Radiant Girl

I mentioned in my previous post that I am snowed in. This is great for finding reading time, but is not so good since I have only dial-up internet connection. Until I get to use another computer, I am not going to be able to put book covers on my blog. Dial up is just too slow.

Radiant Girl by Andrea White is what I chose to read yesterday. Having grown up in the 80s and hearing about the Cold War, I have always been interested in the USSR. When I was thirteen Chernobyl's nuclear power plant had an explosion. I have always wondered what happened at Chernobyl. The Soviet government was good at not giving out any information and making it seem as though things were under control. Radiant Girl is the story of Katya Dubko, an eleven year old girl whose father, Ivan, works at Chernobyl. After the explosion her life is turned upside down. While her father trusts the Soviet government completely, Katya begins to question their role in Chernobyl and whether they have been honest about what happened there. Before Chernobyl Katya was an innocent eleven year old who believed in house elfs, but over the course of five years she is forced to grow up and lose the innocence she had.

I know that part of this book's appeal is the subject matter since I have always wanted to know more about Chernobyl. The writing is excellent, though, and I really wanted this book to last. I am famous for skimming through things, but not this book. White has written two other books that I intend to look for. Radiant Girl may be the best middle grade book I have read in 2008.