The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Written and Illustrated by: Eugene Yelchin

Candlewick Press, 2021. Autobiography.

Newbery Honor winner Eugene Yelchin has written a memoir of his life growing up behind the iron curtain. With his entertaining humor and drawings you learn what it was like to live in Russia during the cold war. You read about the small one-room apartment with a tiny bathroom and no bedroom, the lack of food, and the worry of a KGB spy lurking in the kitchen. With lots of doodles to help tell the story, Eugene recounts what it was like to be expected to follow all the rules and develop a talent that would help Russia be recognized by the world.

This first-person account brings readers into the world of Eugene's childhood. Readers will enjoy learning about the Soviet Union and the talented people who defected and didn't come back home to Russia after traveling aboard. An inspiring story about a young boy who discovered his artistic talent while sleeping under the table. An excellent middle grade book that teaches the history of the cold war but reads more like a story. Perfect for readers fifth grade and up.

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