A new breed of spy novel combines classic thrills (The Americans, John Le Carre, and Alan Furst), Bolshoi intrigue, and elements of the paranormal.Marina is born of privilege. Her mother, Sveta, is the Soviet Union's prima ballerina: an international star handpicked by the regime. But Sveta is afflicted with a mysterious second sight and becomes obsessed with exposing a horrific state secret. Then she disappears. Fearing for their lives, Marina and her father defect to Brooklyn. Marina struggles to reestablish herself as a dancer at Juilliard. But her enigmatic partner, Sergei, makes concentration almost impossible, as does the fact that Marina shares her mother's “gift,” and has a vision of her father’s murder at the hands of the Russian crooks and con artists she thought they'd left behind. Now Marina must navigate the web of intrigue surrounding her mother's disappearance, her ability, and exactly whom she can—and can't—trust.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
a book that will keep readers interested and engrossed: best for readers 14 and above
By Gaele
Narrated in Marina's voice, the story starts quickly, and manages to introduce Marina and her curious "ability" quite effectively. Not only has she inherited her mother's ballet talent, she also has similar `spells' where she is able to see events, present and past.Moscow, in fact the whole of the USSR is in a holding pattern because of Brezhnev's death: Marina's mother has disappeared (not entirely uncommon) but her father is curiously circumspect and anxious. When they learn that Sveta is in the State's custody, plans are made for their escape from Moscow, and entrance into the United States.From here: both the subplot of intrigue that will eventually reshape Marina's entire life, and her solidly voiced and quite realistic adaption to the differences in life from Moscow to Brooklyn are intermingled and present what feels like a truly authentic representation of a teen's feelings, interests and concerns.Elizabeth Kiem does a marvellous job of introducing characters that feel real, if not always wholly developed, obviously secondary to the plot and mystery/suspense. Conversations, descriptions and even word use feels current to the time, and adds sparkle to all of the characters. The additions of music, classical and modern, and the overall tone of the story all did `feel' very Russian in tone and approach: this is not a light read, even though it is highly entertaining. The weighty approach that is embedded in the Russian soul tends to infiltrate and add to this story, improving the sense of difference that Marina feels in America, while highlighting her essential Russian-ness.This is a book that will keep readers interested and engrossed: best for readers 14 and above, the history of the USSR will be a revelation to many, and the story will open minds to the difficulties that face many immigrants.I received an ARC copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
What an "American Mountain" ride!
By N. Leonhard
"American Mountains" -- That's what Russian's call roller coasters, or so I learned from "Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy". That's what this story is to me -- a ride that steadily picks up speed and forces the reader to hold on while enjoying the twists and turns. What a page-turner!I loved this book. This is one of those books that you carry with you everywhere and seem a little anti-social for reading at the dinner table (or anywhere and everywhere else).Set in the early '80s in Moscow and subsequently in Brooklyn, it's written from the perspective of a Russian teenager. It seems to me to be a challenge to write a story from a foreign perspective, but the author makes it seem so natural. It's fun to relive some of the cultural phenomena of the '80s: the "Walkmans", the music, the pay phones, etc.The main character and the entire supporting cast of characters are so vibrant and developed, which helps to pull the reader in and, in the end, feel completely engrossed. I felt myself cheering for, yelling at, and laughing with Mirina -- the main character.I'm eagerly anticipating "Part Two"!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.Clever, page-turning book about Russian spies and ballerinas
By Susan Blumberg-Kason
I have to admit I'm not much of a YA reader, but when I saw this book I was intrigued. And after I finished it, I'm really hoping that the new trend is YA will be spy stories!Marina is a 17-year-old Bolshoi academy dancer in Moscow. She's also the daughter of the Bolshoi's prima ballerina, Svetlana. Marina's father is a Jewish scientist. When Svetlana disappears one day and Marina learns from her father and his best friend, Gosha, that Sveta has learned of some troubling state secrets, father and daughter flee for the US. They land in New York and take up residence in a small apartment in Brighton Beach. There Marina and her father try to assimilate into American life, although Marina has more success than her father.Marina's father gets caught up in the Russian underworld and is certain that the KGB is after the secrets he smuggled out of the USSR. Marina herself doesn't know who to trust: her friend and love interest, Ben, his girlfriend and her best friend, Lindsay, or Marina's ballet partner, Sergei. Or perhaps none of them.Elizabeth Kiem is a captivating writer and is said to have a sequel to this book in the works. I can't wait!
