Title: Even Irina
Author: Lynnita Seibel
Major Themes: Persecution, Soviet Union, Family
Synopsis: As part of a Christian family living behind the Iron Curtain, Irina must choose whether she’ll follow her parent’s faith or deny God’s existence when she goes to school.
My youngest sister read Even Irina first in the family, and when she finished it, she told me I needed to read it, too. I kept that in mind, but knew it might be a while before I actually picked it up. Well, I made time for it recently, and I’m so glad I did! This book turned out to be a fascinating story. I’ve rarely read a book set in Kazakhstan, and gaining this glimpse into a Christian family’s life in that country during the 1970s—when Kazakhstan was under Soviet rule—was both gripping and somewhat heartbreaking.
Publisher’s description:
Papa closed the curtains so no one could see inside their house. Irina felt a tingle of fear. Sunday was the scariest day of the week! There was not one church house in their town in Kazakhstan. The government made sure of that. Papa and Mama and others who wanted to have church met in each other’s houses. Papa prayed every day that Irina would grow up to obey God. But Irina’s teacher said that God did not exist. “Do you believe in God?” Irina’s teacher asked her. What would happen to Papa and Mama if Irina told the truth? Even Irina is a true story that shows both children and adults what life was like for believers in a Communist country in the 1970s.
My thoughts:
It’s hard to imagine what Irina’s parents had to go through mentally as they tried to stay true to the Lord and yet tried to stay out of the authorities’ notice as much as possible. I loved seeing—through Irina’s eyes—her parents’ faith, and the way they did their best to serve the Lord, even in such difficult circumstances. She had to face some of that when she went to school, too; I was amazed at her attitude as she tried to figure out right from wrong and do the right thing while at school.
One of the aspects I most enjoyed reading about in this story were the descriptions of their daily life. There were sad elements, such as the way the mother had to go to her compulsory job, even though she’d rather stay at home, or the struggles Irina had in getting a new bike. But there were also many beautiful home scenes—planting the garden, family members coming over to spend time together, taking care of the cow—relatable activities, but some done quite differently than I’ve experienced because of the cultural difference. I found that fascinating!
Even Irina is a well-written, gripping story. I was surprised to discover that it’s what I’d call an in-between reader. It’s a step up from easy reader chapter books, but is written with simple enough language that children who aren’t ready for big chapter books yet would be able to enjoy it. If you’re looking for a solid story about a Christian family and how they lived, or are interested in reading about life under the Soviet Union, I’d highly recommend this book. It’s probably the most unique story I’ve read so far this year, and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it!
WARNING: Chapter 16: Woman dies. Chapter 18: Girl lies.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9, 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Other Places: Christian Light Publications—Paperback | Milestone Books—Paperback | CAM Books—Paperback
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