The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan is a fascinating sequel to Angel on the Square , delving deeper into the complexities of post-Czarist Soviet Russia with a storyline that grabs readers at the start. Now grown up, the heroes from the first book are married, have two children, and are living in Leningrad (formerly St. Petersburg). Living in the harsh reality of a regime that persecutes their aristocratic heritage, they barely resemble the characters we knew in Angel on the Square . This shift allows us to detach from them and focus on their children.
When Katya and Misha are arrested in the early chapters of the book, Marya and Georgi are left to fend for themselves. Marya’s intelligence and resilience become central to the story, as she and her brother set out on a daring and dangerous journey across Russia in hopes of reuniting with their mother, who has been exiled to Siberia. Their epic journey is filled with difficult terrain, logistical challenges like not having passports, and the incredible challenges of having to navigate whom to trust and when. The children meet people who are immeasurably kind and villains who seek to exploit them in their desperation. After having made mistakes early on about trusting the wrong people, Marya’s undergoes a gradual transformation as she begins to trust again. This provides a subtle but essential theme that shapes her character arc beautifully.
What makes The Impossible Journey particularly captivating is the varied cast of characters the children encounter. Each individual they meet on their journey is unique, authentic to their time and place, and contributes to the plot in meaningful ways. Nothing is wasted in a Whelan novel, nor is it written in a predictable way. The diversity of these encounters brings an authenticity to the children’s journey: it teaches us much about the kinds of people who lived in Russia at that time and the struggles they endured.
Overall, The Impossible Journey is an unforgettable tale of resilience, family, and hope, perfectly balancing historical accuracy with heartfelt storytelling. Readers will find themselves deeply moved by Marya’s bravery and her ability to overcome adversity, making this book a must-read for anyone who values historical fiction that both educates and inspires.
Parent Note: Some parents may wish to know that Marya’s father was taken to the Siberian work camps. Whelan tells the reader just enough about that experience to inform them and make them curious about that horror, but not so much as to hurt them. The conversation where it is unpacked is short and gentle. Sadly, however, he does die. His death is as sad as it should be, but there is a sweetness to it that keeps the reader from despairing.
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