Journey to the Soviet Union [Paperback]

Samantha Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1984

In 1982, young American Samantha Smith worried about war and dreamed of peace. While the United States and the Soviet Union (Russia) were still locked in the grip of the Cold War, she wrote to the Soviet leader. His three-page reply and her response to his invitation to visit his country drew attention all over the world and became a significant part of the dramatic lowering of tensions between the two superpowers.

Illustrated with many photographs, this is a new edition of the inspiring story written by a young American girl whose historic trip in 1983 helped to end the Cold War. Samantha and her father died in a plane crash in Maine only two years later, but her gift to peace in the world remains an inspiration to all who yearn to bring our world together.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6 In 1982, the author, then ten years old, wrote to Soviet President Yuri Andropov asking "why you want to conquer the world or at least our country." In his answer, Andropov explained that that was not the case, and he invited Samantha to visit the Soviet Union. This first-person narrative is the result of that visit, as Samantha takes readers from press hype, including a spot on the Johnny Carson show, through her visit to the Soviet Union. This is not a geography book; it makes no attempt to describe the land, the government, culture, holidays or recreation. Casting aside governmental and political differences, with no attempt to explain Communism, it shows similarities among people, particularly children, and promotes a sense of likenesses rather than differences. The glorious photographs, most in color, show Samantha with groups of children or major Soviet landmarksthe Kremlin, Red Square, the Hermitage. Granted, everything Samatha sees is favorable, and none of the food or housing shortages are mentioned, much less the lack of freedom. However, the book fills a gap in the much needed area of information about the Soviet people as opposed to the Soviet system. Trev Jones, "School Library Journal"
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

As long as children ask challenging questions and grown-ups respond, there will be hope for humankind. Samantha Smith has become a symbol of hope to all children. Her simple question...led to greater human understanding and has shown us the power of a child in lessening the tensions between two world powers. --Lee Salk --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (Juv Pap) (October 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316801763
• ISBN-13: 978-0316801768
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,782,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Samantha Smith's Immortal Legacy...., April 8, 2007

By 

John Michael O'Loughlin (DFW, TEXAS USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Journey to the Soviet Union (Hardcover)

As improbable as it sounds, World War Three might have been prevented by a small child from the state of Maine....

When I was in Junior High School back in the early 1960's, and we studied World War One in history class, I remember that the triggering event was identified as caused by an assassination, and that this one act immediately triggered other events that led to the beginning of World War One. Note that one person caused this triggering event by an insane act of terror and murder....

Now, fast-forward to the early 1980's and the growing tensions between America and the Soviet Union. Just as the harsh words and saber-rattling reached a new high, the gravely ill leader of the Soviet Union died and a new leader was chosen to take his place. Fearful of the war talk between her nation and another, young Samantha Smith asked her Mother to write a letter to the new Soviet leader. When her Mom suggested to Samantha that she sit down and write of what was in her heart to the new Soviet leader herself, young Samantha did just that, thus setting a series of events in motion that changed our world forever in leading us from the brink of war to a lasting peace that has remained unbroken to this day....

Samantha Smith's visit to the Soviet Union was a defining event in world history...things were never the same between America and the Soviet Union after her journey. The warlike words ceased between our nations and the good-will and peace in one little girl's heart triumphed over the fear, mistrust, and suspicion that had dominated relationships between the two nations for many decades before her visit. Whatever results people thought her visit might produce, they could never have imagined in their wildest dreams the incredible impact and historical significance that her vist would generate...such impact that is still evident in the early Twenty-First Century!

There wasn't a shooting war between America and the Soviet Union in the 1980's, and when the Soviet Union broke up it did so in a peaceful manner that at one time would have been thought to be impossible. Even today, decades after her tragic death in a commercial airline crash, Samantha Smith is loved and remembered by the Russian people and those of the new nations of the former Soviet Union, as well as in America and throughout the world. Her influence and message of peace and love touch those of today as profoundly as back in the 1980's, and those who pray that the nations and peoples of the world might live in peace as one will never forget her and how she changed our world for the better.

--- John Michael O'Loughlin

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Journey to the Soviet Union, November 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Journey to the Soviet Union (Paperback)

This is the original book by the young Samantha Smith and her father, Arthur Smith, about her family's trip to the Soviet Union on the invitiation of Yuri Andropov. Samantha, an 11 year old girl, wtote a letter in 1982 to the new Soviet Premier, expressing her desire for peace. He responded with a letter and invitation to visit. This is the only account of the trip written by Samantha.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was a good read; interesting., October 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Journey to the Soviet Union (Paperback)

"I found out about this book from a story about Samantha Smith in my language book when I was in sixth grade. The story mentioned Samantha's book and that's how I found out about it.