The Winter War: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

William Durbin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

When the Soviet Union invades its tiny neighbor Finland in November 1939, Marko volunteers to help the war effort. Even though his leg was weakened by polio, he can ski well, and he becomes a messenger on the front line, skiing in white camouflage through the forests at night. The dark forest is terrifying, and so are the odds against the Finns: the Russians have 4 times as many soldiers and 30 times as many planes. They have 3000 tanks, while the Finns have 30. But a tank is no help in the snowy forest–a boy on skis is. And the Russians don’t know winter the way the Finns do, or what tough guerrilla warriors the Finns are. Marko teams up with another messenger, Karl. Gradually Marko learns that Karl’s whole family was killed by the Russians. And Karl has a secret–he’s really Kaari, a girl who joined up to get revenge for her family’s deaths.


From the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

William Durbin lives on Lake Vermilion at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota. He taught English for many years, and now writes full-time.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 317 KB
• Print Length: 242 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0385746520
• Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (December 18, 2008)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0013TRRQC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,381 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #31 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Historical Fiction > Military & Wars
  • #51 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Historical Fiction > Europe

More About the Author

William Durbin is an award-winning author and a former teacher who lives at the edge of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. A winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and a two-time winner of the Minnesota Book award, Mr. Durbin has published eleven novels for young readers. His novel El Lector was optioned for film by Jane Startz Productions; and his most recent work, The Winter War, deals with Stalin's invasion of Finland in 1939. His other honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children's Book of Year list, the ALA's Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, America's Award commended title, and a Book Sense Summer Pick.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I remember reading great books like this age 12-13, April 27, 2008

By 

Cato Sapiens (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winter War: A Novel (Hardcover)

This one has everything. Intrigue. Adventure. Young people caught up in a treacherous war. But the author brings poignancy and empathy to his characters both young men and young women...and some in disguise so you can't tell which. What makes it great is that there is so much good history packed into this "young adults" novel that once kids read it, they'll know more about one of the most pivotal aspects of the twentieth century than do 99 percent of America adults. The stirring and patriotic story of a tiny country with very few people facing down the armed might and steel fist of one of the most vicious, totalitarian regimes in world history. (Hint: it wasn't Hitler.)

Especially good for places where young people and adults live with snow and things like cross-country skiing for a good part of the year.

Highly recommended...by me!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that is unique and interesting, January 7, 2010

By 

V. Jarratt "SnowAngel" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Winter War: A Novel (Hardcover)

This book really captured my attention and interest. I've always wanted a novel that went into depth of the Winter War and to learn more about what Finnish families went through during that time as well as the soldiers. There are historial books on it, but not so many novels. This story is basically about a young man named Marko who loses his best friend Johan to a bombing from a Russian plane and he decides to fight in the war to save his country and avenge his friend's death despite his weakened leg. This novel really shows how Marko and the other soldiers had "Sisu" and fought for their freedom. Even though it is written for teens and young adults, it is very well written and I would recommend it for anyone with an interest in Finnish history or who just wants to read a good book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, December 2, 2010

By 

Patriot Reader (Idaho) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Winter War: A Novel (Hardcover)

An amazing book that covers the little-known invasion and war between the USSR and Finland.
There are a lot of lessons to be learned about fighting a war in a winter scenario in this book, it should be a "must read" for those that want to learn more about the ability of a small country to withstand the invasion of a much larger neighbor.