Sunday, April 01, 2012

Book Review: The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan

This is the fourth book I've read by this author, Gloria Whelan. About two years ago, Alex and I read Mackinac Island triology which is set in Michigan during the War of 1812. We really enjoyed the book and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book I just read, The Impossible Journey, was also written by this author.

This was another story about Russia that I highly recommend. And, there is a companion book, Angel on the Square, that I've alread requested!

The book is about a sister and brother who are living in Leningrad, Russia, in 1934. Their parents are arrested and Marya, the oldest sibling, decides to take her little brother, Georgi, on a 1,000 mile journey in search of their mom. Along the way they have tough encounters and meet some fascinating people. It's an "impossible journey" and will it result in a family reunion in the end?



This book would make a GREAT unit study - topics could include the geography of Russia (you could map their travels), lemmings, the Northern Lights, the deer herders of Siberia, Stalin and the Russian Gulag, and much more! I hope to use this book (and possibly the companion book) as a study with Alex next year as we study modern history.

1 comment:

Jess Ferro said...

Love these books :) DId you know that there are actually four books, and while you can read them separately they are definitely companion novels and follow subsequent generations journeys through the changing cultural/political landscape of Russia!! The first one is Angel on The Square, the next one is The Impossible Journey, then there is Burying the Sun and finally The Turning!!

I've read the first two and am starting the third soon, but they are truly incredible and a great introduction to Russian history and culture for kids :)

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