Behind the Border

A Glimpse at Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

In a baker's dozen of charming and poignant vignettes, Nina Kossman tells of her childhood in the Soviet Union. Nina wants to become a heroine by awakening Grandfather Lenin during a class trip to his tomb, or by painting Red Square really red. But she is also increasingly fascinated with life in the forbidden world "behind the border," fed by information gathered from her parents and from forbidden BBC broadcasts, as well as by her own growing awareness of the contradictions of Soviet life.

"With poignant innocence, Kossman writes of her childhood experiences in Russia in the '60s. Each chapter relates a memory tinged with the effects of the totalitarian regime that influenced every aspect of her and her family's lives. The opening vignette reveals the unexpected restrictions of the border when a beach ball floats out to sea and young Nina is told that she would never be allowed into Turkey to retrieve it. In the subsequent chapters, the author describes situations through the eyes of a 7-to-10-year-old in which adults reveal either fear of authority or of autocratic bullying. Her parents try to protect her, but her experiences at school eventually result in surprisingly mature conclusions as she comes to realize, fear, and resent the strictures under which she lives. ... The simple, childlike style intensifies the impact of Kossman's words, and is reminiscent of the fictional Friedrich (Puffin, 1987) by Hans Peter Richter. ...This unique book will serve to promote discussions of freedom. The commonality of typical childhood activities - going to the beach, friendships, and school assignments - make the child very real. The endnotes further reveal the restrictions imposed on Soviet citizens. - Carrol McCarthy, Tower Hill School, Wilmington, DE

"13 short pieces...pungently convey the effects of growing up under a totalitarian regime." - Publishers Weekly

"Kossman's vivid picture of life behind the Iron Curtain and her notes at the end of the book will be useful discussion starters for classes studying political changes in Eastern Europe." - Booklist

"This child's eye view of Soviet Russia is original and...surprisingly perceptive both of Russian society and Nina, its engaging ... heroine. An unforgettable picture of life 'behind the border'...perfectly attuned to young readers." - Jean Fritz

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The first (hardcover) edition was published by Lothrop Lee & Shepard, an imprint of William Morrow (now an imprint of HarperCollins) in 1994. It was followed by a turtleback (1995) and a paperback edition (1996).