The Family Romanov
by Candace Fleming
by Candace Fleming
Format: Hardback
Price: Free - checked out from the public library
Price: Free - checked out from the public library
How I heard about it: it's a William Allen White Award book (I'm taking a break from my list and reading some of the William Allen White Award nominees for Battle of the Books at school)
Basic Premise: Nicholas II of Russia didn't know it when he was inaugurated in 1894 as supreme Emperor of Russia, but he was the last Emperor Russia would see, bringing an end to the Romanov dynasty after 300 years.
My Take: 10 out of 10 (scale here)
I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! I started on a Friday afternoon and finished Saturday morning. It was incredible. When I was in middle school, a traveling exhibit called "The Treasures of the Czars"came to our town. My father applied and was selected to be a docent at the exhibit. I remember hearing him talk about his experiences, and then when my class took a field trip to see the exhibit, he took the day off from school (he NEVER took the day off from school) and accompanied us to the exhibit. I remember seeing a pink stone, and the woman said the stone was worth enough money for me and a friend to go to the movies every day for the rest of our lives! WHAAAAAAAT?
The story alternated between the story of the Romanovs, in their wealth and glory, and the peasant class in Russia - the "serfs" - who were little more than slaves of wealthy land owners. It was a brilliant stroke by Fleming to tell both stories simultaneously, because the meeting of the two - the oppressors and the oppressed - is where the crisis began. It was well-written and so interesting. I loved it!
I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! I started on a Friday afternoon and finished Saturday morning. It was incredible. When I was in middle school, a traveling exhibit called "The Treasures of the Czars"came to our town. My father applied and was selected to be a docent at the exhibit. I remember hearing him talk about his experiences, and then when my class took a field trip to see the exhibit, he took the day off from school (he NEVER took the day off from school) and accompanied us to the exhibit. I remember seeing a pink stone, and the woman said the stone was worth enough money for me and a friend to go to the movies every day for the rest of our lives! WHAAAAAAAT?
The story alternated between the story of the Romanovs, in their wealth and glory, and the peasant class in Russia - the "serfs" - who were little more than slaves of wealthy land owners. It was a brilliant stroke by Fleming to tell both stories simultaneously, because the meeting of the two - the oppressors and the oppressed - is where the crisis began. It was well-written and so interesting. I loved it!
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