Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose
By Eugene Yelchin

Maybe the Soviet Union sounds like ancient history to you...but I studied this country and the Russian language all through middle and high school--and college--and it wasn't all that long ago that the giant Soviet Union collapsed!

The brutal dictator Joseph Stalin was before my time--he ruled Russia from 1923 to 1953, but his iron fist and reign of terror had an enduring impact and instilled fear in the Soviet citizens for years and years.

Breaking Stalin's Nose is an illustrated novel and a fascinating account of 2 days in the life of 10-year-old Sasha, a passionate Communist excited to join the Young Pioneers and uphold the dreams of Communism.

Unfortunately his dreams are shattered when his father, who works in the State Security, is arrested and the awful truth of Stalin's power is revealed to poor Sasha.


Another book about Communism and the Soviet Union I read and wrote about in this blog is Laika, a graphic novel about the Soviet space program, a little dog, and the government's hiding of the truth.

Watsons go to Birmingham--1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
By Christopher Paul Curtis

I had long heard about this book--how funny it is, how important, how well-written...I was not disappointed!

The Watson family is so lovable, especially 10-year-old Kenny, who is constantly trying to understand the crazy behavior of his teenage "juvenile delinquent" brother, Byron.

At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the Watson family takes a road trip to Birmingham, Alabama (from Flint, Michigan) to leave Byron with his strict grandma for the summer.

Their visit coincides with the horrific (and real) bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, where four African American girls are killed during Sunday school.

This unforgivable event alters the Watson family dynamic...and the course of American history.

Hold Fast

Hold Fast
By Blue Balliett

A great mystery to kick off the summer vacation! Set in wintery Chicago, this story poetically chronicles the search for a missing dad by a determined daughter, her 4-year-old brother, and her distressed mother.

While trying to prove her father's innocence, Early Pearl (11 years old) uncovers a bizarre book-and-library-related crime and experiences the hardship of life in a homeless shelter.

This book came in our school's Junior Library Guild subscription box, and was an intriguing read!

I've heard great things about Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer and look forward to reading that one soon...