BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. BREAKING STALIN’S NOSE. New York. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-0-8050-9216-5.
PLOT SUMMARY
Sasha Zaichick, a 10- year-old boy who grew up under Stalin rule and raised by his widowed father, shares one apartment with 48 other people. His father served the communist party as a state security and Sasha aspired to be like him by joining the young pioneers. One night, his father is arrested and he is left all alone. At school the next day, he accidentally breaks the nose off of the school’s Stalin statue and in fear of not becoming a young pioneer he debates whether to say the truth or suffer the consequences of those who destroy state property. Upon learning the reason for his mother’s death and realizing his father is not coming back, he is recruited to serve the communist party but is left with hard choices to make as he was a target at school and his views on meeting Stalin completely changed.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The characters in the historical fiction story are very realistic and relatable to our times. The setting is vividly explained, giving the reader great detail to be able to visualize it from the crowded apartment to the lonely city he walks through and the school where he is left to make difficult moral decisions. The graphite on paper used in the illustrations helps the reader better understand their living situation, school, and the respect they had for Stalin. The theme of father son relationship is present and upfront and personal as we see Sasha look up to his hero only to find out disheartening truths, yet chooses to see his father over becoming a young pioneer. The author’s note at the end gives the story authenticity as he gives his own experience of state security and how it was a terrifying experience and historical facts to the Stalin regime.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)/AWARDS
ALA Notable CHildren’s Books, 2012
Booklist, 07/01/12
Horn Book Magazine, 04/01/12
Horn Book Magazine starred, 09/01/11
Kirkus Reviews, 08/01/11
Library Media Connection, 01/01/12
Newbery Honor, 2012
Publishers Weekly, 08/01/11
School Library Journal, 11/01/12
“Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2012): “ Although the story takes place over just two days, it is well paced, peeling off the layers of Sasha’s naivety. Appropriately menacing illustrations add a sinister tone.”
Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2011): “A story just as relevant in our world, “where innocent people face persecution and death for making a choice about what they believe to be right,” as that of Yelchin’s childhood.”
Publisher’s Weekly (August 1,2011): “Picture book author/illustrator Yelchin makes an impressive middle-grade debut with this compact novel about a devoted young Communist in Stalin-era Russia, illustrated with dramatically lit spot art.”
CONNECTIONS
This historical picture book is perfect for middle school students. This book gives a great opportunity for students to research further into communism and soviet union history. This may be new information to the reader and looking further into this using, for example, the history channel webpage would definitely help them find facts on history.
Looking up maps of European regions at the time may be very helpful, so students are aware of what part of the world they are looking into.
Other Historical Fiction Books:
Kiely, Maria. WHICH WAY IS HOME? ISBN 978-0-525-54680-4
Curtis, Christopher Paul. BUD, NOT BUDDY. ISBN 978-0-440-41328-8
Taylor, Mildred D. ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY. ISBN 978-0-14-038451-2
No comments:
Post a Comment