Breaking Stalin's Nose

                                                                1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. BREAKING STALIN'S NOSE. Ill. by Eugene Yelchin. New York, NY: Henry Hold and Company. ISBN 9780805092165

      2.  PLOT SUMMARY

      This book tells the story of a young boy growing up in the Soviet Union under the reign of the Communist leader, Stalin. The boy has been taught all of his childhood to revere and respect Stalin and all that he provides for the boy and other citizens of the Soviet Union. Sasha is at the age where he can finally become a Yong Soviet Pioneer. However, on the eve of his induction into this group, events transpire that cause Sasha to question the loyalty he has put forth in Stalin and the Soviet Union. The capture of his father from their home by State Security is Sasha's first clue that something is wrong. Then the next day at school he is fearful of his school turning him over to the orphanage and State Security. In addition, as Sasha is preparing to carry the banner for the induction ceremony, he accidentally breaks off the plaster nose from the Stalin bust in the school hallway. After realizing that he has been lied to about the reason for his mother's death, Sasha finally musters the courage to escape the Young Soviet Pioneer ceremony. Sasha realizes he no longer identifies with Communist policy and has no desire to become a Young Soviet Pioneer. Sasha makes his way to the prison where his father is likely held captive and joins a long line of other hungry and cold Communist citizens waiting for a chance to see their loved ones as well.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Yelchin creates a character that is fully loyal to his leader and country. Sasha's enthusiastic embrace of Communism and oblivion to the poor living conditions created by it make him a prime example of a Communist citizen. His whole life has been spent praising and thanking Stalin for his life no matter how dire the circumstances. Communist propaganda is evident when Sasha mentions the poor living conditions of other countries. "I have read how hard the lives of children are in the capitalist countries and I feel pity for all those who do not live in the USSR" (Yelchin, 2011, 2). Sasha is so blinded, like other Communist citizens, that he is completely unaware of the squalor within which he is forced to live. Yelchin's accurate description of the daily life of Sasha contributes to the credibility of this historical novel. For example, Sahsa mentions "In the morning, we often sing patriotic songs together when we line up for the toilet" (Yelchin, 2011, 8). Images such as these give the reader a glimpse into the poor living conditions characteristic of this time.

Yelchin creates a plot that is fast paced. From the snowball fight between school boys, to the planting of the broken nose in the teacher's desk, to Sasha's dramatic escape from the Young Communist Pioneers ceremony, the plot is full of action. The reader is constantly on edge trying to predict if in fact Sasha will be caught and sent to the orphanage. A conversation between the State Security Senior Lieutenant and Sasha highlights the distrust and secrecy characteristic of the Soviet regime of the time. "Speaking in a secretive voice, he continues: 'We're offering you a rare opportunity to pledge assistance to the Soviet State Security. All you have to do is listen in, observe, and report suspicious behavior right here in your own school'" (Yelchin, 2011,134).  Sasha is forced to decide between submitting to the evil powers of Communism or escaping to relative freedom to visit his dad in the prison. 

The setting in Communist Russia is clearly defined through detailed descriptions of crowded living conditions, statues of Stalin, and images of a blanket of snow covering the land during a harsh winter. "[Stalin's] steady eyes track a legion of shiny black dots zipping up and down the snow-white streets" (Yelchin, 2011, 23). This description allows the reader to experience the tension Sasha and the others in his apartment must be feeling as the State Security invades their home in the night to search for Sasha's father. Further descriptions help the reader recreate Soviet Russia in his or her mind. "The sidewalks are crowded. Citizens rush to work, line up for food rations, push into the streetcars. On the corner, a loudspeaker blares our country's anthem" (Yelchin, 2011, 46). Glimpses such as these allow the reader to experience the sights and sounds of the Soviet Union during the communist era. 

The setting is greatly enhanced by Yelchin's inclusion of black and white graphite illustrations throughout the book. It is through these illustrations that the reader catches the first glimpse of a looming statue of Stalin (Yelchin, 2011, 21), the crowded communal apartment (Yelchin, 2011, 6-7), and the snow blanketed Kremlin at night (Yelchin, 2011, 35-36). These images help the reader experience the bleak and gloomy conditions of the Soviet Union during the Communist era. Yelchin adds drama to his illustrations by featuring guards and authority figures as towering over whomever they happen to be interacting with. For example, the Kremlin guard appears almost comical because of the large mitten clad hand he outstretches to prevent Sasha from taking another step (Yelchin, 2011, 35-36). The illustrations support the accuracy and detail of Communist Russia Yelchin attempts to convey to the reader.

The underlying theme of this story is the importance of independence and thinking for oneself. Sasha experiences an epiphany over the 24 hour time period this story is being told. He begins to realize that all he has learned and believed about Stalin and his country since birth has been a lie. It is only after this realization that Sasha is freed from the power of Communism and is able to think for himself. Sasha decides to give up all he has worked for his whole life in search of his father and a sense of freedom. "I take a last look at the banner, turn away, and dash out the back door, down the stairs, and out of the school" (Yelchin, 2011, 141). By the end of the book, the reader witnesses a dramatic change in Sasha's motives, attitudes, and actions that are entirely different from the young boy at the beginning of the book pledging to loyally serve in the Young Soviet Pioneers.

Yelchin's writing style is greatly enhanced by his personal experiences growing up in Russia. Although Yelchin did not grow up in the time of Sasha and Stalin, he did experience many of the same hardships characteristic of the Soviet era. In his author's note, Yelchin states "Like my main character, I wanted be a Young Pioneer. My family shared a communal apartment, My father was a devoted Communist" (Yelchin, 2011, 154). This experience gives Yelchin's writing an honest and unbiased portrayal of life in the Soviet Union. In addition, having experienced these hardships allows Yelchin to write with a deep passion and emotion that is readily apparent to the reader.  

Yelchin avoids negative stereotypes by creating an accurate image of life during the Stalin era in Moscow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

4. PERSONAL RESPONSE: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

After recently visiting Moscow, I found this book to be very interesting. Yelchin did a nice job of portraying the oblivion in which the citizens of the Soviet Union had come to live. One weakness was a lack of an explanation for Sasha's father's imprisonment. The reader is left wanting to know exactly what the boy's father had done to deserve this punishment. However, this type of captivity without questioning or proof was likely a common occurrence in Communist Russia. 

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"Picture book author/illustrator Yelchin (Won Ton) makes an impressive middle-grade debut with this compact novel about a devoted young Communist in Stalin-era Russia, illustrated with dramatically lit spot art."  (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

"“Yelchin’s graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha’s steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale.” (KIRKUS REVIEWS)

""Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin.” (SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL)

6. CONNECTIONS

*Students could conduct further research into other Communist leaders of Russia. A chart comparing data of living conditions during the Communist era could be constructed.

*Students could create simple black and white illustrations similar to those of Yelchin to accompany a piece of writing.

*Students could watch a documentary related to the Soviet Union. After viewing the documentary, students could form small groups and discuss how life as a young adult in Communist Russia differs from life in the United States.