Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Based on the true story of legendary sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, The Diamond Eye blends history, suspense, and emotion into an unforgettable World War II novel. Richly researched and filled with compelling characters, Kate Quinn’s latest historical fiction adventure shines a spotlight on a remarkable woman whose courage changed history.
Reimagining the legendary Baba Yaga as an immortal half-goddess healer, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s The Witch and the Tsar plunges readers into a spellbinding historical fantasy set in 16th-century Russia. Striking an unlikely alliance to save her land from the dark forces manipulating Ivan the Terrible, Yaga battles political intrigue and age-old tyrants. A richly atmospheric, captivating read that provides a refreshing exploration of early Russian history for high school collections.
Set aboard the Trans-Siberian railway, Maylis de Kerangal’s translated novel Eastbound follows a desperate Russian conscript seeking escape through a chance encounter with a French woman. Featuring rapid, lyrical prose that mimics the momentum of a train, this brief psychological thriller explores themes of isolation and unexpected alliance. While its abrupt ending may divide readers, it serves as a unique international addition for mature high school collections.
On a spring morning in 1986, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work–Chernobyl–has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who’ve always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina’s estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna.