Four Steps to Death

In this novel by John Wilson set during the Battle of Stalingrad, three participants — two fighters and a boy — are caught in its horrors. Their story is told over seven days of fierce and deadly street-by-street fighting. Vasily is a patriotic Russian soldier determined to rid his country of the hated Nazi invaders — if he can stay alive long enough. Conrad is a German tank officer, part of the seemingly unstoppable force sweeping eastward over the steppe, expecting a quick victory over Stalin's ill-trained and badly equipped army. Between them is eight-year-old Sergei, whose home is the maze of rubble that used to be the city of Stalingrad. None of them can know that their fates will be intertwined as the cataclysm engulfs them.

In this novel by John Wilson, a battle that changed the course of World War Two intertwines the life of opposing soldiers and a young child caught in the crossfire.

Delia Culberson - VOYA

This absorbing, well-crafted tale takes place during the bloody Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 and is a haunting depiction of the tragedy and irony of war. Vasily, a seventeen-year-old Russian soldier and scout for his squad, is determined to stop the hated Nazis from invading his homeland. He eventually faces eighteen-year-old Conrad, an equally patriotic German tank officer, devoted to his mother and family and also resolved to carry out his country's goals. Into this confrontation steps Sergei, a street-wise Russian boy who scavenges food for his family in the ravaged city and has an admiration for snipers. His daring takes him all over the city until he is wounded by a bomb blast and trapped under masonry before being rescued by nearby German officers. After stealing a turnip from a half-crazed neighbor for his mother's stew, he is caught by the man who fiercely demands a dead Fascist for every stolen turnip, a quandary that Sergie must resolve to avoid the old man's vengeful wrath. In this vivid narrative, the awful cacophony of war comes to life with sharp outbursts of artillery, the acrid smell of cordite, the ominous rumble of tanks, the menacing drone of low-flying bombers, and above all, the sights and sounds of human suffering. The convoluted story lines converge seamlessly, and although there are many individual acts of loyalty and valor, the skilled author succeeds without moralistic preaching in highlighting the harsh reality, the utter misery, and the heartbreak of war in this intricate but fascinating book. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined asgrades 10 to 12). 2005, Kids Can Press, 207p., Ages 12 to 18.

John Wilson is the author of more than a dozen historical fiction and non-fiction books for young people and adults. He lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.