The Darkest Evening

by William Durbin

A thrilling novel of a young boy's devastation when his father uproots him and moves their family to Russia, where a society of Finnish-Socialists attempt to found a workers' paradise.

Jake's life is turned upside down when his father gets caught up in the Socialist fervor washing over their Finnish mining community in Minnesota. His father decides to move their family to a new, Finnish state inside the Soviet Union, a change that fills Jake with dread. Where his father dreams of creating a worker's paradise, Jake and his family find disappointment and hardship. The story culminates with a thrilling escape--on skis--from Russia to Finland.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Soviet Union

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2004

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest I was not excited to read this book. I was scared to dive into this book without my trusty tool of an audiobook. However, I must say this book suprised me and I read it in two short sittings. This was the first time in a long time I have actually read a historical fiction book and I'm glad this was the historical fiction book I did read. Very interesting and engaging historical story that I had not ever even heard of before. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star was because I felt like the end was rushed and then abruptly cut off with no real resolution.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 1930s, a young Finnish-American boy reluctantly moves with his family to Karelia, a communist-Finnish state founded in Russia, where his idealistic father soon realizes that his conception of a communist utopia is flawed. Stalin can not allow the democratic and independent voices. Interesting slice of life in both America and Russia.

[Erik P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book,"The Darkest Evening,"about a boy called jake moving to Russia. Moving to Russia was very hard for jake because he left all his friends behind and it was tough for him to get used to the environment there. Jake had to move to Russia because of his fathers job. Where Jake is living now is a totally different lifestyle than the one he had before, so he is struggling with his new life. Jake has a brother called Peter and a sister called Maija. This book is basically all about Jake getting used to his new life. Of course there are some cool parts around the middle and around the end is my favorite part. I would recommend this book to a person who is into documentaries or autobiography's because this is basically a autobiography about his life.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, but I spent a good portion of it wanting to leap into the pages and tell the characters to stop being stupid. Despite this urge, the descriptions were vivid, the plot was engaging, and the characters were realistic. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because the ending seemed anti-climatic. I feel like there should be a sequel or something.

4/5 on here, 9/10 for myself

[Carson Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH AMAZING! ABOUT FAMILY WHO GETS TAKEN UNDER BY SOVIET UNION... GREAT STORY LINE!!!

[Cory Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darkest Evening is about a murder investigation close to home to a well experienced police officer in the north England. They take a wrong turn and head into a snow storm. stuck for several days daring winter escape on cross country seeks fleeing to the English boarder away from Russia. Inspector Vera Stanhope the killer finds a car with only a baby inside. There is nothing to know who's car it is so she drives to the nearest house, which happens to belong to her relatives.

l liked how he had a large vocabulary and he explained what was going on at all times through the story. William Durbin is a Minnesota author and has won ten novels. I also liked how he didn't jump from one topic to another he went through each section at a good pace. he wrote The Darkest Evening in a way that is easy for all readers to enjoy and understand. I liked how he moved from one topic to another with explanations and other fillers in between each of them.

William Durbin didn't have many weaknesses as an author. He could have added to the story by having more background information on what was going on at the time. Another thing he could have changes would been he could have taken some information out at other times. Over all The Darkest Evening was a good book. over all William Durbin didn't have many weakness and and i would recommend this book.

[Steve Voiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book for history buffs, young and old. Based on a little known bit of history, Durbin spins his tale around and unexpected, true event from the 1930 when Finnish family in Minnesota migrated to Russia!
The depression was so severe in Minnesota that they were lured to Russia take part in a social experiment helping to build a "workers paradise" in Russia where the common good was the goal and equality was the goal. The place, called Karelia was located in an area of Russia near Finland, and eventually caught up in dark political tides that threatened the lives of the family as Stalin's forces began to demand lock-step submission to his iron-fisted brand of socialism. Can the family escape?

This book is a good introduction to the good and bad aspects of socialism and a close up view of a historical event that is all but lost to history.

[Eskana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slice of history I hadn't heard of.... and a quick read. This book is written probably for upper elementary or middle-grade students, but it handled the topic well and in a way that I feel children would be able to understand. Many people are unaware of or are not interested in discussing the dark reality of communist governments, but it's a reality that is a big part of 20th century history.
t also described how different people came to realize about the communist party's oppression in different ways. I wouldn't say the characters are especially unique or memorable; the book is more a vehicle to tell the story about the Finns of Soviet Russia. Still, I think the story is an important one to tell and this is a good way for young people to learn it.

[Caleb Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character of The Darkest Evening is Jake Maki. This story is about how Jake’s father Wanted to move to Russia in order to have better jobs and schools for the family, basically better everything.the main conflict is that Jake doesn’t want to move to Russia because he doesn’t leave his friends and his life he had already.One thing I was curious about was what was the reason William Durbin Wrote this?

[Holly Ristau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this book was in 2005, when I fell in love with the historical aspects and the adventure. As a school librarian, it was a go to book for me to recommend. Even now, (in 2019) though I’m retired and no longer work with kids, I suggest this book to my adult friends.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know nothing good will happen in this story of a family who migrates from the United States (Minnesota) to Russia in the mid 1930s

[Shella · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many WWII books for young readers but this tells a part of little known history. Gripping, exciting, and well researched! I wish it was still in print.

[Aaron Kirkpatrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book lacks some plot points I don't see as other books.

[Gabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character, Jake Maki, is a young finnish boy who lived in the U.S. ,but moved to Russia on account of his father wanting a better live for his children. In the Maki family there is, Arvid(Jake's father), Mrs.Maki(Jake's mother), Peter and Maija(his brother and sister). I feel that the books message was, to fight back and stand up to the people who are trying to harm you. Or, make every possible effort to get away and stay safe. The plot of the story is, after Jake and his family move to Russia, they realize that the living conditions are much worse than expected. When their farther realizes that they aren't going to be able to afford Christmas, he uses some old birch wood to make the kids skis for winter. One day when going done the slopes, his father was stopped by someone about his design of the home made skis and was offered a job to work at ski making factor in a different part of Russia. So, the Maki's moved to their fathers new place of work and started knew schools and jobs. A few weeks after arriving to their new home, their father was taken, and after another few weeks went by the eldest child, Peter, was taken. When Peter was taken, the last three Maki's left Russia in hopes that they wouldn't be next, but Jake knew that they had to find and save his brother and father before they left.
The book is very slow in my opinion, I thought that the book was going to be more up beat and exciting. For example, half the book is getting them to Russia and finding that they hate it. I think the book could have been better if the characters were more exciting or interesting. I was disappointed in the book because I thought that it would have a way better story line. Someone would not want to read this book if the they didn't like adventure, action, or intense/graphic scenes. For example, when Peter and Arvid are taken there is a fight scene. The person who is takintg them is the boss of the company that avrid just got a job for. The is book reminded me of the movie, Taken beecause the people who take the main characters daughter in the movie, are trying to get away from the main character who is trying to kill them.


My Rating Scale: I gave a disappointing as the rating out out of,
1.bad
2.disappointing
3.ehh
4.good
5.wow
The I was disappointed in the book was because I thought that it was going to be faster pace, because when a book is really slow or not entertaining until the end it takes me forever to read.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Since Urho was "Church" Finn and Father a "Red" Finn, religion and politics were always at the heart of their quarrels." p21.
When working for the Jansens on their large dairy farm, Leonard and Beatrice (Mattie), I heard about "Red" Finns and some of their ideas and what they had done.
There is another book that I have read about Americans going to help the Soviets build a paradise in the New Soviet state and for the "New Soviet" Man in the 1930's.
What more does any group of people need to understand that Communism is evil and brings out the evil in men and women?
This book describes the ideals, hopes and dreams of those who went to create an "Ideal State" in this world during the Great Depression.
I recommend it to anyone.
This is the book I am also claiming to be my 1,oooth book though several others were read before this milestone. It is appropriate that this book is about the region and people I grew up w/in Minnesota and went to school with.
One of the reasons I joined Goodreads was to record how many books I have read. I believe there is at least two hundred more to be added to this list, however I don't remember them or haven't found them to label for this site.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This event in history really happened. I had never heard of it. Jake and his family are recruited to move to Russia and start a new life. They are told they will have schools, jobs and homes. But once they get there things start coming apart. Their home is a shack they share with 3 other families. No electricity, no running water and no jobs. But Jake and his father make skis for Christmas presents and someone likes them so much, that Jake and his family are sent to the city to work in a factory. The living conditions are a little better but not much. Then people start disappearing in the night. The secret police are taking people away to never be seen again. One night during a concert Jake's brother Peter is taken. A few months later Jake's father is taken. Jake, his sister and mother decide to leave Russia and go to Finland. This takes them on a running trek across Russia to freedom. Do they make it? You'll have to read the book to find out.

[Devin Dehart · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love history then this is the book for you. The story begins with Jake and his Finnish family during the great depression, times are hard on his family. Arvid the dad is a huge socialist and is always going to meetings about moving to the USSR. One day Arvid finally decides its time to leave the small Finnish town and move to the USSR in hope of equality. This dream soon turns into a nightmare. Stalin comes to power and everything turns sour. The NKVD or the Russian secret police arrest anyone who speaks against his almighty power. Soon everyone the family knows dissapears and the NKVD are slowly creeping in on them. MUST READ!

[Nick Voth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the greatest books I have ever read. The story is solid and will keep you guessing.

The story follows a family that moves to russia looking for work in the mining industry. They believe this job will give them a chance at a new life and help build a new world in russia. Without giving to much away they find themselves stuck in a working nightmare and have to find their way out. I felt emotionally attached when they struggle to live in russia.

Overall this is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a different story.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because I heard the author, William Durbin, speak at Finnfest in Minneapolis last week. He was on a panel with another author who had written on the topic of Karellian Fever--this movement among Finns to move to Karellia in Russia to build a socialist community. It turned out to be a nightmare, and over a thousand Finns were executed and buried in unmarked graves for not toeing the party line. This gripping story is told from the perspective of the family's middle child, Jake, who moves with his family from American to Russia, along with like-minded Finns.

[Yakov G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The darkest evening is like going into a whole new life and at first you love everything about your new life then all of a sudden it’s not what you expect it to be. At first you are ok with but you start to see things go wrong and all of a sudden it become a fight for survival or life and death situation. It’s a really good book and I like everything about because I love history but for other people they won’t like the extra details the book gives you. I think people who love adventure and history should read this book. Cause over all I think the majority.

[Matthew]

The Darkest Evening by William Durbin is a book about a family that has to move to Russia but Jake doesn't want to go and tries to stop them.

My opinion of the book is that its really good with the story line and how they explain whats happening to the characters. It shows whats happening to each of the main character. Its really thrilling book to read as well.

I would recommend this book to 10-13 year olds because they are talking about the great depression in the 1934s and it has a lot of history in the book. both boys and girls can read it. There is a little violence in the book though.

[Ameer]

I thought that this book was very good, because the book had very interesting details about a boy named Jake who had always wondered what his uncle meant when he'd warned his father about the red droom. Jake's life is turned upside down when his father gets caught up in the Socialist fervor washing over their Finnish mining community in Minnesota. Jake and his family had moved to the Soviet Union, when Jake must leave everything he loves behind to follow his father's dreams of a workers paradise.

[Ashley Desotell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in middle school. About a week ago I went and looked for it. I loved it then and I love it now. Well living in the upper penisula of michigan I understood what the places were. I have been to most of them. Just thinking that some people really did this and from my own part of the country just made me speachless. I enjoyed Durbins work in this and am waiting to read another piece of his work

[Danny J]

In the past quarter i read the book The Darkest Evening by William Durbin. I think everyone should read this book. This book is about a family that moves too russia during the cold war and everything gets worse when they move.


I give this book a 5 out of 5 because it kept me on my heels and I didn't want to stop reading this book. Once i did finish this book i went to the library and i got a new book by william durbin. This book is called the winter war.

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darkest Evening by William durbin illustrates an adventure of a boy and his family. They move to Russia or in their time the soviet union. Jake has to leave his friends behind and also leave all of the stuff he couldn’t bring at home.They travel in Russia by skiing on the terrain.
You must read the book to find out what happens next
The Darkest Evening By William durbin is an adventuristic book. I would recommend this book to people who like adventure books.

[Jams · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the mid 1930's thousands of Finnish-Americans immigrated to the newly formed Soviet Union. They left Depression riddled America in search of the Socialist dream of free housing, health care and education for their children. What they found was a terrifying police state run by the power hungry Stalin.

"The Darkest Nigh" is the story of one family's escape from Communist Russia.

[Mrs · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter is reading this book for a class so, of course, I had to borrow it. It kept my interest because I was unfamiliar with this event in history but frankly the storytelling was lacking. It reads more as a nonfiction book. Also, I think the intended audience (grades 6-8) is going to lack a fair bit of context necessary to understand this book.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is a young adult book, I would still recommend it to anyone who wants to read on the subject of Finnish Imigrant history, and Stalinist Communism of the 1930's. A Story based on truth of the stories of many people who emigated from Minnesota to Karelia, Russia to work in a communist society in the midst of the great depression. It is truly enlightening!

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting tale of depression era Finnish immigrants, who leave Michigan for the promise of living in a newly created Finnish state in the Soviet Union. Reminded me of why communism doesn't work.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a very good book. It had a good plot and structure