Historical Fiction: Breaking Stalin's Nose

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yelchin, Eugene. 2013. BREAKING STALIN’S NOSE. New York, NY: Square Fish. ISBN 1250034108

PLOT SUMMARY

Sasha is a 10-year-old boy who has been brainwashed by the government to believe that Communism is the best. Sasha lives in a 40-person commune with his father who is a member of the Soviet Secret Police. Sasha idolizes his father as a hero of the state and views him as the perfect communist. Sasha notices thought that most people are fearful of his father and treat his with respect. One night Sasha’s father is arrested because another man in the commune accused Sasha’s father of a crime. Sasha, now homeless, tries to turn to his Aunt Larisa but she turns him away as she has a family and it is too dangerous to take Sasha in. With nowhere to go, Sasha sleeps in the basement of his Aunt’s apartment building. Sasha’s goal is to become a member of a Communist Youth group. This is a group that helps to spread the idea of how lucky everyone is to live in a communist country. The next day Sasha goes to school and begins to see everything in a different light. The “trouble” kids at school are kids whose parents have been executed or imprisoned by the Soviet government. Sasha begins to “awaken” from his brainwashing. He begins to see communist Russia as what it is, a lie. Sasha goes to the prison where is father is being detained and meets a young woman who gives him hope for his future.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Breaking Stalin’s nose is a wonderful narrative of a boy whose eyes are opened to the horrors of Communism. The entire story is about how Sasha is awakened by the events around him. Each event waking him up just a little bit more.  All Sasha’s life he has been taught to believe that he is lucky to live in a society that focuses on the “we” instead of the Capitalist “I”. He even wants to join a Communist Youth group that helps spread the message of communism. Young readers will be included in all the events that begin to wake Sasha up ending with the breaking of Stalin’s nose (a plaster statue in Sasha’s school). This book is completely rooted in history. Although not based on a true story, Sasha’ journey is one in which many communist children of the Soviet Union had to go through as they slowly become aware of the lies being told to them.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

THE HORN BOOK: “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.”

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.”

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.”

CONNECTIONS

*Newberry Honor Book

*Horn Book Best Fiction List

*This would be great supplement to any Russia or Communist unit. Students can clearly see the down side of communism, the harsh restrictions and brainwashing used during the period.

*Look for another story about Russian history by Eugene Yelchin:

Yelchin, Eugene. THE HAUNTING OF FALCON HOUSE. ISBN 0805098453