Helpful Score: 1
A disappointing YA book of historical fiction that tells the story of the Russian occupation of Eastern Europe before the Nazis took over and the imprisonment of 'intellectuals' and others considered enemies of the state by the Stalin regime.
I assume becasue it is YA much of the more intense torture and any rapes that would have occurred in reality were left out of this novel. But the sense of degradation and horror come through in the mistreatment of the dead, random shootings, and poor care of the 'inmates' as they are transported cross-continent to Siberia by truck and train.
A relatively unstudied area of history for many years, this book at least makes a start to let young people know of the Russian slaughter of 20 million people under Stalin while the Nazis were annihilating Jews and others in Europe. Survivors kept silent for DECADES after their release because they were still under the control of the USSR, and only felt comfortable speaking about their experiences once their countries were free again.
I assume becasue it is YA much of the more intense torture and any rapes that would have occurred in reality were left out of this novel. But the sense of degradation and horror come through in the mistreatment of the dead, random shootings, and poor care of the 'inmates' as they are transported cross-continent to Siberia by truck and train.
A relatively unstudied area of history for many years, this book at least makes a start to let young people know of the Russian slaughter of 20 million people under Stalin while the Nazis were annihilating Jews and others in Europe. Survivors kept silent for DECADES after their release because they were still under the control of the USSR, and only felt comfortable speaking about their experiences once their countries were free again.
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