Angel on the Square

Continuing my journey to study Russian history, I found this book on one of my shelves and spent a pleasant rainy day reading this well written historical novel.

Combining fact with fiction, Angel on the Square is wonderful for many reasons, primarily because it does just what historical fiction should do, ie it opens the door to a glimpse of history and wets the appetite to search for more knowledge about the subject.

Twelve year old Katya Ivanova lived a life of splendor behind guilded palace walls. Her life was secluded and sheltered. When her mother becomes the lady-in-waiting to Empress Alexandra life drastically changes and through Katya's eyes we witness the growing tension in Russia as the Tsar suppresses the masses, embraces WWI show more and through sheer ineptitude ushers in the downfall of a culture and country rich in tradition.

As she continues a life of priviledge, through her young, naive revolutionary friend Misha, she becomes aware of the plight of the masses of poor, starving and increasingly dissatisfied pheasants.

Through Katya's eyes we witness a country crumbling as the rich become the enemies and the poor are used as pawns in the hands of the revolutionaries and Lenin.

This book presents a well balanced depiction of the evils of a monarchy out of touch with the unrest of the masses while also showing the madness of a brutal group who portray themselves as wanting the best for the people while ruthlessly using and then discarding those they claim to represent.

Angel on the Square is more than a YA coming of age book, it is complex, intricate and multifaceted.

Recommended! show less

As a member of the Russian aristocracy, 12-year-old Katya lives in splendor with her mother, and 16-year-old adopted “cousin,” Misha, in a mansion in downtown St. Petersburg. 1914 Russia is on the brink of both World War I and a revolution, but everything seems fine in Katya’s world. In fact, her mother is invited to be Empress Alexandra’s lady-in-waiting and Katya is to be friends with the grand duchess Anastasia.

Set in a country ready to fall apart, the book spans five years, giving the reader a clear idea of the events that precipitated the tragic time in Russian history. Whelan does a remarkable job of showing Katya’s slow awakening from a pampered and naïve aristocrat to a worldly young woman. Readers are also able to show more get a glimpse of World War I through reports of Misha, who is drafted into the war, and also get to witness the notoriously insular Tsar and his family.

Like with many of Whelan’s books, Angel on the Square does a marvelous job of merging a mostly truthful look into the past with an intriguing storyline and characters. Because the book spans so long, you’ll feel as though you know the characters by the end, and will probably be delighted to know that Whelan continues with them for another two books. Highly recommended. Grades 7 and up. show less

The book tells the story of Katya, daughter to a fictional lady-in-waiting to Empress Alexandra of Russia, during the turbulent days leading up to the Bolshevik Revolution. Katya and her mother remain with the family until they are removed to Ykaterinburg, at which point they flee to their country estate.

I think this would be a good introduction to Russian history for young teens who don't already know all of the gristly details of the end of the Romanov family -- for those who do, I'm not sure it's such a satisfying read. I felt that Katya, the main character, was not as dynamic as she could have been. Neither her character growth nor her romantic interest felt very compelling to me, but perhaps I would have felt differently if I had show more been reading, rather than listening to the audio version of the story. show less

My kids and I recently read, Angel On The Square, for my daughters' book group. Katya, a young Russian aristocrat, and her cousin Misha both lost their fathers during the last war. While Katya and her mother Irena are loyal to the Czar, Misha supports the revolutionary leader, Alexander Kerensky. Misha takes Katya out among the peasants and for the first time she sees the poverty and degradation in which they live.

Eventually, Irena sends Misha to the military academy due to his involvement with the revolutionaries. When the Empress asks Irena to become her lady-in-waiting, Irena and Katya move to the Alexander Palace to live with the royal family. Katya becomes close to the Grand Duchesses and looks upon the Czar as a father. But she show more still cannot reconcile the exploitation she saw among the peasants.

When World War I breaks out with Germany, Misha's class at the military academy is graduated early and he is sent into battle. The war is a disaster and Russia suffers many losses. The Czar goes to the battle front and leaves the Empress to rule Russia. After several years at war, the civil unrest escalates. The peasants, unhappy with the war and the Empress's rule, are ready for revolution. The Czar abdicates the throne hoping to save Russia and Kerensky heads the Russian government. For several months the royal family, along with Katya and Irena, live under house arrest until they are eventually sent to Siberia. In Siberia, still under house arrest, they find out that Kerensky's revolutionary government has been overthrown by the Bolsheviks and Lenin now heads the government. The royal family is taken away and Katya and Irena are not allowed to stay.

Katya and her mother cannot return to St. Petersburg due to the danger all aristocrats are under so they go to their country estate, The Oaks. They arrive only to find the estate has been burned by the peasants who worked their land. They are taken in by a peasant couple and Katya begins learning how to farm the land. Katya and her mother begin their new lives as peasants and are soon reunited with Misha.

The kids and I really enjoyed this book. After finishing it, my daughter bemoaned the sad ending. We were able to discuss the history behind the book and how the author had to end with the death of the royal family because Lenin really did have them killed. This book gave us some meaty discussion topics: divine right of kings, revolution, strikes, riots, Russia, monarchy, aristocracy, peasants, georgics, WWI, and Communism. We also discussed the difference between the American Revolution, the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution and why each ended differently. Angel On The Square also inspired us to do some of our own research to learn more about Rasputin, the Empress's adviser, the death of the royal family, and the Bolshevik Revolution. show less

This book was not only an enjoyable read, it was able to portray the complex historical events, distilled for young adults. The characters represent differing viewpoints: royalty, aristocracy, peasant, revolutionary. It is also a love story, set in a tumultuous time a place.

Katya lived in Imperial Russa in 1913. She was of the noble class. Her mother was a lady in waiting to Empress Alexandra. They lived within the palace walls in amazing oppulance. Her life was one of luxury and she barely understood the complaints of the working poor. She was not aware how tired, hungry and angry the peasants were. As the revolution begins, her life becomes daily more affected by it until she lives in poverty and fears for her life. Whelan's writing is excellent and she creates a tale more fascinating and exotic than a fairy tale fantasy. She makes her characters feel real to the reader.

Story about a privileged girl growing up in Russia during the time of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. When her mother is selected to be a lady in waiting to the Empress, Katya accompanies her to be a companion to the Grand Duchess Anastasia.

From her foster brother, Misha, she begins to learn about what life is like for the common people. When Russia declares war on Germany after the assasination of the Grand Duke Ferdinand of Austria, the entire country goes on a downhill slide economically.

The story tells about the polictical and economic atmosphere while the Tsar seemed unable to be a genuine leader.