The Impossible Journey

St. Petersburg #2

by Gloria Whelan

From National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan comes the remarkable continuation of her Russian series.

With her signature spare language and luminescent detail, award–winning author Gloria Whelan delivers the gripping companion novel to her Russian saga, Angel on the Square.

One night in 1934, Marya and Georgi's parent's disappear. The children, alone and desperate, fear the worst. But one crumpled letter gives the children hope and sends them on a difficult mission : to escape the city and find passage to the great Siberian wilderness. This is the story of their journey, one both perilous and transforming.

Ages 10+

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Russia, Middle Grade, Historical, Young Adult, Fiction

249 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2003

About the author

Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square and its companion, The Impossible Journey; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell to the Island; and Return to the Island. She lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Reviews

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone wonders what life would be like under Communist rule, or thinks it would be a good idea for free society to convert to Communism, he should read this book series, as well as "Breaking Stalin's Nose." Public school history textbooks may no longer accurately portray oppressive societies of the past and present, but true accounts of history still exist, as well as realistic historical fiction. This series is one of the latter, and is excellent food for thought. It gives me a greater appreciation for the ideals of the free society of my country, and fear and grief at the thought that it is at stake today.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happily, I found this better than the first book in the series. While there are many emotional scenes, they are presented in a simple way that is understandable by young readers. We get a good sense of the terrible life under Communism: the suspicion and mistrust, the senseless evil and greedy opportunism. The (relatively) happy ending is perhaps a little beyond what would really happen, but it makes for a good story.

[Bambi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Perserverance, eyes on the goal, survival. Families torn apart during Stalin's reign. Realizing good people still exist in the world, despite encounters with so many evil ones.

[christine ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRICKING—

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painfully slow start. It got interesting halfway through. Strong finish.

[Laurabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, very moving and darker than the previous book. Communist Russia was harsh.

[Challice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this second book even more than the first! With the Communism taking over Russia, young Katya is now a mother with two little ones and a husband fighting against Stalin's take over and crushing of Russia. After Katya and her husband become political prisoners and sent to camps as far away as Siberia, young Marya and her brother Georgi head out to reunite themselves with their mother. This book will tug on your heart strings as you watch these two children cover thousands of miles on foot to reach their mother. Many adventures await them on the journey but you will have to read the story to find out more. Love this approach to Russian history and Whelan is a master storyteller with the gift of sharing hard topics in a way that doesn't water down but doesn't drag you through the mire as well.

[Anajoy-rusticgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Gloria Whelan's Russian Saga. But this one just didn't click as well as the others. Don't get me wrong I still like the book, would read it again, would even put it on my much revered shelf, but I don't know what it was--I didn't feel a connection to the main characters as I did with Katya and her other descendents... And it just was awful how Misha died!

[Madeline Stone]

This series was a little bit below my reading level when I read it, but I still liked it. Reading these books is a great way to learn about the last days of the Czars and the takeover of the communists in Russia.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series that starts with "Angel on the Square." Wonderful!

As I listen to this on CD, I re-realize that Gloria Whelan is my definite favorite children's author!!

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't say whether this was believable or unbelievable. It was certainly enjoyable, and I went and got two more in the series the next time I went to the library.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this out loud to my son as part of our history curriculum (currently covering the Stalin era). We both really enjoyed this story about two young Russian children whose parents are arrested by the government for being among many "enemies of the state" per Stalin and his forces. Marya and her younger brother Georgi are left without parents and first go to live with reluctant neighbors who act as those these two children are "tainted" with the crimes of their parents. Marya is a smart, plucky girl who not only figures out how to visit her mother in prison, but also how to outsmart her neighbors who she learns are about to place her brother and her into an orphanage.

The bulk of this book is about the "impossible journey" Marya and her brother make to get from Leningrad to a town in Siberia where she believes her mother has been sent. Along the way, they meet people, good and not-so-good, who get them closer to their final destination. They sleep outside, fish for food, run from bears, and are even captured by an indigenous nomadic tribe.

Whelan does a great job of describing the terrain, the era, and the people with whom Marya and Georgie interact. For kids, it's a great book to explain a time in history (not that long ago!) when children were left without parents and when government turned a blind eye to its people in pursuit of some "greater good" (the scene about the trapped minors who are left to die is particularly chilling).

Written for kids grades 5-8, I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about this time period.

[Kathy Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids (10 & 7) enjoyed Angel on the Square enough that we are reading this book together. It's not quite as interesting to them, partially because the premise is a little unfathomable. That's not the fault of the author, just the fault of the times. I had a hard time explaining to them, and they had a hard time understanding, what an "enemy of the state" was, and how such simple things as having an aristocratic background, or a picture of the wrong people, or possessing the wrong books could send parents in exile leaving two young children to fend for themselves. This book is less hopeful than the first, but Whelan still does a good job of having a compelling story and narrative (though slightly more contrived) than Angel on the Square.

[Amy T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to Angel on the Square, Katya and Masha’s two children (Marya and Georgi) travel alone through Siberia to find their mother, who has been banished to a tiny town above the arctic circle. Marya is a typical brave female heroine found in middle grade novels today. Angel on the Square is focused more on actual historical events, while The Impossible Journey is its own story set in a historical backdrop. The author manages to make Siberia seem like a rather charming place, with its reindeer, huge cabbages, and friendly Samoyed people. However there is always the threat of the communist police everywhere they go, even into the wilderness. Books like this are great for kids (and adults!) to realize how we take our American freedoms for granted.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars. Historical Fiction 1934 in Russia. So many ways we can compare what is happening during the Russian Revolution to other historical events at the same time. I learned a lot and felt it was sort of like Sign of the Beaver during the second half of the book... (granted Sign of the Beaver is about 50 years earlier...). Great book to discover a tundra and new geography focus... I did want to look up more information after reading the book. I read it thinking it would inform and compliment our Social Studies. I wonder if the first book, Angel on the Square, would be more pertinent? It was ok. I value what I learned as a result of reading the book.

[Lavendermist ❀༉‧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading "Angel on the Square", I read the rest of Whelan's Russian saga. I think the plot is interesting, but I didn't feel a connection to the characters, and I feel like Katya and Misha were much more interesting. Also, the book ends sadly, and I was quite upset when Misha died. I liked him as a character and thought his view on the government was interesting. He also had a complex personality as a kind of background character. In my opinion, he didn't deserve to die. However, I'm wondering if Katya and Misha are cousins, or not?? They were really sweet as a couple though.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good follow up to "Angel on the Square". This book is set when Katya grows up and marries Misha. They have two children. The mother and father are arrested and taken away, the father to prison, and the mother to a small Siberian town. The two children must journey to find their mother. Along the way, various people help them. This book should be read after "Angel on the Square". I highly recommend it!😍😍😍

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not realize this was book 2 when I read it, but it stands alone nicely. The author does an amazing job with the history, and making it feel so real and so interesting. Each time the kids faced another impossibility in their journey, someone came along to help them. If you ever wanted to know what it was like in Soviet Russia, or Siberia, this is the book to read!

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very hard to read. The tragedies & hardships that Marya & Georgi had to go through to get their parents were very hard, and took a lot of courage & heart. I give this book a 3.5 star rating for the story telling & the realistic events that took place in this book.

[Danielle Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this even better than the first in the series. I was enveloped in the time, culture, and environment. The perseverance and courage of the children was wonderful to read about. And I just loved the reindeer people, the shaman and the snow globe.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, heartbreaking tale of the cruel, harsh reality of communism. I really enjoyed reading about the Samoyed people, their culture and the friendship formed, along the children’s journey.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russia under Stalin. Perfect for ages 10-13. Much peril and injustice, of course, but always helpers along the way and a (mostly) happy ending.

I have a 13 year old student reading this right now, and she keeps raving about how good it is. :)

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Marya & Georgy's parents are arrested in Stalinist Russia, they go in search of them

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I also enjoyed this book. The series is very intriguing and historical.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent MG historical, covering the 1930s and Communism in the Soviet Union. I was excited to see Katya back, excited for the train, and had lots of feels by the end. Solid MG read.

[Amy Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story. Gloria Whelan’s books never disappoint.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good sequel. Quick and easy read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. Fascinating to learn of the different aspects of Russian living in the time of Stalin. Great plot (although truly impossible!) and flow.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5--a solid sequel. See http://www.eatreadandbemommy.com/2021... for details!

[Kristi Ehnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!