Dissidents [Mass Market Paperback]

Neal Shusterman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1994

Moving to Moscow from Chicago isn't easy, especially if your mother is the US Ambassador. Derek must be well-mannered and presentable--there are parties to go to and state dinners to attend. but Derek has decided to break all the rules and risk everything to reunite a beautiful Russian girl with her dissident father living in exile. That means traveling hundreds of miles by train to the Romanian border.

With the help of some young Muscovites, Derek begins a perilous journey. But he has a lot more to confront along the way than just the KGB. He must first face up to his mother and come to terms with the ghost of his dead father if he's ever going to succeed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Following a solid debut with the complex and absorbing The Shadow Club , Shusterman's second book is awash with simplistic notions about U.S.-Soviet relations and issues of family trust. Derek Ferretti's father dies in an car accident and he is sent to Moscow to live with his mother, the American ambassador to the Soviet Union. A born troublemaker and wiseguy, he finds residence as the ambassador's son a little too confining. Then he falls for Anna Shafiroff, the daughter of a famous, exiled Soviet dissident, and decides to reunite father and daughter. The plot machinations--Derek's plan succeeds, he meets the General Secretary, his strict, unfeeling mother unleashes her maternal instincts at last--demonstrate Shusterman's basically patronizing attitude toward his material. As adventure, this is a briskly paced, intriguing book; it strains only because it is so intent on being something more. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An excellent glimpse of life on the other side of the globe...Contrasts between the United States and the Soviet Union are wonderfully descriptive."--The Los Angeles Times Book Review

"The Russian setting and the romance between the ambassador's son and a Soviet dissident's daughter will attract those looking for an involving read..."--A.L.A. Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (August 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812534611
• ISBN-13: 978-0812534610
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,860,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Neal Shusterman is the author of many novels for young adults, including Unwind, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers, Everlost, and Downsiders, which was nominated for twelve state reading awards. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows such as Animorphs and Goosebumps. The father of four children, Neal lives in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exellent book!!, April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dissidents (Mass Market Paperback)

Dissidents is a book about a boy named Derek. Derek's parents were divorced, when his father dies he has no choice but to go live with his mother and sister in Russia. It's a very big change for Derek. His mother is the American Ambassador in Russia and because of that Derek has bodyguards follow him everywhere. Throughout his journeys he makes some friends. One of his friends name is Anna. Anna and Derek don't really start off on the right foot but they soon grow to become friends. To find out more, I recommend you read this book.

3.0 out of 5 stars The ending ruined the book, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dissidents (Hardcover)

This book was really great, suspenseful, full of action but the end just really disappointed me. I would recommend it, it had a great plot. He goes through many adventures and meets new friends in Russia.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The ending ruined the book, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dissidents (Hardcover)

This book was really great, suspenseful, full of action but the end just really disappointed me. I would recommend it, it had a great plot. He goes through many adventures and meets new friends in Russia.