Breaking Stalin's Nose

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yelchin, Eugene (2011). Breaking Stalin’s nose. Illus. by Eugene Yelchin. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9780805092165

PLOT SUMMARY

In this historical fiction novel, Eugene Yelchin writes the story of ten year old Sasha Zaichik. The story takes place under communism in Russia. Sasha has praised and believed the best communist of all, his dad, all his life. But suddenly, everything he believed in has changed and finds himself cornered.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Yelchin writes this amazing historical fiction novel about a ten year old boy named Sasha Zaichik

living under communist rule in Russia. This heartbreaking novel has descriptive details and emotions

that make you feel the raw emotion that Sasha went through. Yelchin allows us to get a frightening

glimpse of what life was really like living under communist rule. Yelchin’s illustrations are dark,

gloomy, and in a way reminding you of how everyone was brainwashed including himself. To my

surprise at the end of the story, Yelchin was describing his life in Russia growing up. I highly

recommend this novel full of cliffhangers, you won’t want to put this book down.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Mr. Yelchin has compressed into two days of events an entire epoch, giving young readers a glimpse

of the precariousness of life in a capricious yet ever-watchful totalitarian state.” 

– Wall Street Journal

“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.”

– Publishers Weekly

“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, starred review

“Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story

of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin.” 

– School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS

“A miracle of brevity, this affecting novel zeroes in on two days and one boy to personalize

Stalin's killing machine of the '30s. . . . Black-and-white drawings march across the pages to juxtapose

hope and fear, truth and tyranny, small moments and historical forces, innocence and evil. This

Newbery Honor book offers timeless lessons about dictatorship, disillusionment and personal choice.” 

– San Francisco Chronicle

I recommend this excellent historical novel for 12 year olds and older.

AWARDS

• Newbery Honor Book

• The Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year

• ALA Notable Children's Book

• Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction Book for Youth

• Horn Book Best Children's Book of the Year