My Own Revolution

by Carolyn Marsden

In 1960s Czechoslovakia, Patrik participates in and rebels against the communist regime, knowing that anyone could become an enemy in the blink of an eye.

Fourteen-year-old Patrik rebels against the communist regime in small ways whenever he gets the chance: spray-painting slogans, listening to contraband Beatles records, even urinating on a statue of Lenin under cover of night. But anti-Party sentiment is risky, and when party interference cuts a little too close to home, Patrik and his family find themselves faced with a decision — and a grave secret — that will change everything. As the moments tick toward too late, Patrik takes his family’s fate in hand, risking everything for a chance at freedom. Examining the psychological toll of living under an authoritarian regime, Carolyn Marsden allows readers to experience both Patrik’s persistent worry and his hope for better things.
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Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2012

About the author

Carolyn Marsden was born in Mexico City to missionary parents. She has been a writer all her life, but THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS is her first book. About THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS she says, "I wrote this story when my half-Thai daughter was being teased at school. As a parent and elementary school teacher, I watched her struggle to establish a cultural identity. I became fascinated with a conflict that is common to many children in our increasingly diverse United States." Carolyn Marsden has an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College. After spending the last twenty-five years in Tucson, Arizona, Carolyn Marsden now lives by the ocean with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Martin Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in the voice of a 14 year old boy living in communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960s it is a story of the propaganda and failings of communism. The rations, shortages, black market goods neighbors betraying neighbors and party favors and punishment. The boy gets into some trouble which will pull him from school to “apprentice “ in the mines. Meanwhile his father is experiencing similar blackballing with his career. The family must make radical plans to survive and stay together.

[James Gray]

it is good

[Gabrielle Prendergast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up MY OWN REVOLUTION by Carolyn Marsden at ALA last month, after not only blogging it as an “I can’t wait to read” book that week, but also having a drink with Carolyn at a middle grade meet-up the night before! When I found her signing the books in the exhibition floor we had a laugh about it, because I had been completely unaware who I’d been gossiping with at the Hilton Hotel.

Here’s the blurb: In 1960s Czechoslovakia,. Fourteen-year-old Patrik rebels against the communist regime in small ways whenever he gets the chance: spray-painting slogans, listening to contraband Beatles records, even urinating on a statue of Lenin under cover of night. But anti-Party sentiment is risky, and when party interference cuts a little too close to home, Patrik and his family find themselves faced with a decision — and a grave secret — that will change everything. As the moments tick toward too late, Patrik takes his family’s fate in hand, risking everything for a chance at freedom. Examining the psychological toll of living under an authoritarian regime, Carolyn Marsden allows readers to experience both Patrik’s persistent worry and his hope for better things.

The book is a quick read that I breezed through while waiting for and taking the ferry to Vancouver Island. It was interesting that I read it on this journey because on Vancouver Island lives my sister and her husband, my brother in law, who is the most pro-communism person I know. I’ve known him for over thirty years and while he is not as rose tinted about the former Soviet Union as some of his comrades, or especially his late father, he still adheres to the notion that Soviet Communism was a genuine application of Marx’s ideals.

Marsden was inspired to write this book after meeting a Czech surgeon who escaped the Soviet Occupation as a teen. So I’m confident that the book’s negative portrayal of life under communism is very authentic. I’VE never been a believer that Soviet Communism was anything like the ideal that Marx dreamt of, despite the dewy eyed exultations of some of my brother-in-law’s friends. But I found myself squirming as I read this book. It’s not that it’s a polemic against communism or the Soviets, in fact I think it’s quite balanced and real. I think my struggle was just a lingering hangover to my left-wing upbringing. Maybe I didn’t want to believe it was ever that bad. It’s possible I was raised to mistrust any American media about life under communism. I was very surprised at my discomfort.

But I think that’s a mark of a very well written book. I was drawn into Patrik’s struggle and began thinking as that idealistic lefty I had been myself at that age (rather than the skeptical pragmatist I am now). I thought the innocent romance subplot played a very nice counterpoint to the political crisis that Patrik was having. The plot was tight and streamlined, the characters drawn with simple strokes but still three dimensional. And it was tense and taut. I was scared for Patrik and his family.

This is a short book, about 42,000 words and I estimate the reading level to be about grade five. Certainly a good book for boys or girls reading at age typical levels ages 10+. There is no sex and very little violence or inappropriate language.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up an ARC from Ms. Marsden herself at the American Library Association (ALA) convention in Anaheim. She explained how she had met someone whose experience was the basis for this book. I mentioned to her that a number of fiction books seem to be out right now dealing with people's experiences with the Soviet Union. I can only guess that many people and the writers they contact in whatever way, now feel it safe to tell their stories. I'm thinking of Between Shades of Grey as the best example of this trend, but there are other titles as well, including this one. The book is pretty ernest. Somehow the main characters do not come off as three dimentional, but more as simply support characters with no reason to expand their personality. Even the girl the main character loves does not really come across as a fully developed character, nor do the boy's parents. The father comes closest to being a well developed character after the hero. It does an excellent account of showing how arbitrary some of the punishments were of both kids and adults. This led to a clearly explained sense of desperation and uncertainty because you couldn't be sure which acts might get you into trouble. I give the book high marks for explaining the political and cultural situation, but the narrative itself as story was not successful in my opinion. It'll be interesting to see what others think particularly after publication. Another comment: if the cover hasn't been finalized yet, I hope they revisit it and redo it. The yellow background is not attractive in any way, even if it does refer to one of the biggest pranks Patrik pulls off, and the bottom two thirds of the cover is simply too dark and not interesting enough. I do rather like the way they did the title in script rather than straight printing.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t given five stars in quite awhile yet this book definitely deserves all five. It is short at only 192 pages but each page has historical meaning while contributing to the story. It opens the readers’ eyes to what communism meant on a much different level then we learn in school because we are able to compare ourselves with the characters instead of just reading about communism in a text book. I think that this book is a must read for everyone who is able to understand that this is how life was and still is in some areas of the world. It teaches us that the freedoms we do have really are something worth fighting for (and I am openly against most war). I think that this book should be mandatory reading for kids in grade 6 or 7 as part of their world history class. Being a Canadian we are this big country full of people who immigrated here from one place or another only two or three generations ago and this book helps us to understand why our ancestors fled. As the elderly people in our lives pass on the stories die as well and this book, for me, has brought those moments that can’t be remembered or are too painful to remember, to life, giving me an understanding of what my grandparents and my friends grandparents went through as children and the risks they had to have taken for us to even exist!

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really feel the tension until the last half of this book, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. Patrik is an interesting protagonist. He’s an impulsive kid who listens to the Beatles, loves photography, and makes a fool out of himself over a girl. The Communists are portrayed rather two-dimensionally, though. I know the regime at that time was beyond tough on citizens, but Patrik’s school principal seems to magically know every time he has done something wrong. That said, the cruelty of the government and its agents made even more surprising who, over the course of the story, became a collaborator.

One particularly interesting issue was the portrayal of America. Patrik mentions news reports of the Civil Rights Movement, but holds the country in such high esteem he believes this is just propaganda. I found it particularly interesting given the U.S.’s recent fall from international esteem.

This is a leisurely read and provides an interesting look at life in the Soviet Union. I don’t think you’re missing out on anything by not reading it—but it’s worth considering, at least.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankly, if a book has the word revolution in the title, I am more apt to pick it up. There is something about fighting for freedom and liberty against an oppressor that really resonates within me. Friends, I read My Own Revolution by Carolyn Marsden, a historical fiction book set in Czechoslovakia in one sitting. It’s one of those books where I was learning something, but at the same time I was so wrapped up in the plot and machinations of characters that I didn’t realize I was learning which is kind of awesome, come to think of it.
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 10/9/12

[Meribeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Czechoslovakia is occupied by the communists in the mid-1960's Patrik and his family are being pressured to toe the party line. He becomes increasingly reckless especially when Danika, the girl who has been his friend for many years and lives upstairs with her family in the same building starts dating a new boy, who is a party member. Her family joins the party. Patrik does something foolish and is reprimanded by the party. And soon even his father's work is affected. They decide to leave for a "vacation" in Yugoslavia which is the stepping stone to Italy, to get the family to the US and safety.

[Serina · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid read. very enjoyable telling of teenage boy in russia. ONLY thing that was irrating and stupid beyond measure: they live in russia were everything they do is suspect, yet he doesnt tell his dad of close friends that could report him?! what??? no, i dont care how much of a teenager you are if ur parents could be arrested and imprisioned in insane assylum for life you would let them know if they should be cautious around certain people. plus this boy got along great with parents so no reason not to say smthg. if you can get past that its a GREAT read!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh? It wasn't earth-shattering, but it wasn't bad. A lot of anti-communist sentiment without any explanation of the historical context. So either you already know what's going on in the USSR in the '60's or you get this one-sided view of Communism. Now, I'm not defending Communism, nor am I suggesting novels should offer a balanced view. I'm just saying the impact is greater if you give a bit more history, especially since this is for teen readers who may never have even heard of Czechoslovakia, let alone understand the politics of that era and geographical area.

[Tianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally like to read books under 250-300 pages but I actually enjoyed this one! I thought that even though it didn't have a lot of time for the story to be told, Carolyn Marsden did a really good job. There was a good storyline and I didn't find it rushed like some short books can be. I liked the ending because just like in real life, you don't get everything you want! I enjoyed it and would recommend it!

[Carol Morison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I got from ROYAL to be reviewed. Not bad but not riveting enough for most high school students. Communism in Czechoslovakia in the mid-1900s. Young teens have to buy records from the black market, worry about playing them too loud or someone will report them. One family planning to escape, but having to keep everything quiet. Not an easy life.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because it was about the Czech Republic. It was an interesting story. It seems that the author did some research about what it was like in the Czech Republic under communism.It would be interesting to know how much of this was created from real stories the author heard.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I noticed this because it covers a historical period that doesn't get written about very much. Good story that helps you understand the period, but I wasn't thrilled with the ending.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was obviously a lot of good research put into this book. It did feel slow at times, though.