Red Stone

by Gabriele Goldstone

Katya knows all about Stalin’s big plans; she learned of them in school. But those plans mean little to her until the secret police arrest Papa and seize their family farm. With Mama and her younger siblings, Katya is shoved into a crowded train headed for a forced labour camp in Siberia. Torn from everything she has ever known, Katya faces cold and hunger, and the ever-present threat of lost hope. As she clings to a single red stone from the fields of her homeland, she questions life. Where is Papa? Will she ever see him again? And what will become of Katya’s family?

Inspired by a true story, Red Stone explores the trauma and heart¬break suffered by many families in the Soviet Union during the 1930s when Stalin seized individual property and villainized property owners as kulaks.

Genres: Historical Fiction

164 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2010

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short middle grade novel is set in the early 1930s in an ethnic German community in the Soviet Union.

The Kulak's Daughter is about a young girl and her family who are deemed "kulaks" -- or enemies of the people -- because they oppose communism.

The novel is based on the life of the author's mother and the details and anecdotes ring true. This is not an era that many people in the west know about. The story predates the Holodomor (Stalin-orchestrated famine that killed millions of Ukrainians) by three years. While I knew that ethnic Germans were not treated well in the Soviet Union during Stalin's time, I had no idea that they were deported en masse to Siberia where most were worked to death.

This is a well-told story and it reads almost like a memoir. It is an assured first novel and the reader easily steps into the shoes of Olga, the oldest daughter.

The parallels between Stalin's gulags and Hitler's concentration camps are chilling.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this is a fictionalized story of Stalin's plan to collectivize the farms of Russia no matter the cost. Told through the voice of eleven year old Olga (The Kulak's Daughter) it tells the horrendous story of what happened to those who failed to co-operate with the Stalinists - in this case, the father being sent to jail as a traitor while the rest of the family is deported to a transition camp in Siberia. While all of the story is based on actual events, the unfolding of one terrible circumstance after another is unrelenting. It's quite riveting to read, but a better and similar memoir is "Hana's Suitcase" because the harshness is there but handled with less direct fierceness. Goldstone writes with the accessibility and simplicity of Deborah Ellis which is a positive, but overall this book is mighty bleak for anyone, let alone the age group it is directed to.

[maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. A lot of people died though, but I really liked it!!

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. This does not affect my review.

Red Stone was a surprise for me. From the synopsis, I knew a bit about what I was going to read, but I didn't think I get as sucked into the story as I did.

The story is narrated by Katya, initially 10 at the start of the book and just turned 12 at the end. Katya is the eldest daughter of a farmer in Federofka, Soviet Union (now part of Ukraine). While her family is not wealthy, they own the land they work, and they have enough to eat and then some to sell. In 1930, things change for the family, and Katya is sent off with her mother and siblings to Yaya, Siberia.

That's the trouble with everything. You never know what will happen next. You can plan and hope and do all things right, and then a storm comes along.

It's clear Goldstone wanted to keep the story as historically accurate as possible. She used the place names that were in existence at the time, as well as the spellings. Real forced labour projects are also mentioned, such as the White Sea Canal project. In this first book, we see the implementation of Stalin's first Five-Year Plan. This included banning of religion, liquidisation of privately owned farmland and arrests of all "first-class kulaks" (the owners of farmland).

"Effective immediately, all students will be expected to attend school seven days a week, including Sundays. No exceptions. The Soviet Union must educate its young to be productive citizens of its future. Education will create a worker's paradise here on earth. Religion is for the weak. The opium of the people."

Goldstone did a fantastic job with the first person perspective, especially that of a child. Katya came to life, toeing the line between still being a child and having to grow up and be the big sister. I also felt her love for her father and other members of her family, as well as her innocence. That childhood naivety shines through, especially at the beginning, and she must quickly learn that people are not always how they seem – sometimes the ones you think you can trust will ruin you, while others that seem sinister might actually be the ones to help you.

The idea that Natasha once had a mother startles me. I've never thought of Natasha as a person. She's always been just our milkmaid.

Admittedly, I didn't cry while reading, even though there were many incredibly tragic moments. Red Stone had more of a slow descent into depression than sudden devastating moments. I found, when the peaks of sadness hit, I was already at a level of despondency that I could only sigh and keep going, much like Katya and her family.

The sadness is so loud I must cover my ears to shut out the wails.

The story ends with a sliver of hope, and I couldn't wait to read the next book...and I did just that!

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kulak's Daughter is genuine, heartbreaking, and powerful. It is based on a true story, which makes it even more sad. Although, readers should look forward to an uplifting ending. The beginning of this novel takes place at a farm, where a large family lives, including a little girl named Ogla. Everything is going perfectly for Ogla until her father's beliefs force the family to move somewhere terrible. Ogla's journey and unbelievable strength keeps the reader turning pages. I recommend this book.

[Susan Rocan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about the difficulties facing a family labeled as kulaks by the Communists and sent to Siberia. Olga was a pre-teen, the oldest of her siblings, forced to grow up way to early. Gabriele Goldstone did a marvelous job of bringing this based-on-a-true-story to life. Any readers, young or old will learn a bit of history and sympathize with Olga and her family.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so very true, imy class met the daughter of 'Olga', who is the author of the book. If you'd like to learn more go to www.gabrielgoldstone.com.

[Jodi Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It kept me up to the wee hours, weeping for Olga. A must read for middle graders looking to understand Stalin's insanity.