Russia | Children's Books Heal

Duck and Cover

Janet F. Smart, Author

Saguaro Books, LLC, Historical Fiction, 2017 (Paperback)

Pages: 162

Amazon Digital Services LLC (eBook)

Suitable for Ages: 8-12

Themes: Adventure, Friendship, West Virginia, Bay of Pigs, Russians, Cubans

Opening: “I Survived the long drive from Cleveland. Now if I could just survive the Russians, I’d be OK.”

Synopsis: After his dad dies in an accident at work, twelve-year-old Teddy Haynes and his mom come back to live with family in rural West Virginia. They hope to start over, but some people say the Russians are going to blow up the United States. How can they start over if the world comes to an end?

He finds his life filled with talk of bomb shelters, a cat and dog that don’t get along, clinging two-year-old twin nephews, and a pretty girl he’s too shy to talk to. To help cope with their fears, Teddy and his friends convert an old cave in the woods into a bomb shelter. Will they be able to work together and pull through the tense-filled months during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the fall of 1962? And will Teddy be able to overcome his grief from the loss of his father?

What I like about this book:

Janet Smart has written a moving and sensitive novel that will teach generations of readers about the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962. She balances the tension with a good dose of humor to lighten the anxiety the kids feel. This nostalgic read will be a stroll down memory lane for many adults as they recall “duck and cover” school drills, during an uncertain time.

The narrative is written in first person. The story is character-driven. She gives the reader deep insight into Teddy’s loss, fears, his active imagination, and his coping skills. Teddy’s a determined protagonist with big dreams of becoming an astronaut one day. He tries to encourage his friends to have dreams, because most of them, like Bobby, know they will head into the coal mines like their ancestors. His best friend, Melvin, has a limp from polio and wears a smile that stretches clear across his face. Melvin is good for Teddy because he’s optimistic, cheery, light-hearted, logical, has a flair for using big words and enjoys a good prank. Skeeter likes to write and organize things. So she’s handy to have around as they plan their bomb shelter, even though Teddy is uncomfortable around a girl he’s sweet on.

The theme of the war weighs heavily upon their minds. But the plot focuses on brave friends who decide to take action. It is about their big adventure of building a shelter in a “haunted” cave. They scavenge through junk yards for chairs, mattresses and wood. They fill it with first aid supplies, flashlights, canned goods and water. There is a lot of suspense for the foursome and some uncovered secrets.

Smart’s novel would make an excellent addition to any school library. It’s also a timely read with threats around the globe.

Janet F. Smart lives in picturesque West Virginia. She is the mother of three grown boys. She enjoys writing for children, bringing her thoughts, dreams and imagination to life. A flicker of a childhood memory was the inspiration for this novel. Visit her at her website.

Greg Pattridge is the permanent host for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.

Rachel’s Secret

Shelly Sanders, Author

Second Story Press, Historical Fiction, 2012

Suitable for Ages: 13-18

Themes: Tensions between pre-revolutionary Russian Jews and Christians, Hatred, Rumors, Riots

Synopsis: Rachael is a 14-year-old Jew living in Kishinev, Russia, in 1903. Unlike most girls her age, she has dreams of being a writer. Her life is turned inside out when her Christian friend, Mikhail, is murdered after a day of ice skating on a river with friends. Rachael is the only witness to the murder, but realizes the great danger she faces going to the police. She knows her family will be at great risk. She shares her secret with her sister and her Christian friend, Sergei.

In keeping her silence, tensions begin to mount between the Jewish and Christian communities. The Jews of Kishinev are blamed for the murder of Mikhail. The entire community turns on the Jews and the local newspaper spreads rumors and propaganda daily. Even the police fail to protect and support the Jews. A riot breaks out and the community is destroyed and blood is shed. Sergei tells his police-chief father the truth, but Sergei is dismissed and his father does nothing. Rachael and Sergei feel hope dwindling, but know they must stop the violence.

Why I like this book: This is a debut novel for Shelly Sanders and she is a very skilled writer. She has done a superb job of taking history and fiction and combining them in this unforgettable story. The events in the story are true. Sander’s story is inspired by her grandmother who lived in Kishinev in 1903 and survived the riots. Many of her vividly developed characters in the story, including Mikhail, Sergei, and Sergei’s father, are based on real people. The story Sanders weaves is compelling and gives her readers a very realistic view of life in Kishinev in 1903. I did not know about this piece of history. I highly recommend this book for middle and high school students.

Visit Shelly Sander’s at her website. She has written a sequel, Rachel’s Promise, to be published September 15, 2013. Rachel and her family escape Kishinev on the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia and board a boat to Shanghai. Follow her journey and new life in an unexpected country.