Breaking Stalin's Nose

Ok. I'm not going to lie. For a kid's book this is some dark shit. Maybe not for someone from another country but for me it was. It definitely opened my eyes to what life was like under Stalin in the Soviet Union and the people's mentality. It was fanatical, full of fear and paranoia, and oppressive......more

I thought this was amazing. I could really feel the place, it was eerie. The illustrations matched the mood entirely. This was a very thoughtful work. The story was NOT run-of-the-mill. Very original and fast-paced. This book is sophisticated enough for adults, and simple enough for children (who ar......more

Stalin döneminde yaşananları bir çocuğun gözlerinden anlatan kısa ve çok çarpıcı bir kitap. Ve bu bir çocuk kitabı, yetişkinler için yazılsa ortaya nasıl bir şey çıkarmış düşünmek istemiyorum. Kitabın sonunda yazarla yapılan bir röportaj var, yazma sürecinde duygusal olarak çok zorlandığını belirtiy......more

Absolutely haunting. It’s intense to be in the mind of a child who idolizes Stalin and one event awakens him to the reality of what’s happening around him.......more

Yelchin's debut novel examines life in Stalinist Russia through the eyes of Sasha, a young boy who idolizes Stalin. He believes the lies and half truths he has been told and rationalizes anomalies that don't fit his vision of Stalin's glorious leadership until the night before he is to join the Youn......more