The Fall of the Red Star [Library Binding]

Helen M. Szablya (Author), Peggy King Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

After witnessing the arrest of his father by authorities, fourteen-year-old Stephen becomes deeply involved in the 1956 Hungarian uprising against Soviet control, only to become a fugitive with his family when their struggle is crushed.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-9. Fourteen-year-old Stephen, an aspiring musician, becomes a freedom fighter in the Hungarian rebellion against the Soviets in 1956. He and his friends learn to make Molotov cocktails, kill (despite agonizing remorse), and make coffins and bury the dead. Stephen's personal life is also in an uproar: he helps deliver his sister Maria's baby, and his father returns after being in prison for years. There's a thrilling escape, based on the experiences of Szablya's family, with Stephen's family fleeing by truck, by boat, and on foot through a swamp. The authors do a good job of conveying the horrors of modern-day urban warfare, which turns familiar surroundings into a battle zone, and readers learn some recent history as well as gain poignant insight into the making of everyday heroes. Glossary included. Susan Dove Lempke

Product Details

• Library Binding: 166 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr; 1 edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563974193
• ISBN-13: 978-1563974199
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,089,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating story that conveys the horrors of war, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fall of the Red Star (Library Binding)

The Fall of The Red Star is an incredibly captivating book that is applicable today to convey to children of all ages what people go through and the changes seen during a war. This book was read to my daughter's fourth grade class. They were amazed at what this normal kid went through, watching his 'normal' daily activities change from school, homework, parties, and chores into the horror of fighting and killing to protect his family and fighting for his country. It is a story all adolescents should read and a horror I wish no one should ever experience. Read this book. Then read it with your kids.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic but not overly-scary for preteens., March 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fall of the Red Star (Paperback)

An interesting book, even for adults. Set in Russian-occupied Hungary, the novel depicts the repression of the citizenry under Communist rule and the hope of a people yearning for freedom. It is told from the viewpoint of a young teenage boy with whom American kids can identify. The skillfully drawn charaters touch the reader emotionally. A definite must buy for parents wanting to help their children, born in a post Berlin-wall era, understand how Communism can tighten its grip over a society.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For all ages, December 29, 1999

By 

Krisztina J. Roder "Kriszy" (Central Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fall of the Red Star (Library Binding)

An excellent portrayal of a story so familiar to Hungarian refugees who left during and after the '56 revolution. It's truly a book for all ages. A book that draws you in, paints a picture and teaches lessons of life.