The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia

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wegesenc, March 15, 2008 (view all comments by wegesenc)
I read this book as a child and have read it many times since. The author is a powerful storyteller. I found myself hanging on her descriptions of her childhood as she and her family met with great adversity and struggles. But even through everything they faced there was humor, warmth and love. This is one of my favorite books and I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough to enjoy it. Highly recommended.

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kikipotamus, August 27, 2006 (view all comments by kikipotamus)
When I was in 5th grade, I remember library day. I guess I haven't changed much since then. I love to read, but have a very difficult time finding a book I can get into. This one day the librarian saw me staring at the spines, spacing out as usual, lost in daydreams.

"Do you need help finding a book?" she asked. I nodded. She asked me what types of books I enjoyed. I doubt that I mustered much more than a shoulder shrug, trying to hide behind my hair, trying to be invisible. She handed me a hardback copy of The Endless Steppe with a worn, brick-red binding.

I disappeared into the world of 10-year-old Esther, whose family is sent in a cattle car to Siberia. The story is told through the eyes of this child, who doesn't understand why they have to wash their hair in nasty, stagnant water with no shampoo. She whines a lot at first, oblivious of the harsh reality of their situation. She expects her parents to fix it, make things right again.

But slowly she comes to understand just what is their reality. Yet through all the brutality, this family doesn't give up on the power of their love for one another to bring them through this ordeal. Dead or alive, they are sticking together.

I spent hours on the playground turning page after page. I coudn't put it down. After that I always sought out the same nice library lady, saying, "can you find me another book like that one?"

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780064405775

Author:

Hautzig, Esther

Publisher:

HarperCollins

Author:

Hautzig, Esther

Author:

by Esther Hautzig

Location:

New York

Subject:

General

Subject:

Biography

Subject:

Women

Subject:

History

Subject:

Biography & Autobiography - Historical

Subject:

Children's 12-Up - History - General

Subject:

Authors, American

Subject:

History - Holocaust

Subject:

Siberia

Subject:

Historical - Holocaust

Subject:

Authors, American -- 20th century -- Biography.

Subject:

Children s Young Adult-Biography

Copyright:

1995

Edition Number:

1

Edition Description:

Paperback

Series Volume:

CMU-CS-98-172

Publication Date:

19950531

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Grade Level:

from 5

Language:

English

Illustrations:

Y

Pages:

256

Dimensions:

7.66x5.18x.60 in. .40 lbs.

Age Level:

12-17