The Girl From Saint Petersburg

by Joyana Peters

Sacrifice, Starvation and Survival.

What will she do to stay alive?

Russia, 1905: Thirteen-year-old Ruth dreams of growing up to marry the boy next door and living peacefully ever after. But
when he and her father are forced to flee to America after the Bloody Sunday Massacre, Ruth and the other female members of the family are left behind amid the violence and chaos of revolutionary Russia. Overcoming violence and hunger with a strength she never knew she possessed, Ruth resolves to do what it takes to keep her mother and sister alive—whether it be work, beg or steal.

Then she lands herself in a predicament that threatens to put her own neck in a noose. This time she may not be able to keep them all safe, at least not without sacrificing their love for her and all that makes life worth living.

In this prequel to the award-winning novel, The Girl in the Triangle, author, Joyana Peters, portrays a tight-knit family fighting to endure at a precarious and crucial time in Jewish history. Join the countless readers who can’t get enough of Ruth and her story.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Russia, Historical

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Joyana Peters is the Indie author of the best-selling novels, The Girl in the Triangle and The Girl From Saint Petersburg. She won the YA Spark Award from SCBWI, the IBPA Ben Franklin Award for Historical Fiction, the Book Excellence Award for Multicultural Fiction and was a Top Five Finalist for Shelf Unbound’s Indie Best Book of the Year.

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Reviews

[Taury · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl from St Petersburg by Joyana Peter is a prelude to The Girl in the Triangle by Joyana Peters. It is the story of Ruth , her sister and mother. Their journey that takes them to America.

[Andria Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from Ruth's perspective, this was a story of rebellion and survival during the time of Bloody Sunday in Russia. Jews were heavily targeted, and no one was safe. While it was short, it was also very well written, though I would have liked it if the family had met up with their relatives in New York, however they survived in the end. 4.5 ⭐

[Lindsey Nagtzaam]

This historical fiction was a good quick read by Joyana Peters. The main character and supporting characters held my interest throughout the book. The main character is Ruth, from Saint Petersburg, Russia. To me, she started out as a timid follower. However, as the book progressed, her character gained strength in her role as a daughter and leader. As she learned to survive as a Jewish woman in Russia during a Czar's rule, she takes extraordinary risks by finding a job, money through other means and ultimately escape from Russia. As she leads her family to new land in America, Ruth's story continues in Joyana's second read about the Triangle Fire. I'd recommend this novel.

[Joyana Peters]

Exciting news!

Are you an audiobook fan? The Girl From Saint Petersburg has officially gone into audiobook production! I'm so excited about this. The Girl in the Triangle audiobook came out this past winter and has so far received rave reviews. Everyone especially loved by narrator- Dara Kramer, who I'm happy to report will be narrating The Girl From Saint Petersburg as well. So stay tuned for a release date on this soon. Also stay tuned for the release of my NEW book coming out soon as well! Thanks for you continued support! You can find The Girl From Saint Petersburg at the link below!

https://books2read.com/SaintPetersburg

[Latisha’s Low-key Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕊𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥 ℙ𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕘
𝙹𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚊 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜
Historical Fiction
124 Pages

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs

In The Girl from Saint Petersburg, Ruth is the glue that holds her family together after her father and fiance are forced to escape Russia. For four years, Ruth, her mother, and her sister struggle to make ends meet while living in fear as soldiers roam the streets and Jews disappear.

They pinch pennies and sell everything of value to survive while waiting for tickets to America. Ruth works to help, feeling the world's weight on her shoulders. When Ruth does something illegal, it becomes imperative to leave the country as soon as possible. She seeks out a smuggler in a seedy bar, fearing imprisonment if she doesn’t do something. Will she get her family out of Russia in time?

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

The Girl from Saint Petersburg is a short but poignant story of a family’s fear, grit, and bravery during harsh times. I tend to read historical fiction to learn more about history as I enjoy it more than nonfiction.

This story has a strong female character, and the plot tells a realistic account of this time. This story pulls my heartstrings, but I feel it is important to learn about the atrocities that people faced in the past.

Well written, Ruth’s story is an excellent example of the early 1900s in Russia. The fear is palpable. Ruth’s strength through fear, admirable. I couldn’t help but zip through this book in one day.

The author includes historical notes in the back of the book to give some insight into what was called Bloody Sunday. I’d heard the term before but never learned about it. I’d suggest reading The Girl from Saint Petersburg if you enjoy historical fiction.

Thank you to R&R Book Tours, the author, and the publisher for providing this book for me to review.

~Read more reviews at latishaslowkeylife.com

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed Ruth in The Girl in the Triangle and after reading her history in this book you get a complete sense of what made her so strong and determined. The author does a fantastic job of conveying the stress, anxieties, and fears of the characters as well as the relief once their passage to America begins. Ruths journey from the pain and struggle of having to let go of everything from your past and trust that you will make it through to something new is an amazing example of human strength and the will to survive. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves strong female main characters and historical fiction.
I received an advanced copy for my honest review

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a good little prequel, it sets up the story nicely and now I’m looking forward to reading the next book. The historical notes at the end are also a very interesting addition, with important clarifying details that wouldn’t have fit well into the story itself. The one thing that struck me as odd was some of the characters’ names. The super anglicized versions of Hebrew names just seem so out of place and I couldn’t get past it. They would make sense in an American-Jewish community (like that of the main novel), but in the Russia-based prequel? Not so much. It’s a small detail, but unfortunately it takes away from the atmosphere of the story a little bit.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic prequel to The Girl In The Triangle! I loved reading about Ruth's history before coming to America. Joyana does such extensive research for her novels, which makes them so realistic. I'm looking forward to reading what she puts out next!

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of courage and survival in 1905 Russia. Ruth is a strong, determined young woman. I love Russian historical fiction and really appreciated the historical notes at the end of the story.

I did feel slightly removed from the characters and the story (I'm not sure why).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable historical fiction story, that I wish was longer. But since this is a prequel, I still have an opportunity to follow these characters some more! A good strong teen female lead, that both is the hero and a scared girl who learns what it means to trust her gut and to share the burdens, that she’a not alone. A quick but meaningful read.

Also, personal anecdote time, I bought this book (and it’s sequel, that was written first) at a local arts festival. First time I’ve bought books at such an arts fest, from the author’s hands (she was nice!), and getting autographs. I just might have to do it more often.

[Ingrid Holzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book straight from the author at a Holiday Market in Alexandria, VA. The plot of this prequel story caught my attention so I trusted my gut and bought this book along with her other, The Girl in the Triangle, which continues the story of Ruth and her tight-knit Jewish family as they endured horrific circumstances in revolutionary Russia to their new life in America.
In the Girl from Saint Petersburg, we follow Ruth, her mother, and her sister, as they battle for survival after her father and her betrothed are forced to flee, leaving them behind. The story is well-written as the author was able to convey the desperation, fears, and urgency of their lives and forced decisions.
I highly recommend this story and look forward to reading the next.

[Julie Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a quick read and one that you will learn a little Russian history. The characters are well written but the story is thin. I enjoyed the determination of the main character and how she interacted with other characters. I also enjoyed the history lesson at then end to bring the setting of the story really into the forefront.

[Margaret Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written novel with historical facts.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read The Girl in the Triangle last year and it was such a good book, a quick read about an interesting time/event. I was excited to hear about The Girl from Saint Petersburg, which is a prequel about Ruth and her mother and sister in Russia before they came to America. The books are interesting because they talk about events not everyone is familiar with (Bloody Sunday in Russia, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York), and Ruth and her family are Jewish so the books are about the experience of Jewish people in early 1900s Russia and America. And I really liked that this prequel gave us more insight into the experience of Ruth before they escaped Russia, because it was only hinted at in the first book and I liked learning more about it. Both of these novellas are perfect for historical fiction fans.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from GoodReads First Reads.
Interesting take on the Jewish population leaving Russia circa 1905

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl From Saint Petersburg follows Ruth and her family's story as they are in Russia in 1905 and dealing with the harsh rules that have been put into place on the Jewish population. With some of her family having escaped to America it's now up to Ruth and her mother to keep the family left behind alive in the turmoil that is Revolutionary Russia.

Overall I couldn't read this short story fast enough. Ruth is a character that is strong and resourceful and willing to make those hard choices to protect her loved ones. She knows that they need to get out and that waiting for the family in America to send enough money might not work. Because of this she gets a job sewing and makes friends and might have found a way to get her, her mom, and her little sister out of Russia before it is too late. The ending of this book was so so stressful to me because of the situations they were all in and knowing how it ended for so many Jewish people trying to escape Russia during this time period.
I now cannot wait to read the next book by Peters and see what Ruth and her family are able to do next.

[L.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric and evocative historic fiction.

Life in Saint Petersburg for Ruth is fairly ordinary - playing cards with her brother and betrothed, arguing amicably over their cheating - until one day, they're no longer around. With her father, they have had to leave Russia since the czar's rules have made life very difficult for Jews.
Waiting what seems like forever to hear of their arrival in New York is not easy, and soldiers seem more than willing to abuse the women to find out where the menfolk are. Things gets harder still especially when friends and neighbours also decide to leave before the very real possibility of being "relocated" to The Pale of Settlement.
For a few long, arduous years Ruth, her mother and sister muddle on with what little they have - selling what they can bear to part with and working for a meagre income to put food on the table.
But when Ester falls seriously ill, Ruth has to act quickly. and it is that act that subsequently obliges the three women to leave their homeland. How they do that is fraught with danger, but go they must.

I'm looking forward to following the rest of their journey in The Girl in the Triangle.

[Mollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

I really enjoyed this quick read! I found this to be an excellent introduction to the historical time period. the characters were believable, and I found myself caring for them and anxious for their journey and the experiences they had. As I am not as familiar with this particular part of history. The Girl from Saint Petersburg inspired me to learn more about Russia in the very early 1900s. The historical information at the end helped me to understand a few things and helped guide me to further reading.

Speaking of further reading, when I started this book, I did not realize that it was a prequel to another novel. I am pleased to know there is more to the story! I am very interested to see how the characters continue their story and can't wait to pick up a copy of The Girl in the Triangle!

[Elina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I need you to listen. They'll break in soon. And they will interrogate and hurt me. You need to be brave.”.... An axe crashed through the front door...

This story takes place in Russia in 1905, when the political system was harsh and there were many rebels. It shows the hardships of the people and how they were forced through hunger and poverty to become immigrants and find their hope in other countries. In this story we will see the strength of a mother who struggles to take care of her children alone. We will see Ruth's strength and the hope that burns inside her for a better tomorrow. She will do everything for her family to survive and to be able to leave to another country for a better future. It is a short, strong and heart breaking story with short chapters that are easy to read . At the end there is a historical note from the author about the events of that time.

[gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to The Girl In The Triangle by the same author, which as i type this i have not read, however after reading this it is now certainly on my list. Basically it is about the survival of three female family members during the Russian Revolution and particularly how the Jews were persecuted during these horrific times. It certainly gives you an insight as to what many had to do and endure in order to survive and how it brought families together and also blew them apart. It centres around the main character Ruth and the sacrifices she makes in order to try and escape to New York with her family. It has been well researched and makes it believable and you can't help wanting to know how it ends. I for one am looking forward to the next instalment.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this historical story. This is a new author for me which I really enjoyed. This is a well written story about a young girl who dreams of marrying the boy next door until he and his father leave America and they are left behind. This is a story of inspriation and written with alot of heart and soul. The characters pulled me in from the start and had me coming back for more. They are connectable and had me turning pages fast to see what would happen next. They took me on a roller coaster ride that was hard to put down. This is a fast paced engaging story where the author used details to make you feel part of the story. This made the story easy and entertaining to read. This is a great story that I highly recommend.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

I thought this book was well written and insightful. It showed a side of the czar Nicholas that most people didn't know. He apparently was not a kind leader and probably in the end, got what he had sown.

Merged review:

This was a well written book. It was a very interesting read. I had always felt sorry for the czar and his family, but after learning how he treated his people, I no longer feel that way.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author’s comment regarding the new Singer sewing machines is spot on. Craft, of all kinds, are becoming such a lost art. What will people do in the event that we need low-tech again?
‘Technique will always outweigh efficiency.’

The Historical Notes are the end are a must-read!

Many of us have no idea how fortunate we are not to live under dictatorships and other terrorist regimes.

[Amy Heidecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I just wanted it longer! I enjoyed getting to know a time in Russia that I still don't know enough about. I also really liked the historical bits at the end. Enjoyed the character development!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not normally like to read historical fiction. However, this one interested me. It felt very realistic to me as it was relatable to the stories my ancestors have told me. These characters were intriguing and I couldn't stop thinking about the storyline in this book. A really great read.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic Historical Christian fiction book! I dearly hope the author is planning a sequel/trilogy/series! I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.

[Valentina Coello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ruth even more after reading this second part. What a strong girl! And how much on her shoulders.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I previously read and reviewed The Girl in the Triangle Factory by Joyana Peters and LOVED it so when I saw this book coming out I was so excited! The Girl from Saint Petersburg is a short but sweet historical fiction and is a prequel to Peters' other book. In this story readers are brought to Bloody Sunday in Russia where Ruth's betrothed, Abraham, father and brother are involved in the dangerous political climate. Immediately following the events, Abraham and her father escape to America and unfortunately her brother is killed in the massacre. Over the following 4 years things get much worse in Russia, as Ruth her younger sister Ester and her mother struggle to survive. Ruth gets a job at a factory (which prepares her for her time at the Triangle) but even with that it is not quite enough to support the family and things go from bad to worse when Ester comes down with consumption and a trip to get the doctor puts Ruth and her whole family in danger. The only option they have left is to flee Russia, but how?

I actually didn't know very much about Bloody Sunday and the uprising in Russia, so I really enjoyed both the story and the informative author's note at the end. It was just what I expected and a great precursor to the second book. My only slight criticism is I wish it was longer! I blew through the 124 pages pretty quick and there were a few moments I would have loved a bit more. That being said, it is a great novella and would definitely recommend it. One thing that is great about both of these books is that they could totally be read by teens or potentially even older middle graders. There was mention of a doctor propositioning a teenager but it just said something along the lines of unbuckling his belt, and while there was definitely violence, it wasn't super gruesome, totally appropriate for young teens but I enjoyed it as well!

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy, and to Breys Book Tours for organizing another great book tour!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl from Saint Petersburg is a historical fiction novel set in 1905 Russia. This book follows our main character Ruth and her mother and sister over a four year period after the Bloody Sunday Massacre in Russia. Ruth's father has to flee Russia for America, leaving Ruth, her mother, and sister to fend for themselves until he can secure a passage for them to America.

In that four year period, they face the threat of violence and starvation. They live under constant threat of being taken and sent to live in the Pale of Settlement because they are Jewish. Ruth knows she needs to get her family out of Russia to America. So, she takes great risk to get them out of Russia.

The Girl from Saint Petersburg is a prequel to The Girl in the Triangle. It is a short and extremely captivating read. I really couldn't put it down, especially as Ruth and her family tried to make it out of Russia. I think the authour captures what it must have been like having to survive during that time extremely well. I could feel Ruth's angst.

If you like historical fiction and you are particularly interested in Russian history, this is an interesting read about a time period I don't think we hear a lot about. I'd definitely recommend it!

[Patty Baumeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Book Review
The Girl From Saint Petersburg
A Novel Written By. Joyana Peters
Historical Fiction
Published 2022
126 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novella is the prequel to the author’s book The Girl in the Triangle. The main character, Ruth, is living in Saint Petersburg, Russia with her family. The year is 1905. Dangerous conditions cause her father and Abraham, the man she is betrothed to flee to America. Ruth, her mother, and her younger sister Ester must learn to survive on their own. As the years past, Ruth must grow up quickly and take charge. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Ruth is wise beyond her years. She finds a way for the three women to escape to America by trusting a stranger.

The author illustrates the dire conditions in Russia during this time.

“An education is the key to unlocking the future. Reading unlocks doors to anything and everything.”