I Want To Live: The Diary of a Young Girl in Stalin's Russia

I Want To Live: The Diary of a Young Girl in Stalin's Russia

Written by: Nina Lugovskaya

"Recently unearthed in the archives of Stalin’s secret police, the NKVD, Nina Lugovskaya’s diary offers rare insight into the life of a teenage girl in Stalin’s Russia—when fear of arrest was a fact of daily life. Like Anne Frank, thirteen-year-old Nina is conscious of the extraordinary dangers around her and her family, yet she is preoccupied by ordinary teenage concerns: boys, parties, her appearance, who she wants to be when she grows up. As Nina records her most personal emotions and observations, her reflections shape a diary that is as much a portrait of her intense inner world as it is the Soviet outer one."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://womenineuropeanhistory.org/index.php?title=Critical_Biography

The Race for Space: The United States and the Soviet Union Compete for the New Frontier

The Race for Space: The United States and the Soviet Union Compete for the New Frontier

Written by: Betsy Kuhn

"When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, America was set on a new trajectory that led to Apollo 11 astronauts walking on the Moon, an emphasis on science in schools, and a fascination with space. This book discusses and shows with clear photographs this period in US history."

Notable Trade Books for Social Studies

Online Resources:
http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/

Anastasia's Album

Anastasia's Album

Written by: Hugh Brewster

"It would be difficult to find a more engaging portrait of the Romanovs. Black-and-white photographs from family albums are complemented by exquisite contemporary photographs of restored palaces. In addition, there is an articulate text and a generous use of quotes from letters and diaries written by family members or their close friends. The focus is on the youngest daughter and her story. Although a few references are made to historical events and the hardships of the Russian people during the first two decades of the 20th century, the book concentrates on presenting an intimate portrait of the last ruling family of the aristocracy."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/dynasty/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchess_Anastasia_Nikolaevna_of_Russia