Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Bibliography: Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. Breaking Stalin's nose. New York: Henry Holt.

ISBN: 9780805092165

Plot Summary: Breaking Stalin’s Nose is presented from the point-of-view of Sasha Zaichik, a ten-year-old Russian boy living in Russia under the Communist rule of Joseph Stalin. Sasha dreams of joining the Young Soviet Pioneers, as he believed it was “the most important step in becoming a real Communist.” One night his father, a well-respected hero working for the State Security, is abruptly arrested for reasons that are unknown to Sasha and his world begins to fall apart. This is the heartbreaking story of a boy on a mission to become a man that is proud of his nation, but is left conflicted when his mistake causes misguided fear and accusations that later affect innocent, undeserving victims, creating dissonance within his once clear and strong beliefs.

Critical Analysis: The main character of Sasha Zaichik in Breaking Stalin’s Nose is easy for readers to identify with, as he faces the struggle of balancing his own self-preservation with maintaining his honesty and not sacrificing those who are innocent. The history of the dissolved friendship between Sasha and his friend, Vovka, who betrayed him, is relatable to many people who have made and lost friends, though the change in behavior from Vovka of being one of the best and brightest, to a slacker, is not thoroughly explained in the story. However, children and adults of all ages can relate to this type of behavior with friends. The clothing that the characters wear are depicted in the drawings that Yelchin includes which add to the overall understanding of the text, as well as give examples of what people would wear during the Cold War. The language within the text was adapted in a way that the reader is able to comprehend, while the plot flows as the series of events unfold under Sasha’s watchful eyes. The history within the context of the book is presented accurately with events occurring in real places that the reader can easily research if they wish to know more about the setting of the text. The terms within the text are somewhat hard to pronounce when it comes to the names of the characters, thus the reader may struggle when trying to decipher Russian names, while the plot is realistic to the time period. The setting of the story sets the stage for the events that happen within the story and are an integral part of the story. The time and place of the story are accurately portrayed and vividly described which allow the reader to create a mental image while reading, which contributes to the authenticity of the text. The theme that innocent people being falsely accused based on the beliefs of others runs rampant through the story and reflects both the morals and ideals of the time period in which the people of the Communist regime lived, as well as are relevant to this day and age, which show timeless parallels. The style of the text reflects the author’s style and all of the literary elements presented within the story are woven together in a seamless manner that captures the time period in which the text portrays. To add to the authenticity of the text, the author has included an author’s note which describes his life growing up in the Soviet Union, and states that “this book is my attempt to expose and confront fear” (154) and how as a child he wanted to be a Young Pioneer himself after seeing the injustices that people have faced over time. 

Awards Received:

·         2012 Newberry Honor Book

·         2011 Horn Book Best Book

Review Excerpts:

·         From Publishers Weekly - 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.

·         From Kirkus Reviews - 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.

·         From School Library Journal - Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin.

·         From The Horn Book – Starred Review - "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."

Connections/ Activities:

·         Students can do an author study on Eugene Yelchin.

·         Have students examine Stalin's rule and the role of communism.

·         Use the books website to help guide instruction.

·         Have students research Moscow and what it was like under Stalinist rule.

·         Have students examine the plot, setting, and point of view of the story.

Selected other texts by Eugene Yelchin:

·         Arcady’s Goal - 978-0805098440

·         Heart of a Snowman - 978-0061259265

·         Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth - 978-0061283956

Related Texts:

·         Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai - 9780061962790

·         A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park – 9780547577319

·         Heart of a Samurai  by Margi Preus -  978-1419702006

Personal Connections:

·         This is a great book for students in middle and high school! There are many lessons that can be taught using the text in a cross-curricular unit.