the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first MG ghost story where I read and was truly creeped out. It gives me goosebumps writing the review! It was genuinely scary, perhaps because the setting was so dark and the tone so incredibly genuine.
It helps to know a bit of Russian history, which is not traditionally covered in middle school grades, unfortunately. I fear many middle grade readers may miss some of the terrifying context of how the Russian nobility treated the peasantry -- truly horrifically -- in the 19th century.
The book is a "translated" manuscript, with creepy black and white drawings, supposedly written and drawn by Prince Lev Lvov of Russia. I will not spoil the twist, I swear, but pay close attention to the drawing at the front of the book of the half-cat.
Lev's sent to live with an aunt, Olga Lvovna, and he's fuzzy on the reason why (I won't spoil it!), except that his family's name will get him admission to the royal academy where Lev can become a general with little or no effort.
She puts him up in his grandfather's study, an odd sleeping arrangement to be sure. A peasant boy and servant appears, Yanyousha, and the boys play tag, hide-and-seek -- but it quickly gets out of hand, when Lev uses his grandfather's sword against Yanyousha, and the boy disappears.
Lev can draw and once enjoyed sketching with his mother. Vanyousha notices Lev drawing. Soon Lev is drawing things with no conscious knowledge he's drawing at all, just his hand moving on the paper, and he almost can't control it. And of course, there is the portrait of his grandfather in the room, which Lev covers with a sheet because he can feel it watching him, which is absurd.
To reveal any more would utterly spoil the thrill of discovery in reading. Enjoy this creepy read for Halloween, and maybe it'll spark your interest in Russian history, as well.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It helps to know a bit of Russian history, which is not traditionally covered in middle school grades, unfortunately. I fear many middle grade readers may miss some of the terrifying context of how the Russian nobility treated the peasantry -- truly horrifically -- in the 19th century.
The book is a "translated" manuscript, with creepy black and white drawings, supposedly written and drawn by Prince Lev Lvov of Russia. I will not spoil the twist, I swear, but pay close attention to the drawing at the front of the book of the half-cat.
Lev's sent to live with an aunt, Olga Lvovna, and he's fuzzy on the reason why (I won't spoil it!), except that his family's name will get him admission to the royal academy where Lev can become a general with little or no effort.
She puts him up in his grandfather's study, an odd sleeping arrangement to be sure. A peasant boy and servant appears, Yanyousha, and the boys play tag, hide-and-seek -- but it quickly gets out of hand, when Lev uses his grandfather's sword against Yanyousha, and the boy disappears.
Lev can draw and once enjoyed sketching with his mother. Vanyousha notices Lev drawing. Soon Lev is drawing things with no conscious knowledge he's drawing at all, just his hand moving on the paper, and he almost can't control it. And of course, there is the portrait of his grandfather in the room, which Lev covers with a sheet because he can feel it watching him, which is absurd.
To reveal any more would utterly spoil the thrill of discovery in reading. Enjoy this creepy read for Halloween, and maybe it'll spark your interest in Russian history, as well.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
fernandie's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
camillejoy's review against another edition
4.0
This is the “memoir” of Prince Lev Lvov, who travels to Falcon House, his family's estate in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to assume his place as the leader of the family. It’s the late-nineteenth-century, and the creepy Falcon house is home only to long-time resident Princess Olga, and her odd assortment of terrified servants. In addition to them, Lev meets a mysterious young boy, who appears only at odd times. Even stranger, when Lev sleeps in his dead grandfather’s study, he begins to create creepy drawings, almost as if possessed by a spirit while he draws-- those drawings are pictured in this book. Will Lev figure out what is really happening in the study? Who is the mysterious boy? Will he make it out of Falcon House alive?
caseyjoreads's review against another edition
3.0
Read based on how much I loved Breaking Stalin's Nose. This was ... not the same. I liked the concept of the interspersed art, but not the art itself.
bibliokris's review against another edition
4.0
Better and better as the story progresses, the reader learns more about the (unreliable) narrator's life and family history. A mix of suspense, historical fiction and mystery, this was well worth reading and would give young readers lots to think about, especially in the way the protagonist decides he wants to live and treat others. For ages 9 and older.
brisk28's review against another edition
5.0
I forgot how incredibly sad this book is, but I do appreciate how historically accurate it is. I’ve never seen anyone talk about this book, but I hope that changes
libscote's review against another edition
3.0
I've heard good things about Yelcin's work in the past, so I was excited to read my first one. I thought it was just okay. I found the time period hard to place, and I wasn't a huge fan of the drawings. I think it did have a decent creepy factor, and I could see how part of the plot wouldn't be predictable to kids, but it didn't make me feel like I needed to go out and read his other books.
tashrow's review
5.0
Twelve-year-old Prince Lev Lvov moves in with his aunt at Falcon House. It is a house that he will inherit as he is heir to the Lvov estate. Lev wants to be just like his grandfather, a general in the Russian army, stern and strong. Things are strange though at Falcon House where he finds wonders like an elevator in the home but also rooms that have not been touched in years. As he enters the home, Lev sees another young boy there, playing on the banister. Lev is sent to sleep in his grandfather’s old study where he can’t sleep and finds himself drawing and drawing with much more skill than he ever had before. In fact, he finds it nearly impossible to put the pen down. Slowly Lev starts to learn the secrets of his family and realize that some of the family secrets are more terrifying than ghosts.
Yelchin won a Newbery Honor for Breaking Stalin’s Nose. Here he very successfully merges historical Russia with a dark ghost story. Based on the premise of having found old notes and drawings from Lvov, the book is immediately mysterious and filled with wonder. There is the amazing setting of the huge mansion, filled with things like death masks and a basement of mothballed clothes. There are the servants who manage to work for his aunt despite her disdain and harshness. There is the ghost, who tells his own story but ever so slowly. They all create a world of darkness and beguilement.
Then the book turns and changes, becoming something deeper and more filled with emotion. It looks beyond the cranky aunt and into why she acts the way she does. It examines the death of a boy and eventually becomes about who is responsible for it and why. It looks at servants and royals, at status and power. It figures out what it takes to become someone willing to wield that power too.
Entirely gorgeous, haunting and deep, this novel is chillingly dark and wonderfully dangerous. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Yelchin won a Newbery Honor for Breaking Stalin’s Nose. Here he very successfully merges historical Russia with a dark ghost story. Based on the premise of having found old notes and drawings from Lvov, the book is immediately mysterious and filled with wonder. There is the amazing setting of the huge mansion, filled with things like death masks and a basement of mothballed clothes. There are the servants who manage to work for his aunt despite her disdain and harshness. There is the ghost, who tells his own story but ever so slowly. They all create a world of darkness and beguilement.
Then the book turns and changes, becoming something deeper and more filled with emotion. It looks beyond the cranky aunt and into why she acts the way she does. It examines the death of a boy and eventually becomes about who is responsible for it and why. It looks at servants and royals, at status and power. It figures out what it takes to become someone willing to wield that power too.
Entirely gorgeous, haunting and deep, this novel is chillingly dark and wonderfully dangerous. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
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