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Book Reviews of Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose
Breaking Stalin's Nose
Author: Eugene Yelchin
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ISBN-13: 9780805092165
ISBN-10: 0805092161
Publication Date: 9/27/2011
Pages: 160
Edition: First Edition
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Rating:
  • Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
 6

4.6 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

3 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

AlamoLiz avatar reviewed Breaking Stalin's Nose on + 94 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
As I started to read this book to see if I wanted to include it in our elementary library's collection, I did not expect to get caught up in its story. But I did! I read the book in one sitting, and I decided that this was a significant enough book that I would read it aloud to our 8 classes of 4th and 5th graders, whom had just read about Joseph Stalin during their history classes.

After reading chapters 1 - 5 aloud to the first group, I asked what they though about the story so far. One boy said, "I want to break THOSE guys' noses for taking the dad!" A girl immediately responded, "My heart is racing around in my chest!" Other groups of students have responded similarly. We have not completed the read-aloud yet, but I think this story will speak to these children long after history review questions have been written and graded --- and tossed or lost.
smith-jones avatar reviewed Breaking Stalin's Nose on + 47 more book reviews
This isn't a long and complicated story about the origins of conmunism, it's a story narrated from the point of view of a very young boy whose view of the society he lives in change as a result of loss of his parents and a series of unfortunate events that force him to revise the way he views a regime he swears to protect and love.

The story doesn't even provide a proper end but I didn't mind it at all. The open end of the plot invokes a family or group read discussion with the reader about what would happen to young Sasha and his beliefs in a society that he loves and trusts, the communist one.

The graphite illustrations are beautifully done and I commend the author for this, his first book.
reviewed Breaking Stalin's Nose on
It is a fairly sad story, but really makes you appreciate living in the United States.