Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

144 pgs/2011

A short (only 140 pages!) middle grade fictional story set during Stalin's rule. Taking place over the course of about 24 hours, a young boy questions his loyalties and thoughts on communism. It's an interesting read and I can see where things about this novel appealed to the Newbery committee which awarded it an honor. The author packs a lot of emotion and makes the reader question ideas just as Sasha begins to. I do wonder if the subject would be grasped easily by young readers or if it's better suited for a classroom discussion.

Inside Out and Back Again

By Thanhha Lai, 272 pages

This is the story, told entirely in verse, of a young girl whose family is forced to flee Saigon after the Vietnam War. Ha finds herself in the foreign land of Alabama, where not only does she not understand the language, she doesn't understand the customs, traditions, or day-to-day life. There is help, however, from friendly benefactors and neighbors, and somehow Ha and her family begin to not only adapt, but also heal from their harrowing experiences. A 2012 Newbery Honor.