Crow Stone

by Gabriele Goldstone

It's especially cold and snowy, that last winter of the Second World War. With the Red Army expected to thunder through the Third Reich at any moment, a sense of doom pervades Katya's world where everyone is expected to believe in the Nazi's final victory. At the end of January, 1945, East Prussian civilians are finally given permission to flee. Having spent the war years working at an ammunition factory, Katya joins her two sisters, and thousands of others, trekking with overloaded wagons along crowded, snowy roads. They're trying to reach ships waiting along the Baltic coast. They don't make it. Instead, Katya's separated from her sisters and forced to take a long and shameful journey back into the Soviet Union, a country that once labelled her kulak and destroyed her family home. Katya's dragged into a labour camp deep in the Ural Mountains. Here, with her Russian language skills from childhood, she's elevated to a leadership position as a starosta. It's a position fraught with danger as she navigates the two enemy worlds. Katya learns to eat crow, to find love, and to believe in herself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

260 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Mateusz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriele Goldstone is one of Canada's finest authors of historical fiction. "Crow Stone" is a must-read for everyone who wants to understand better the complex socio-political situation in Central and Eastern Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. Goldstone skillfully showcases that history is not black or white. When a few years ago, Goldstone introduced us to Katya, the eponymous kulak's daughter ("The Kulak's Daughter," "Red Stone"), the girl was a hopeful child who survived exile from Ukraine to Siberia in the early 1930s. After living in East Prussia for a few years, where Katya faced discrimination and witnessed the gradual spread of Nazism and anti-Semitism ("Broken Stone," "Tainted Amber"), in "Crow Stone," she is forced to return to the Soviet Union after the end of the Second World War. Now Katya has to survive in the Ural Mountains, similar to Siberia - where she lost her mother and baby brother years before. "Crow Stone" is a haunting and heartbreaking novel directed at readers older than Goldstone's first two books (trigger warning: death, rape, abuse, abortion). Notably, it can be read as a standalone book.

[Gabriela Zimko · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Crow Stone" by Gabriele Goldstone is a young adult historical novel loosely based on events the author’s mother experienced towards the end of the Second World War. The novel tells the story of an orphaned kulak woman named Katya, an ethnic German refugee from the Soviet Union who is mandatorily working at a munitions factory in East Prussia. Katya’s identity struggles are promptly brought to light as she is discriminated against even by her relatives. The novel’s narrative further develops when the Red Army invades East Prussia. Goldstone vividly depicts the deaths and other hardships faced by the German civilians who are forced to flee their homes. Katya is captured and separated from her siblings and, consequently, sent to a work camp in the Ural Mountains along with other German women. Goldstone graphically and extensively showcases the horrors faced by women as prisoners of war. Throughout the novel, the protagonist’s will to survive, perseverance, and resilience are remarkably conveyed. Furthermore, Goldstone introduces a noteworthy perspective, which demonstrates the complexity of the socio-political situation in East Prussia and the Soviet Union. Katya’s character also skilfully introduces the perspectives of both the oppressor and the victim. Goldstone’s style is cohesive, authentic, and meticulously informative. "Crow Stone" impeccably embodies the multidimensional memory of German women during the Second World War, who were simply and ill-fatedly victims of circumstances. While the novel is considered to be a young adult and crossover historical novel, it comprises difficult themes such as violence, rape, abortion, and death. Despite "Crow Stone" being the last volume in a series, it can be read and enjoyed as an individual book. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining insight into Soviet labour camps from the perspective of women and the human spirit of survival.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crow Stone, written by a Canadian author Gabriele Goldstone, is a crossover historical fiction/YA novel whose target audience is children aged 12+, yet I recommend it more for older readers of 14+ . Crow Stone tells the story of a harrowing journey of Katya – a young girl who, after the end of the Second World War, embarks on a journey into the treacherous Ural Mountains and tries to survive as one of the numerous East Prussian refugees made to work in labour camps. Throughout the novel, Katya learns about the horrors of war as she discovers that the world around her isn’t so black and white and that both sides of this conflict have committed truly heinous acts. Her story conveys the most cruel and brutal realities of war and despite that shows a great deal of empathy to its protagonist when the girl learns the truth. Yet, first and foremost, this is a tale of survival, the indomitable human spirit and the courage to survive one possesses in the face of the unspeakable. Katya ensures her own survival by the sheer force of her perseverance and willingness to have hope even in the darkest of times. The book contains themes that may be triggering for some, like graphic descriptions of violence, abuse and murder, and it needs to be taken into consideration before reading. Despite the violent themes, the book is wonderfully written - Goldstone captivates and immerses her readers with her vivid and detailed descriptions that truly make us understand Katya and the world she lives in. It is an educational read that broadens one’s mind when it comes to the Second World War as it is told from a perspective we as readers are not used to. This novel is difficult, brutal and definitely worth reading – you won’t regret it.

[aranyannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriele Goldstone’s Crow Stone (2022) is a young adult/crossover historical novel about the life of Katya, a German-Russian young woman working in the munitions factory in East Prussia during the Second World War. It is a captivating yet heartbreaking story portraying the fate of ordinary people who fell victim to circumstances and how innocent civilians have to take responsibility for the choices of their countries’ leaders’. The novel is loosely based on true events that the author’s relative experienced during the Second World War. Still, the fictional events and characters that Goldstone intertwined with her family’s history blend naturally. There is a good balance of fact and fiction in the book, and because the language used is raw and the author does not use any unnecessary literary devices to make the text more flowery, it allows the reader to see and feel the harsh reality of the fight for survival. The language and style allow us to sympathize with the characters and understand that they often had to make difficult decisions, which some may consider immoral, to stay alive. Furthermore, the story told from Katya’s point of view introduces a unique perspective where the story is told by the ‘villains.’ I would like to recommend this book to people who are interested in the Second World War, willing to understand the dynamics of Eastern Europe, and are looking for books introducing a different point of view on the matter, sometimes, a view that has often been overlooked. Additionally, although the book tells the story of a character introduced in Goldstone’s earlier works, the reader does not have to be familiar with those works to fully understand the book.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I allowed to cheer for my own book? It's done. It's out there. A story I've dragged around with me since childhood. I tried my best and that's all I can expect of myself. Love you, forever, Mom.

[Diana Stevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read Tainted Amber by Gabriele Goldstone, and enjoyed it so much I decided to read its sequel, Crow Stone, to learn what had happened to Katya and the young man she loved. This novel shows the ugly truth of what happened to innocent civilians, both German and Russian like Katya, the protagonist, who were punished at the end of WWII by the conquerors. The author writes in such exquisite detail that readers will find themselves immersed in those times. An excellent read.

[Larry Verstraete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed & meticulously researched, this story resonates with the courage, resilience & determination of Katya, the main character, whose search for home in post-war Europe is fraught with challenges. Stark, but hopeful, revealing & superbly told.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Crow Stone" by Gabriele Goldstone is a thought-provoking and gripping novel that transports the reader into Second World War reality. The protagonist of the book-Katya, is a young woman who lives in East Prussia. While Katya’s family is German, she is also strongly affected by the war. We can learn the perspective of civilians and soldiers who are merely pawns in the ridiculous and devastating political skirmishes. The story is fascinating because it shows a different and rarely depicted view of both sides involved in the Second World War–the German and the Soviet. Goldstone’s book reveals the unscrupulous dark side of war and its effect on the lives of innocent people. The book is inspired by true events, which strikes the reader’s heart even more. Moreover, the novel shows how much the human psyche can endure and how important it is to find hope. Crow Stone by Gabriele Goldstone is an incredible story which conveys important values and raises awareness of the serious consequences of war. I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author in the future and I highly recommend this book.

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crow Stone by Gabriele Goldstone is a historical novel that explores the themes of survival and resilience. The story follows the journey of Katya, a sensitive and determined protagonist inspired by Goldstone’s own mother. In my opinion, Katya’s realistic portrayal is the novel’s greatest strength. She is a sympathetic and relatable young girl who tries her hardest to remain strong even in the light of the circumstances beyond her control that burden her. I found myself relating to her because of her sensitivity, love of animals, and empathy. I vividly remember a scene in which Katya and her sisters are travelling East. Katya hears a woman screaming, and even though her sister advises her not to get involved, she feels the strong need to check on the struggling person, who turns out to be her friend Lili. I know if a similar thing was happening to me, I would also want to do anything in my power to help a person in need; Katya’s compassion in this situation is both inspiring and empowering. Overall, I enjoyed reading Crow Stone, and I found myself constantly engaged with the plot and curious about how Katya’s story would progress. This book also taught me a lot about the historical background that it portrayed through its setting, for which I’m very grateful .

[Martha Attema · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Stone Crow', Y.A. novel, historical fiction is the sequel to 'Tainted Amber'. In this novel we meet Katya while she works in the ammunition factory in Stablach. In January 1945 the Germans are losing the war, while the Russian Red Army invades Germany. Kathya, her sisters and thousands of East Prussian civilians are fleeing to the Baltic Sea, where ships are waiting to take them to safety. But Kathya is separated from her sisters and forced to walk to Russia, where she is forced to work in a slave labour camp in a coal mine in the Ural. After two years, she is finally free. This story is about war, family, love, slave labour, survival, determination and hope. Gabriele Goldstone skillfully pieced together her mother's memories and experiences before and after the war. She paints us a picture of the horrific conditions and the harsh treatment the women in the camp received. The reader can feel Katya's desperation, but also her strength and how she is determined to survive, no matter how bleak the future looks. This book is a must read for young and older readers in order to understand today's war in Ukraine.

[Julia Galon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Crow Stone (2022), Gabriele Goldstone presents a gripping story of Katya–a young woman trying to navigate life in the midst of the Second World War. The story follows Katya as she is forced into a Soviet gulag, still plagued by her childhood experience of being sent to Siberia. Being of German-Russian heritage, she struggles to feel fully accepted by either culture, while simultaneously being able to understand both the Nazi and the Soviet perspective. That unique outlook on the war, which is usually presented in a one-dimensional way, allows the reader to gain a more in-depth perspective on the events of the first half of the twentieth century. While presenting the struggles of the citizens of both countries, Goldstone does not minimize the atrocities committed by either side. I believe Crow Stone is worth reading for anyone who is interested in broadening their awareness about the experience of different social groups and nationalities during the Second World War. I would not recommend it to children because of the mature themes it contains.

[Adrian Sudenis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriele Goldstone’s Crow Stone made an impression on me that was different from other books I was assigned to read for class. At its foundation, its premise is not dissimilar tothose of other historical novels about the Second World War. We follow the main character, Katya, as she navigates the atrocities of the war and struggles to find peace in a world that appears ubiquitously hostile. To put it in a blatant and possibly disrespectful manner, I thought it would beone of many. Yet, as I started reading, I quickly came to a realization that there was a degree of liveliness to it – an energy fuelling the words.
From the onset, it becomes apparent that Goldstone’s approach to telling the story of Katya is singular and unique. She does not, at any point, fall into clichés or simplistic established binaries – every character and every scenario she paints is infused with a flavor of realism that never seems either understated or performative. While she does not shy away from graphic detail to tell Katya’s story, it comes across as genuine, and its sudden outburst will catch even an experienced reader off-guard. It is in this conventional, as opposed to unconventional, means that Crow Stone finds its strength – it is not strictly what is depicted, it is in how it is depicted.
I only wish I could learn slightly more about these characters. Oftentimes, I felt as if I wanted to spend some more time in their company with the emotions they experienced. The subject of processing trauma is particularly interesting to me, and, on occasions, I had the feeling there was something more to say between the sentences. On the other hand, perhaps what I am describing would not be the book Goldstone wanted and needed to write.

[Pamela Schoenewaldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout human history, women have been the victors’ spoils of war. Revenge is a factor, but more to the point, it’s easy for soldiers to victimize defenseless women and girls.
In Crow Stone, Gladstone draws on her mother’s experience for the story of Katya, a victim of politics from the aftermath of the Russian Revolution to her final liberation in 1947. Born in the Ukraine to a minor landowner who resisted collectivization, Katya and her family are sent to a Siberian work camp where some happy childhood moments lighten years of bitter exile. Eventually the remains of her family settles in East Prussia.
Katya’s barely German and is certainly not a Nazi, but when Hitler’s regime falls, she’s “the enemy” for invading Soviet troops. A forced march east to the Ural Mountains begins. Chapter after chapter describes the conditions: starvation and thirst, frostbite, stumbling barefoot for days, physical abuse, rape, typhus, suffocation in cattle cars, the dead tossed aside, twelve-hour shifts in coal mines, driven like animals, tormented by lice and fleas.
With stunning fortitude and a few strokes of luck, Katya survives, her spirit nearly intact. This in itself is a miracle, an astonishing testament to the human spirit. For the reader, though, the unrelieved accounting of abuse becomes hard to bear. Reduced to constant struggle for survival, personalities flatten and Katya’s companions blend together. The Soviet guards divide into bad and less bad, drunk and less drunk.
Clearly this is a piece of history which must be known, but Crow Stone becomes less a novel than an unflinching account of the horrors of war.

My review originally published in Historical Novel Review

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crow Stone (2022) by Gabriele Goldstone is a YA/crossover historical novel published as part of the series but can be read as a stand-alone book. Goldstone’s book portrays the world at the end of the Second World War and its fallout. The protagonist, Katya, a Russian German from Ukraine, faces discrimination – from society and her family. She is longing for a home that no longer exists – her childhood home, back in Soviet Ukraine, was destroyed by communists during collectivization. Forced to live in Eastern Prussia, Katya does not fit in anywhere and is constantly “the other.” Once the Second World War ends, the protagonist is captured by Soviet troops and is forced to work in the Ural Mountains in a labour camp. Back in the Soviet Union, Katya is haunted by the memory of her past. Crow Stone shows the war's reality from a civilian's perspective. Goldstone wrote a book that demands its readers to reflect on the post-war side of events.

[Michał · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Crow Stone" by Gabriele Goldstone is a novel that provides a striking account of a real-life inspired war story. It is full of graphic imagery related to the protagonist’s struggles which she endures throughout the novel. Although the story revolves around Katya, her story surely is not an isolated one, since the destruction that the Second World War brought upon the world touched millions of people, and Katya’s story allows the reader to explore it from an individual’s perspective. However, what specifically made her own personal story interesting was the problem of identity; she is German-Russian, which ultimately strips her of a sense of belonging and allegiance in the face of the conflict. All in all, though a challenging read, it is definitely worth reading not just to keep the memory of the war and its atrocities alive, but to see how multi-layered and ambiguous the reality was.