1917 – 1941
The Russian Revolution in 1917 ended centuries of imperial rule and brought the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, to power. This led to the creation of the Soviet Union. After Lenin’s death, Joseph Stalin took control, transforming Russia through rapid industrialization and strict political control. Stalin’s rule was marked by significant repression but also made the Soviet Union a major world power.
Picture books
Chapter books
Breaking Stalin’s Nose
Powerful story of a boy living under Stalin’s regime
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Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel
Moving graphic novel about a girl exiled to Siberia with her family
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Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914
Fictional diary from Anastasia’s perspective during the last days of the Tsars
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Angel on the Square
Story of a girl in the Tsar’s court learning about life outside the palace on the eve of the revolution
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The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia
True story of a family who spent five years in exile in Siberia
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Winterkill
Story of two children grappling with the Holodomor, the famine-genocide in Ukraine
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The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine
Story of a modern boy learning about the Holodomor, in a dual-timeline novel
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Anastasia and Her Sisters
Compelling story of the Tsar’s family at the end of their reign
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Non-fiction books
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia
Excellent introduction to the Romanov family and their fall
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The Stalinist Empire
Compelling overview of Russia under Stalin
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I Want To Live: The Diary of a Young Girl in Stalin’s Russia
Real diary of a girl growing up in Stalin’s Russia
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Simple History: The Russian Revolution
Brief introduction to the Russian Revolution
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The Russian Revolution: The Fall of the Tsars and the Rise of Communism
Gripping narrative about the fall of the Romanovs and rise of the USSR
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