Michael Fitzgerald's Reviews > Angel on the Square

I felt that the age level for the book demanded a few too many concessions in terms of historical detail. There is also no author's note regarding historical sources, further reading, etc., which is a missed opportunity. I don't know that such young readers need to deal with this part of world history. Waiting a few years might be better. There were a number of places where the class struggle was presented a bit too simplistically, and I would be concerned that young readers would form their first beliefs about communism without a more extensive understanding. I was glad that the final chapters gave a somewhat more balanced view. Nevertheless, I still found it unsophisticated overall. The final plight of the Romanovs is presented as kind of a rumor. It would have been better for readers to have been given the truth, even if it were outside of the story in a closing historical note.

I was not overly impressed with the writing. I kept thinking how a more gifted author - Eva Ibbotson, for example - would have improved things. One immediate change I imagine would be a switch from first person to third. I felt that the perspective had a way of curtailing eloquent language and complex construction. The opulence of St. Petersburg could have really benefited in being described in that way, although the sections about farms could have been equally improved.

It's a quick read, but for me that was because it leaned more to literary fast food than fine cuisine. It's not bad, but could have been much better. Haven't decided about reading the sequels.