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Eugene Yelchin
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Breaking Stalin's Nose: (Newbery Honor Book) Paperback – Illustrated, October 15, 2013

by Eugene Yelchin (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 591 ratings
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A Newbery Honor Book.

Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six:
The Young Pioneer is devoted to Comrade Stalin, the Communist Party, and Communism.
A Young Pioneer is a reliable comrade and always acts according to conscience.
A Young Pioneer has a right to criticize shortcomings.
But now that it is finally time to join the Young Pioneers, the day Sasha has awaited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's glasses with a snowball. He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway. And worst of all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested just last night.

Eugene Yelchin's moving story of a ten-year-old boy's world shattering is masterful in its simplicity, powerful in its message, and heartbreaking in its plausibility.

Breaking Stalin's Nose is one of Horn Book's Best Fiction Books of 2011

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 11 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    176 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Lexile measure
    670L
  6. Dimensions
    5.54 x 0.44 x 7.04 inches
  7. Publication date
    October 15, 2013
  8. ISBN-10
    1250034108
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1250034106
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“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

“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.” ―School Library Journal

About the Author

Eugene Yelchin is the author and illustrator of The Haunting of Falcon House, Arcady's Goal,and the Newbery Honor Book Breaking Stalin's Nose. He has also illustrated several books for children, including Crybaby, Who Ate All the Cookie Dough?, and Won Ton. He lives in California with his wife and children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish; Illustrated edition (October 15, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250034108
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250034106
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 670L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.54 x 0.44 x 7.04 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 591 ratings

About the author

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Eugene Yelchin

Eugene Yelchin

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Eugene Yelchin is a Russian-American artist best known as an illustrator and writer of books for children and young adults. Yelchin is a National Book Award finalist for The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge co-authored with M. T. Anderson and the recipient of Newbery Honor for Breaking Stalin’s Nose. He received Golden Kite Award for The Haunting of Falcon House, Crystal Kite Award for illustrating Won Ton, National Jewish Book Award for illustrating The Rooster Prince of Breslov, and SCBWI Tomie DePaola Award. Visit him at eugeneyelchinbooks.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
591 global ratings
It drew me in; well written.
5 Stars
It drew me in; well written.
Guessing my read was easily under 2 hours today; but each time I needed to set it down, I was hoping to be able to quickly pick it up again to discover what would happen next.The well written story drew this age 40’s reader in; I don’t think that my school age kids will want to put it down either. I anticipate great conversations over the main character’s thoughts about his world & the circumstances that he experiences.I plan to offer this book to our school’s administrator as a suggestion for our student’s summer reading list.
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Top reviews from the United States

Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars A rather grim tale, but very worthwhile reading
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
Our hero, Sasha, is a ten year old in Stalin's Moscow. His father is a highly praised officer in the secret police and Sasha is about to become a Young Pioneer. But then it all goes wrong.

The book provides a grim and historically accurate view of Soviet Russia during the Great Terror. Through the description of life in Sasha's apartment and in the interactions at his school we see the mixed harshness and optimism of everyday life. We also see the complex clouds of betrayal and complicity as people work to survive. Everyone is tainted. The school children are expected to denounce one another and are threatened with retribution if they fail to report an "enemy". Sasha tries to hang back, but even he allows others to take the blame for his mistakes. There are also unexpected brighter spots: at least two adults try to non-obviously provide Sasha with help, while overtly appearing callous.

I'm not sure how many of the murky betrayals (and redemptions) the average 10-12 year old reader is likely to catch. Perhaps not all of them, but probably enough to be somewhat disturbed and unsure. That was certainly the effect on me! This may well be the author's intent, as a way of communicating the uncertainty and doubt of the era. It is certainly a book which requires thought rather than simply passive reading.

The narrative flows well: swift, fluid, cleverly descriptive and very readable.

Overall this book may require a little adult guidance and interpretation, but it seems like a very useful introduction to some of the harshness of 20th century history. Both individuals and countries can sometimes go off the rails, without there being any easy solution, and that is a useful thing to understand.
3 people found this helpful
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Martha W.
5.0 out of 5 stars life in Russia under Stalin, for kids, teens and adults
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2021
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I bought this book for myself as an adult after seeing it reviewed for use with kids and teens. A Newberry winner, It's a fictional story that tells a lot about life under Stalin, written by a Russian-American who lived under Communism in Russia, though not specifically under Stalin in the 1930's, when this story takes place. Although the intended audience is 4th-7th grade, and the reading level is appropriate for students in this age range, it also could work well for older students up through 12th grade. The book shows what it was like under Stalin, with people spying on each other and reporting each other, and the secret police system operated in partnership with Stalin's paranoia. The main character is believable and relatable, a boy who starts out as a strong believer in Stalin and in Communism, who within 24 hours discovered reasons to change his mind. This could spark good discussions about living in totalitarian societies and how they operate today, and discussions about the Constitutional protections we have in the U.S. It is an easy read, with its 176 pages including numerous illustrations, but not at all babyish, and could be a good introduction into this subject for any high school student. The story is entertaining and told with humor despite the serious topics it addresses. I see from the reviews that many think this is fine for 8-year-olds even - and perhaps for some, it is. The caution I would give is that the story may be too dark for some younger children. There are hints in the story that the mother had previously been executed as a spy - though the boy continues to believe she died of illness in a hospital. And the father, an officer in the secret police who is arrested, is probably never coming home - may have been executed - though the boy initially believes that it is only a mistake and Stalin will take care of this once he learns of the error. The boy, in the end, is befriended by a woman whose son has been arrested, and she has room in her heart and her home to take in this boy who is now a homeless orphan - though it is never confirmed as to whether the father is in prison or has perhaps been executed already. The author does not describe any torture or executions, and the hints the books gives may be clearer to adults than to children. Still - some younger children may find it sad, though it seems fine for middle school and high school. It does give insight into how totalitarian societies function, and what it is like when everyone worships a dictator, when everyone spies on everyone, and when there are no Constitutional protections as we have in the US.
16 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is a marvel, clearly outlining from a child's point of view the propaganda machine of Stalin's reign - and its infecting of all life in the USSR. The lies, the paranoia, the fear, the treachery - it's all there. The artwork is perfect for the tenor of the book, as powerful as the wonderfully written text. Sentences are the short, naive, and honest musings of a young boy enamored of Stalin, as he is faced with truth of Stalin's communist rule.

The sole criticism I would have is that reader is a bit short-changed in that he never reads of what should be the boy's rightful rage at (1) what happens to his father, (2) what has happened to his mother, and (3) the injustice of his becoming a victim himself.

With it all, I highly recommend the book.
2 people found this helpful
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J. Alexander
5.0 out of 5 stars A child's struggle under an authoritarian government
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
I used the book, "Breaking Stalin's Nose," in my classroom of 7th graders for years. It is a Newberry Honor Award Winner, among other noted awards. The author, Eugene Yelchin, having grown up in Russia, offers a stark insight to the world of the Russian children and families when ruled by Joseph Stalin from 1923 - 1953. As Yelchin explains, Stalin "executed, imprisoned, or exiled over twenty million people," mostly in secrecy. In these days and times, it is more important than ever to keep a watchful eye on American independence! Because of the war in Ukraine, I would advise reading it prior to sharing it with your children. The book may be somewhat difficult to find but very much worth the effort.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Derek Snider
5.0 out of 5 stars Acting packed exiting storyline! It is very surprising and exiting. It it not boring at all.
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
I did not dislike anything except that it should be longer for the awesomeness.
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Julia Gutierrez
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente compra y muy práctica
Reviewed in Mexico on October 8, 2018
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Fue muy sencillo hacer la compra y descargar el libro. En las as librerías de la CDMX no lo tenía y tardaba mas de una semana en hacerlo llegar.
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Michael J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very vivid, a sort of equivalent to 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch' for children
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Written and illustrated by a survivor of the later Russian communist regime, the author produces a sort of equivalent to 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch' for children. I suppose any child from about eight upwards would be able to read it, but an adult may be required to explain the odd part. Not all parts of the narrative flow so well, the dream is a little disjointed and may confuse someone not reading carefully. A very vivid account, full of scenes from someone who really knew what it was like to share one small toilet per 48 people, and live in fear of informers all the time.
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Lou
5.0 out of 5 stars Living in the Soviet Union, as seen by a 10 year old
Reviewed in France on February 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a masterful story for readers of all ages because it packs a punch in every page. It's short and easy to read but it's also very powerful. Through a child's innocent eyes you see what it was like to live in the Soviet Union when Stalin was the leader. 24 hours in the life of a future then ex-future pioneer leader... A great novel to learn about the period, before more mature reads such as "between shades of gray" (Ce qu'ils n'ont pu nous prendre) or "Child 44" (Enfant 44).
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Baku
5.0 out of 5 stars rare book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
I always wanted to introduce my children to the history of Soviet Union in engaging and entertaining way. This book gave me this opportunity. The story is told by the young boy who experienced Stalin purges. Despite quite a grim subject the book is full of humour and easy read. The author shows how ridiculous and absurb the whole political system was. My daughter couldn't believe that people reported on their neighbours to NKVD only to recieve their room in the communal flats when the neighbour were arrested.
It is the first time when I came across the book of this kind. Suitable from 8+
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