Ivan le terrible

by Anne Fine

Tout commence parce que Boris parle russe. Un matin, son professeur lui demande de venir en aide à un nouveau venu dans l'école. Il s'appelle Ivan, il est russe et Boris doit lui servir d'interprète. Jusque-là tout va bien. Seulement les premières paroles en russe d'Ivan sont: "Salutations à vous tous, pauvres vers tremblants... Sans aucun doute, vous serez tous assez faibles d'esprit pour m'accueillir parmi vous. Vos cerveaux minuscules, imbéciles comme des bulbes, sont tout simplement incapables de voir que j'ai des pouvoirs secrets dont j'ai l'intention de me servir pour faire de vous tous mes esclaves." Boris reste pétrifié. Qui est cet affreux garçon? Et comment traduire son horrible discours?

Genres: School, School Stories

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Though readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.

Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)

Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.

Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.

Reviews

[Naseem]

I recently read the book called 'Ivan the Terrible' by Anne Fine. It is about a boy called Ivan from Russia that supposedly can not speak English and is therefore paired with Boris. Boris is Russian too so he has been given the job of Ivan's translator for the day. However Boris's job proves to be very difficult as he is determind to stick with the postive and good mannered ethos of the school but Ivan often makes rude and threatening comments about the school, teachers and fellow pupils in Russian. Boris, therefore, has to not only to translate from to Russian to English but he also has to change the nature of Ivan's comments to postive and polite replies.

This story was very amusing as Boris struggles to keep everything together and becomes very fustrated at the end. It also becomes clear that Ivan is actually a very bright boy who infact could really speak English. He had been annoyed the whole day because he should have really been in another school that was on the same road. The misunderstanding is cleared up and before Ivab goes he leaves a kind note for Boris on the back of a piece of papeer. This puts Boris back in a good mood after his fustrating day and he kind of misses Ivan a little.

The story was quite humourous and promotes the idea of good behaviour. It would also allow children that are from other countries to relate with Boris and Ivan's experience.

[John Naylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this.

A story about the new boy in school and the boy who has to show him round. The problem is that the new boy is Russian and only one person understandings Russian. This leads to secret conversations and some good humour.

The language is interestingly at times. There were words this reasonably well read 37 year old didn't know. The plot was good and the ending a surprise. I definitely would recommend this as a bedtime book.

[Shahrun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny little tale where we follow Boris round school for the day. He’s bilingual (English & Russian) and so gets tasked with translating for the new Russian student who apparently speaks no English. What happened next is funny, surprising and stressful for poor Boris. I guessed part of the ending correctly, but did enjoy the journey getting there. It’s always enjoyable to read an illustrated book.

[trijnewijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 sterren
Een leuke afwisseling om naar een kinderboek te luisteren zonder grootse avonturen of plot, maar met een hele mooie uitnodiging tot empathie op het einde. Want eigenlijk, stiekem, kun je met de info van de ontknoping Ivan niet meer zo Terrible vinden en je zelfs afvragen of je het ook zou durven.

[Selvameena Dhandapani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book yesterday. I think this is the best children's book I really enjoyed. Some of the places were really funny, and I laughed out aloud.

I am not into fantasy, or sci-fi books, so reading children's book is a duty to me. These kind of "real" life books are refreshing. And it's double bonus if they are funny! Would definitely recommend for adults too.

[Amber Bismillah (scriptedsolstice) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very unexpectedly so good! I’m trying to hit my reading goal and found this shorter book on my library app. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I started to enjoy Ivan’s character. He was hilarious! Some scenes were quite dark but it made it funnier!

[Biggaletta Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good entertaining fun. Ivan was bright but a wee bit naughty.

[Benj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. What if Ivan the Terrible (as a child) was transferred to your school? Funniest part are Boris' diplomatic translations of Ivan's insulting and acerbic words.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that Ivan the terrible is not bad but not the best. The story is about a boy called Ivan who doen't seem too nice at first, although once you come to the end he somehow grows on you.

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy reading this story. I am off to try to Cyrillicize the Russian....