Four Steps to Death

by John Wilson

In this novel by John Wilson set during the Battle of Stalingrad, three participants -- two fighters and a boy -- are caught in its horrors. Their story is told over seven days of fierce and deadly street-by-street fighting. Vasily is a patriotic Russian soldier determined to rid his country of the hated Nazi invaders -- if he can stay alive long enough. Conrad is a German tank officer, part of the seemingly unstoppable force sweeping eastward over the steppe, expecting a quick victory over Stalin's ill-trained and badly equipped army. Between them is eight-year-old Sergei, whose home is the maze of rubble that used to be the city of Stalingrad. None of them can know that their fates will be intertwined as the cataclysm engulfs them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, World War II, War, Fiction, Historical

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

John Wilson, an ex-geologist and frustrated historian, is the award-winning author of fifty novels and non-fiction books for adults and teens. His passion for history informs everything he writes, from the recreated journal of an officer on Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition to young soldiers experiencing the horrors of the First and Second World Wars and a memoir of his own history. John researches and writes in Lantzville on Vancouver Island. There are many more details in his memoir, Lands of Lost Content, https://www.amazon.com/Lands-Lost-Con...

Reviews

[A.C. Garnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Steps to Death is a good read for mature children or young teenagers. This book is an entertaining war story with colourful cast of characters. The locations, weapons, and terminology are accurate enough to be interesting for a child interested in military history. The broad plot of this story could have been taken from films like "Stalingrad" or "Enemy at the Gates". Wilson manages to write a high interest and action packed story while avoiding glorifying war. The main theme of this story is of loss, and of the tragedy left behind in the wake of war. I found it very refreshing that Wilson has imagined a realistic cast of German and Russian characters, who are symbolic of their respective national characters. Wilson does a tactful job of explaining the appeal of National Socialism and Stalinist Communism, and describing the gradual loss of morale and disenchantment which common soldiers felt. There are some very graphic scenes of violence and cruelty described in this story, but the author does not relish in them.

[Alexis Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Steps to Death gives insight to the Battle of Stalingrad that no text book could ever give you. It replicates the feelings of the soldiers to such a high degree that you can almost feel them yourself; their pride, fear, pain, agitation, and suffering during one of the bloodiest battles in history. Four Steps to Death exhibits this threw both side of the war, the Russian side and the German side. Using the characters Vasily for the Russian side and Conrad for the German. Not only does it reflect the soldiers' emotions but also, the civilians. This is targeted through Sergei, the eight-year-old boy caught in the middle of the battle. The books descriptive style of telling these three characters story gives more feeling, understanding, and connection to the horrors of the Battle of Stalingrad then any bland textbook could give.

Four Steps to Death gives the pearl of wisdom of don't get too cocky. In the beginning of the book Conrad is quite cocky as the Battle of Stalingard is his first battle. Veteran soldiers around him constantly remind him of this fact and warn him of its dangers.

I really enjoyed Four Steps to Death. One of my favourite features about this book was that it showed the different sides of the war. This dispels the theme were taught about WW11 when growing up; that theme of good vs evil. The different perspectives help remind us that war is a horrid thing to go through, no matter who you are or what side you're on. It affects many people and bring unimaginable pain. Another thing I liked about this book was the character Gottfried. Although he was on the German side, he was one of the only characters to recognize that both side were doing disgusting things. For example, when they fired at a Russian battery of 37 mm antiaircraft guns with their tank, the people who were operating these guns were young women. Conrad and the other displayed disguised at the Russians and call them "barbarians", Gottfried only states that they are no different for '"...how many sixteen-year-old girls sitting at home did have the Richthofen's bombers killed today?'" (Wilson, 65)

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me think of "Enemy at the gates" and numerous other books on Stalingrad.
Interesting way at looking at using soldiers and civilians from both sides to tell us the story of the battle for Stalingrad.

[Carson Lashbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read was four steps to death. The book was pretty good with lots of action packed parts and good dialogue. The book is about three people that are in Stalingrad when the battle was going on. Connor was a German tank comander, Vasily was a Russian foot solider and Segri a young boy who used to live in Stalingrad. The book went in to each character's feelings and actions that the text book could not do because it doesn't care what the people did unless they were big if they were some small random foot solider that didn’t do much they wouldn’t care but with a book they can really focuses on the characters and what they do throughout the stories while focusing on real time events and how it was for people.
The book seemed to have a common theme of war is not as glamorous as it seems and it shows that through having Conrad shoot at a group of girls when they were shooting at him because he had no choice or they would kill him, or when a Russian snuck up behind Vasily and Vasily shot him because neither of them could tell if they were on each other's side. Sergi was just a young boy played with a bunch of kids and then he was tasked with finding food so he and his mother could survive.

I really enjoyed the book but I am a fan of WW2 so it was a pretty cool read and put you in the shoes of three different characters, having some different perspectives in the book was really enjoy able so you know how different people felt through the same situation. I gave it 4 stars because the book was good but could have been better like having another character like a female to give her opinion on what's happening. also, it reminded me of enemy at the gate.

[Catry Lai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Back in high school, this book was one of the ten nominees for the Red Maple reading program in the fiction category, and I remembered this was the one I didn't look forward to reading the most based on the synopsis and the cover. I was not fond of the theme (WW2), but because I wanted to read all ten books, I took it out and read it.

And oh my word, I ended up voting for this book. This book actually got me interested in finding out about WW2. To be honest, I cannot remember if the writing style was good or not, but I remember finishing the novel in one sitting, with tears streaming out of my eyes, because the emotions and the tragedies were so strongly portrayed, and the way the three MCs' lives interwined broke my heart. I couldn't get over the heaviness in my chest even a few days after I finished the novel.

I'll never forget this novel.

[Richard L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was a teenager. It is not the best book in the genre, but it did captivate me and kept me interested; and I was not a reader back then. so I believe it's a good book for younger folks that are interrested in WW2 and one od it's greater battle scene, Stalingrad. I like how the characters evolve trhoughout the book. you can feel their confidence grow or crash as the story unfolds (just like in real lifew). I will probably read again when I have some down-time in the future.

[Suzanne Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written YA look at the battle of Stalingrad. The way the young men from Germany, Russia, and Stalingrad itself are interwoven with a very realistic ending that shows the horrors of war.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

War books are not my preferred genre so it was difficult to get through this book. The last 30 or so pages, the story picks up and it was quick work to finish.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

On page 5 I snarkily thought to myself, "What is this, Young Adult fiction? God this writing is bad!"

On page 10, I thought sincerely to myself, "Wait, is this young adult fiction?"

On page 15 I looked at the back cover to see if it said anything about being young adult fiction - it didn't.

On page 25, I looked at the publisher and realized it was indeed young adult fiction. So that explains most of why the writing was so awful.

But for a YA book, I guess it was only kinda awful.

Yet I plugged through, because it was (as you'd now expect) a very fast read, and I'm fascinated by the subject of Stalingrad. I can't say doing so was rewarding as there wasn't anything really new - just derivative of big boy/big girl stuff you can find on the subject.

So, if you have a young adult at home who likes to read about Russian history and/or world war 2, I suppose you could give it to them, if they like those things but still struggle to read at an advanced level. However, if they like those things, they probably can read at an advanced level, at least more advanced than this.

So, as YA fiction, pretty mediocre, but not horrendous. As an accidental adult read, pretty awful, but that's not why the book was written. Note to self: pay attention when going on your next amazon used book binge.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Combining my interest in YA fiction and Stalingrad (I know, I know) this book caught my interest and I saved it from the weeding pile recently at the library. Fairly formulaic, this book is told from three viewpoints, a Russian sniper assistant, a German tank Sargent and a 8 year old boy it covers several months leading up to the German 6th Army surrender. The details were fairly interesting, but overall felt fairly light and predictable (the German soldiers were especially stereotypical). I might recommend to someone who had to read a WWII fiction, but overall would give it a pass.

[Samy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! :)
I liked the characters and I liked the end. I liked Conrad the most, even if he was the Nazi soldier.
The book was really good: well-narrated, interesting shifts from character to character, and different points of view (without being confusing). However, I think some of the characters were too stereotypical.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA novel about the Battle of Stalingrad. Told from three different perspectives, a eight-year old Russian boy living in the city, a German Tank Officer and a Russian army scout in Stanlingrade who is working with the famed Russian Sniper, Yelena Pavola, to repel the Germans from the city.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read about the Russian front during WWII.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent YA novel about Battle for Leningrad - From Russian and German perspective. I couldn't put it down, not could my then 11 year old son.

[Zech Kountz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a pretty damn good story... Thats all I got to say... This is for people who like studying world war II and if you like books with action and an adventure

[Elmo With Teeth]

Good book, lots of action and detail