You Are One of Them
Authors | Elliott Holt |
---|---|
Language | English |
Publisher | Penguin Press |
Publication date | 2013 |
Pages | 304 |
You Are One of Them is a 2013 novel by Elliott Holt. It is based on the true story of American schoolgirl Samantha Smith who wrote to Yuri Andropov, the Premier of the Soviet Union, at the height of the Cold War. Holt's first novel, You Are One of Them received predominantly positive reviews. Most critics praised Holt's use of language and description of characters, though some expressed reservations about its genre.
Background
The title comes from the poem In the Waiting Room by Elizabeth Bishop.[1][2]
The novel is based on a true story.[1] During the Cold War, a 10-year old American girl called Samantha Smith corresponded with Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov, who invited her to the Soviet Union.[1][3] She died at the age of 13 in a plane crash from Boston to Bangor.
Summary
Set in 1982 during the
Critical reception
The novel was widely reviewed. It received mostly positive reviews. In Bookforum, Roxane Gay called it "a novel of grand and intimate scope, artfully balanced between the political and personal," adding that it was both "a compelling character study and a psychological thriller."[5] However, she believes that the prologue was unnecessary.[5] In the Los Angeles Review of Books, Nathan Deuel suggested it was "as convincing and absorbing a portrait of post-Soviet Russia as you'll read," adding that "at its heart, it's also about America."[6] She also praised Holt's descriptions and details in characters, noting the book broaches the topic of mental health in face of the threat of destruction.[6]
In
Other critics were negative. In
References
- ^ a b c d Natalie Bakopoulos, 'You Are One of Them,' by Elliott Holt, San Francisco Gate, June 21, 2013
- ^ Donna Rifkind, Book World: Elliott Holt’s ‘You Are One of Them’ is a crafty, confident first novel, The Washington Post, June 7, 2013
- ^ a b c Maggie Shipstead, Cold War, Cooled Heart, The New York Times, May 24, 2013
- ^ a b c d You Are One of Them by Elliott Holt (Penguin Press), The New Yorker
- ^ a b Roxane Gay, You Are One of Them by Elliott Holt, Book Forum, June 12, 2013
- ^ a b Nathan Deuel, A Former Soviet Union: Elliott Holt's "You Are One of Them", The Los Angeles Review of Books, November 27, 2013
- ^ a b Max Winter,‘You Are One of Them’ by Elliott Holt, The Boston Globe, June 12, 2013
- ^ Lidia Jean Kott, Author Elliott Holt Says: 'Go West, Young Woman', NPR, May 18, 2013
- ^ a b Alexander Nazaryan, 'You Are One of Them' is part coming-of-age, part thriller, The Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2013
- ^ Jesse Baron, From Russia With Love: Elliott Holt’s Post-Soviet Coming-of-Age Debut, The New York Observer, May 28, 2013