Scan barcode
scarecrow_nikola's review
3.0
This looks into the paradigm on 1950s America during the Red Scare and the era of McCarthyism. It delves into interesting and relevant themes such as censorship and individualism, when you were encouraged to turn in any person you thought was sympathetic to Communism.
I enjoyed the allusions and mentions of "subversive" texts and people, as well as the photos and extracts placed between chapters, providing for an immersive and informative experience.
I disliked the slow pacing. Though the characters were relatively intriguing, I found it difficult to retain interest, especially through domestic scenes that had little to do with the main themes.
I enjoyed the allusions and mentions of "subversive" texts and people, as well as the photos and extracts placed between chapters, providing for an immersive and informative experience.
I disliked the slow pacing. Though the characters were relatively intriguing, I found it difficult to retain interest, especially through domestic scenes that had little to do with the main themes.
shawnnaw's review
3.0
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Suspect Red is about a high schooler living in Washington DC during the early years of the cold war, while the McCarthy trials were going on. He has to navigate your typical high school social problems, with suspicion of "communist sympathies" everywhere - from the books he reads to the new neighbor and friend who comes from Czechoslovakia. All of this is made more important because his father works for the FBI and works closely with J. Edgar Hoover.
I enjoyed learning about this time of history - I really didn't know much about what went on during the McCarthy years. The author threw in history articles at the beginning of each chapter so you could get a feel for what was going on in the country at the same time the events of the chapter were occurring. It's difficult to believe that people weren't allowed to read certain books - such as Robin Hood - just because they seemed sympathetic to the Communist cause. The story was well done, and would be a great tool to teach middle schoolers about this time in history.
Suspect Red is about a high schooler living in Washington DC during the early years of the cold war, while the McCarthy trials were going on. He has to navigate your typical high school social problems, with suspicion of "communist sympathies" everywhere - from the books he reads to the new neighbor and friend who comes from Czechoslovakia. All of this is made more important because his father works for the FBI and works closely with J. Edgar Hoover.
I enjoyed learning about this time of history - I really didn't know much about what went on during the McCarthy years. The author threw in history articles at the beginning of each chapter so you could get a feel for what was going on in the country at the same time the events of the chapter were occurring. It's difficult to believe that people weren't allowed to read certain books - such as Robin Hood - just because they seemed sympathetic to the Communist cause. The story was well done, and would be a great tool to teach middle schoolers about this time in history.
lianav909's review
5.0
**Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.**
This book is a historical fiction story set during the 1950's and beautifully blends historical facts, pictures, and events with the "Red Scare" going on at that time. Usually, I don't like to read historical fiction, but this story was told well and Richard, the main character is relatable. He is a bookworm (aren't we all) and loves to learn through the characters. He is snarky and his point of view is limited (as any 14yo would be) but is broadened with exposure to other people and their beliefs. The format of this book is excellent, at the beginning of every chapter there is pictures and information regarding the world events of that time. This book blends fact and fiction so well the students won't realize they are learning about events that actually occurred.
This book is a historical fiction story set during the 1950's and beautifully blends historical facts, pictures, and events with the "Red Scare" going on at that time. Usually, I don't like to read historical fiction, but this story was told well and Richard, the main character is relatable. He is a bookworm (aren't we all) and loves to learn through the characters. He is snarky and his point of view is limited (as any 14yo would be) but is broadened with exposure to other people and their beliefs. The format of this book is excellent, at the beginning of every chapter there is pictures and information regarding the world events of that time. This book blends fact and fiction so well the students won't realize they are learning about events that actually occurred.
pcarney's review
2.0
First off I could not get over the main character, a youth, calling all adults by their first names. Weird and unrealistic, to me. I didn’t really feel connected to the main character, Richard. I was way more interested, go figure, in Vlad’s family. The PTSD plot line was unsatisfying and, though I know nothing about PTSD, also felt unrealistic. The premise is great, but I honestly thought the afterward was more engaging than the novel.
kellyhager's review
Richard is growing up in 1953, during the height of the McCarthy witch hunts. Some of it annoys him (he wants to read whatever he wants) but mostly he buys into all of it. It's partly because his father works for the FBI and Richard sees himself as (a) super smart, (b) very intuitive and (c) sure to be able to find and bring down any communists in his life. And then he meets Vladimir and his family. (They're Czech, not Russian.) His dad has a government job and his mom is an artist with radical ideas. Richard loves Vlad and his family but...well, he's pretty sure they're total commies.
I really enjoyed this novel. It's always a little hard to imagine how people could get blacklisted for attending a meeting or voting once, but it also keeps happening (see claims of people being unpatriotic for questioning the government after 9/11).
I didn't really like Richard. He's smarmy and he doesn't really think about how actions (and accusations) have consequences. It's almost like he pictured himself as the hero in one of his books, and never paused to wonder what could happen to his friend and Vlad's family.
I do love his little sister, Ginny. She's smart and feisty and can we get a book from her perspective?
I really enjoyed this novel. It's always a little hard to imagine how people could get blacklisted for attending a meeting or voting once, but it also keeps happening (see claims of people being unpatriotic for questioning the government after 9/11).
I didn't really like Richard. He's smarmy and he doesn't really think about how actions (and accusations) have consequences. It's almost like he pictured himself as the hero in one of his books, and never paused to wonder what could happen to his friend and Vlad's family.
I do love his little sister, Ginny. She's smart and feisty and can we get a book from her perspective?
More...