The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

"Then, as Russia’s last tsar was laid to rest, the fortress fired a nineteen-round salute...
Some of the Romanovs had finally come home."

Bibliography:

Fleming, Candace. 2014. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN: 9780375898648

Plot Summary:

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia is a social history nonfiction story about the reign of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov, and its ultimate demise. Candace Fleming remarkably blends the story of the royal family, Russian commoners, and the organization of the Soviet Union Communist Party throughout the early nineteenth century starting from Nicholas' reign to his unruly death. This multi-award-winning novel presents first-person narratives of Imperial Russia supported by thorough research, maps, family trees, and archival photographs. An engaging and factual true story of Saint Nicholas and his family, the last living emperor of the Russian Empire.

Critical Analysis:

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming is a detailed fact-driven account of Tsar Nicholas Romanov, Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna, and their five children. Fleming is a renowned author known for her award-winning YA nonfiction novels. She builds her stories from intensive research supported by knowledgeable sources and nonbiased perspectives. Her work is meticulously sustained by cited sources and bibliographies, archival photographic evidence, and elaborate graphics that compliment the story. 

The novel's organization is logically sequenced by interchangeable points of view from the Romanovs and the common people, which provides readers with an exciting true sense of the turmoil of Imperial Russia in and out of the royal palaces. The easy-to-read text is written appropriately, providing enough information for clear concept development yet encourages critical thinking and personal research. It's a must-read for fans of history, royalty, and culture, from Middle-Grade readers to adults. Anyone interested in the Russian Empire or Russia's history will learn something new after reading this acclaimed novel. 

Review Excerpts:

Awards & Recognitions:

  • ALSC Notable Children’s Books, Older Readers, 2015
  • Booklist Editor's Choice 2014
  • Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Nonfiction 2015
  • Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon 2014
  • Cybils Award in Nonfiction for Young Adults 2014
  • Horn Book Fanfare 2014
  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book 2014
  • NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2015
  • Publishers Weekly Best Young Adult Books 2014
  • SCBWI Gold Kite Award for Nonfiction 2015
  • School Library Journal Best Book 2014
  • Sibert Medal Nominee
  • Washington Post Best Books for Kids 2014
  • YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist
From Booklist, "For readers who regard history as dull, Fleming’s extraordinary book is proof positive that, on the contrary, it is endlessly fascinating, absorbing as any novel, and the stuff of an altogether memorable reading experience."

From The Horn Book, "Fleming has outdone herself with this riveting work of narrative nonfiction that appeals to the imagination as much as the intellect."

From Kirkus Reviews, "A remarkable human story, told with clarity and confidence."

From Publishers Weekly, "Making vibrant use of primary sources that emerged since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Fleming (Amelia Lost) brings to life the last imperial family of Russia. Writing with a strong point of view based on diary entries, personal letters, and other firsthand accounts, she enriches their well-known story with vivid details."

Connections:

  • Ask students/patrons to create a book report about a famous leader - president, king or queen, tsar, etc. from any country or region. 
  • Encourage and promote an open discussion about communism and have students/ patrons discuss their thoughts and opinions. 
Read more nonfiction novels by Candace Fleming:

  • Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. ISBN: 9780375841989
  • Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life. ISBN: 9780689835490
  • Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All. ISBN: 9781524716196
  • Presenting Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Wild West. ISBN: 9781596437630
  • The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. ISBN: 9780375836183
  • The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh. ISBN: 9780525646549
  • Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life. ISBN: 9780689865442
Extra Content: To Kick Those Boredom Blues

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