Breaking Stalin's Nose
Author: Eugene Yelchin
Publisher : Henry Holt and Co., 2011
ISBN: 978-0805092165
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 9 - 12 years
4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁
Why 4 Roars? I think an adult might need
to explain some of the details to a reader between the ages of nine and twelve
years old. A great deal of reading between the lines is necessary to fully
understand the whole of the story.
There is such an underlying gloom of political
fear that I wonder if some readers will be able to grasp all of it. The majority
of the themes are aimed at an adult understanding of the political climate that
occurred during this time period. That might make it difficult for readers without
contextual support.
Main Characters: Sasha Zaichik and his father, a good Communist
who works for the State Security (secret police).
Plot: Sasha, a ten-year-old boy, is committed to Stalin and
is eager to become a Young Pioneer. His father works for the State Security and
is a hero in Sasha’s eyes. His American mother has died mysteriously. His
father is arrested, and a confused Sasha is left to wonder what happened. Even though his relatives refuse to take him
in, he continues to attend school. He accidently breaks off the nose of the
school's sculpture of Stalin and Sasha realizes that he does not want to be a Young
Pioneer.
Setting: Soviet Russia during the Cold War period.
Theme: The book is written from a child's point of view. The
protagonist goes through a touching major shift in viewpoint and a life
changing predicament when his father is arrested. His mother has died
mysteriously and the events surrounding him are very in keeping with a child
living in a tyrannical society.
There is a lot of secrecy and disappointment that
creates a feeling of disenchantment for the reader during the course of the story.
The humor is overshadowed by grief and deep loss. Sasha’s understanding of the
world is dimly lit by the oppressive shadow of communism.
After taking small bites of a carrot to make it last longer,
Sasha feels sorry for children in capitalist’s countries. “I wonder what it’s
like in the capitalist’s countries. I wouldn’t be surprised if children there
had never even tasted a carrot,“ he ponders.
Style: The author's drawings are interesting and adds a good
bit to the storyline. The book is a quick read with short chapters, but especially
descriptive.
The ending is left open and does not happily wrap up the problems.
The ending gives the reader a great deal to ponder or discuss, which could be frustrating
or great for allowing readers to make their own predictions.
Additional Criteria:
I did not get a great deal of historical detail in the book,
due to its brevity. I thought it focused on principles and personal choice more so than historical facts. However, the accuracy is based on the author’s own
personal experience of the Russian communist establishment.
~~Kirkus Reviews
“ This brief novel gets at the heart of a society that asks its citizens, even its children, to report on relatives and friends. Appropriately menacing illustrations by first-time novelist Yelchin add a sinister tone.”
~~ The Horn Book
Awards: A Newbery Honor Book, Washington Post Best
Children's Book of the Year
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