School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up–As violence continues in Ukraine and tensions rise between the United States and Russia, these books are both timely (Ukraine includes the Russian annexation of Crimea) and informative. Each one opens with an introduction to its region, followed by chapters about its pre-Soviet, Soviet-controlled, and post-Soviet national, political, economic, and cultural history. Authors are unsparing in their descriptions of communist brutality, which resulted in millions of deaths, economic failure, and environmental degradation, and are also critical of the endemic corruption that has stifled post-Soviet economic growth. Books are illustrated with average-quality photos, and brief sidebars provide additional information about topics such as Chernobyl and the Iron Curtain. This well-written set reveals how communist domination caused almost incomprehensible suffering for millions of people and how Soviet misrule has diminished current and future prospects. Strong and timely additions.