The Family Romanov Book Review by Candice Fleming

Written by Candice Fleming

Published by Schwartz and Wade Books in 2014

ISBN: 978-0375867828

Plot Summary: The story of the Romanov family involves many twists and turns throughout the variety of happenings that went on throughout the years. Russia has been a country that has always been dominated by the top 1% and this family held power for over 3 centuries. The book is written in a novel like format and goes back and forth from the riches of the ruling class to the stories of the peasants and the starvation and hard work that followed them. The government policies forced men to join the war and fight but didn't give them the supplies that they needed like food, shelter, and weapons. The reign of the family is chronicled throughout the years and the insertion of Rasputin brings the family to its knees as Alexandra believed that he was a messenger of God sent to help them navigate through World War 1 and the Russian Revolution. The unrest that is described throughout the book shows that even though things can appear to be well, lurking beneath the surface can be civil unrest that will change things forever. 

Analysis: This book does an excellent job of making sure to present the facts of both sides of the story including the Romanov Family and the people that they ruled over. The photos at the end of the book are both informative in nature as well as gut wrenching as you see the toll that war took on the Russian people and the Romanov family. The photo array will be sure to help the reader visualize what life was like back then and helps bring the story to life. The firsthand accounts that the author uses shows the dedication that she took to her research as most of the diaries, letters, and other documents weren't available until 1991 when the fall of the Soviet Union happened. Though the entire family met an untimely demise, this account of their story will be sure to delight readers that are interested in the history of Russia and what became of a very peculiar and famous family. 

Reviews: 
Kirkus Reviews
Fleming examines the family at the center of two of the early 20th century’s defining events.

It’s an astounding and complex story, and Fleming lays it neatly out for readers unfamiliar with the context. Czar Nicholas II was ill-prepared in experience and temperament to step into his legendary father’s footsteps. Nicholas’ beloved wife (and granddaughter of Queen Victoria), Alexandra, was socially insecure, becoming increasingly so as she gave birth to four daughters in a country that required a male heir. When Alexei was born with hemophilia, the desperate monarchs hid his condition and turned to the disruptive, self-proclaimed holy man Rasputin. Excerpts from contemporary accounts make it clear how years of oppression and deprivation made the population ripe for revolutionary fervor, while a costly war took its toll on a poorly trained and ill-equipped military. The secretive deaths and burials of the Romanovs fed rumors and speculation for decades until modern technology and new information solved the mysteries. Award-winning author Fleming crafts an exciting narrative from this complicated history and its intriguing personalities. It is full of rich details about the Romanovs, insights into figures such as Vladimir Lenin and firsthand accounts from ordinary Russians affected by the tumultuous events. A variety of photographs adds a solid visual dimension, while the meticulous research supports but never upstages the tale.

A remarkable human story, told with clarity and confidence. (bibliography, Web resources, source notes, picture credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

Connections: Students can do their own research on the Romanov Family and focus on Rasputin as he is an important piece in the family history. You could compare and contrast Royal Families such as the British Monarchy, the Chinese Dynasties, and the Chakri Dynasty in Thailand. 

Educators Guide for the Family Romanov Book

More Information on the Romanov Family

Photo Array of the Romanov Family

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We are America Book Review by Walter Dean Myers

Image
  Written by Walter Dean Myers Illustrated by Christopher Myers Published by HarperCollins Children's Books in 2011 ISBN- 978-0060523107 Plot Summary: This book is a history of america told through the form of poetry. The author starts before the settlers arrive with the Native Americans and their view of what the United States looked like before settlers came and ends with the present day of everyone coming together to make the country look the way it does. The story includes people from different backgrounds including African Americans who haven't been taken to America yet, the history of the Civil War and the people that died for our freedom, and the immigrants that came during the industrial revolution to help create the country that we live in now.  Analysis: The author uses a free verse style of poetry that highlights immigrants especially and how we are all Americans even though we come from very diverse backgrounds. He highlights the important events that helped shape t
Read more

Free Lunch Book Review by Rex Ogle

Image
Written By Rex Ogle Published by Norton Young Readers in 2019 ISBN: 978-1324003601 Plot Summary: This is a memoir of Rex Ogle when he was in 6th grade. He was enrolled in the free lunch program at school as he was living in poverty at the time. The story begins with his mom Luciana in the grocery store as they are shopping for food but they only have so many dollars in food stamps that they can use. Rex remembers how angry he is that he never gets to choose food that he likes and both he and his mom are embarrassed as they didn't have enough money for the food that they chose so they only walk out with one bag of groceries even though they had chosen much more than that. Rex is anxious about going to school as he doesn't want the other kids to know that he was on the free lunch program and when he questions his mom she beats him and gives him a black eye which he has to explain away at the school. Rex has to announce that he has free lunch in the line which embarasses him even
Read more

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle Book Rev

Image
   Written by Margarita Engle  Published by Square Fish in 2010  ISBN: 978-0312608712 Plot Summary: The book is based on Rosario Castellanos Castellanos who is a famous person in Cuban American history. She was a freed slave who works as a nurse for the rebels who are fighting against the Spanish in the mid to late 1800's in Cuba. The poems are free verse and are written from the perspective of 4 different people: Rosa, Jose her husband, a slave hunter named Lieutenant Death in the story, and a girl named Sylvia. The novel is written in 5 different parts that cover Rosa's story from childhood to adulthood.  The first part is titled "The Names of the Flowers" and is talks about how Rosa grows up in the field amd learns about the healing properties of different plants and herbs from the women. Rosa helps to heal runaway slaves who have been beaten after running away and this is where she meets Teniente Muerte otherwise known as Lieutenant Death. The Lieutenant doesn'
Read more