Reviews
Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life., Newbery Honor-winner Yelchin provides another glimpse into Soviet life, once again with a young boy as the main character . . . It is the emotional power of the tale that captures the reader's heart., Praise for Breaking Stalin's Nose : "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." - The Wall Street Journal "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 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha's whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." - BCCB "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's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale." - Kirkus Reviews "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin." - SLJ, As with Yelchin's Breaking Stalin's Nose , the subtext of this deceptively simple work challenges readers to look beyond the characters' situation and consider the historical implications of their dilemmas., Praise for Arcady's Goal :"Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." - Kirkus Reviews Praise for Breaking Stalin's Nose : "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." - The Wall Street Journal "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 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha's whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." - BCCB "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's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale." - Kirkus Reviews "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin." - SLJ, Praise for Arcady's Goal :"Newbery Honor-winner Yelchin provides another glimpse into Soviet life, once again with a young boy as the main character . . . It is the emotional power of the tale that captures the reader's heart." - The Horn Book "Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life." - Booklist "Yelchin's b&w drawings, interspersed throughout the text as both spots and spreads, add emotional depth and amplify the plot; ample soccer detail makes this a winner for fans of the sport." - Publishers Weekly "Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." - Kirkus Reviews Praise for Breaking Stalin's Nose : "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." - The Wall Street Journal "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 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha's whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." - BCCB "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's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale." - Kirkus Reviews "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin." - SLJ, Praise for Arcady's Goal :"As with Yelchin's Breaking Stalin's Nose , the subtext of this deceptively simple work challenges readers to look beyond the characters' situation and consider the historical implications of their dilemmas." - BCCB "Newbery Honor-winner Yelchin provides another glimpse into Soviet life, once again with a young boy as the main character . . . It is the emotional power of the tale that captures the reader's heart." - The Horn Book "Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life." - Booklist "Yelchin's b&w drawings, interspersed throughout the text as both spots and spreads, add emotional depth and amplify the plot; ample soccer detail makes this a winner for fans of the sport." - Publishers Weekly "Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." - Kirkus Reviews Praise for Breaking Stalin's Nose : "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." - The Wall Street Journal "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 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha's whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." - BCCB "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's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale." - Kirkus Reviews "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin." - SLJ, "Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." - Kirkus Reviews, "As with Yelchin's Breaking Stalin's Nose , the subtext of this deceptively simple work challenges readers to look beyond the characters' situation and consider the historical implications of their dilemmas." - BCCB, Yelchin's b&w drawings, interspersed throughout the text as both spots and spreads, add emotional depth and amplify the plot; ample soccer detail makes this a winner for fans of the sport., Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor., "As with Yelchin's Breaking Stalin's Nose , the subtext of this deceptively simple work challenges readers to look beyond the characters' situation and consider the historical implications of their dilemmas." -- BCCB "Newbery Honor-winner Yelchin provides another glimpse into Soviet life, once again with a young boy as the main character . . . It is the emotional power of the tale that captures the reader's heart." -- The Horn Book "Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life." -- Booklist "Yelchin's b&w drawings, interspersed throughout the text as both spots and spreads, add emotional depth and amplify the plot; ample soccer detail makes this a winner for fans of the sport." -- Publishers Weekly "Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." -- Kirkus Reviews, "Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life." - Booklist, "Yelchin's b&w drawings, interspersed throughout the text as both spots and spreads, add emotional depth and amplify the plot; ample soccer detail makes this a winner for fans of the sport." - Publishers Weekly, Praise for Arcady's Goal :"Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life." - Booklist "Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." - Kirkus Reviews Praise for Breaking Stalin's Nose : "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." - The Wall Street Journal "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 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha's whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." - BCCB "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's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale." - Kirkus Reviews "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin." - SLJ, Praise for Arcady's Goal :"Yelchin follows up his Newbery Honor Book, Breaking Stalin's Nose , with another novel set in Soviet Russia . . . this swiftly moving, lucid novel tells an affecting tale, illustrated with often chilling drawings of Soviet life." - Booklist "Yelchin's b&w drawings, interspersed throughout the text as both spots and spreads, add emotional depth and amplify the plot; ample soccer detail makes this a winner for fans of the sport." - Publishers Weekly "Two survivors of Stalinist oppression attempt to form a family in this companion to the 2012 Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose . . . An uplifting, believable ending makes this companion lighter - but no less affecting - than its laurelled predecessor." - Kirkus Reviews Praise for Breaking Stalin's Nose : "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." - The Wall Street Journal "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 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha's whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." - BCCB "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's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale." - Kirkus Reviews "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin." - SLJ, "Newbery Honor-winner Yelchin provides another glimpse into Soviet life, once again with a young boy as the main character . . . It is the emotional power of the tale that captures the reader's heart." - The Horn Book
