S.P.(Women’s Air Service Pilots ) programme & met aspiring aviatrixes .

 However,soon they realised that the roles are still not equal for males and females & it will be a long way down the road..

 Twyla’s suffering did not stop even after getting closer to her dream, but yet she found a bit of comfort in suffering along with the other badass female fighters..✈️✈️✈️

If you love the books which inspires you,when you leave your dream thinking it’s impossible - This one is for you..😇

I like the stories which inspire you to do better ,not only for you but for rest of the world too..And in a time where people mock the gender disparity,such kind of stories show how far we have come in bridging that gap & how far we have to go..

I read this book at a snail’s pace ; as the words/phrases related to aviation were pretty new to me & I tried to catch as much as I could..hence it took some time to complete it.☺️

Now, gearing up for Book 2 of the series : TWYLA & the WARBIRDS Family Found❤️