The House on Walenska Street

by Charlotte Herman, Susan Avishai (Illustrator)

Relates the experiences of eight-year-old Leah, her two younger sisters, and their widowed mother living in a small Russian town in 1913.

Genres: Historical Fiction, School, Childrens, Chapter Books, 2nd Grade, Fiction

78 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Charlotte Herman is the author of many beloved books for children, including the acclaimed Millie Cooper series and The House on Walenska Street. Like Dorrie, Charlotte possesses a lifelong love of family, chocolate malteds, and hot fudge sundaes. She makes her home outside of Chicago.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful book! It's about three sisters and their mother in Russia. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line. It's a shorter book, perfect for readers who have moved past early readers and yet aren't quite ready for The Boxcar Children. However, even as an "older" reader, I enjoyed it too!

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my sons so they could learn a slight about what life for a Russian Jewish family would be like during WW1 (this is set in 1913). This book did help a little bit. The book itself is based off of the author's own family's history. Each chapter is a story about Leah, Esther, and Rose. They are three little girls who live with their widowed mother and a shoemaker named Zimmel who helps them out. It was a short book and enjoyable.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading as part of B's Bookshark Level 3 Readers curriculum. Interesting peek in to a Jewish Russian family's home just prior to WWI. It touched on some heavier topics of war, religious persecution and police brutality but in a cursory, age-appropriate way.

[Cathy Sheetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family stories told about a Russian Jewish family whose father died and they dream of emigrating to America just before World War I.

Good classroom library for 2nd to 5th grade. Can also be used as a historical reference when teaching about emigration as well as immigration.

[Shofam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Leah and her adventures while living on Walenska street with her two little sisters, Esther and Rose. My favorite part of the book was when Esther got stuck in the window. She thought she saw soldiers so she tried to climb through it and got stuck.

Carolyn, age 8

[Evan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read it for school. I didn’t like it. Very predictable.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girls (9 & 12) really enjoyed this book as a read aloud. The family photo in the back was so neat to see. The middle girl looks a lot like my youngest daughter did at that age!

[Jamie Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my son's 3rd-grade homeschool curriculum.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming and wholesome book about a Jewish family in Russia in 1913 that writes letters back and forth to family in the United States. It describes the trials (the death of the father, pograms and raids by solders are mentioned and play a part in the story line) and the joy of community that held the Russian Jews together.

It is a gently told story, full of imagination and childlike expression (comfort in strong adults, hard work, play, dolls, etc). However, in the context of studies of the 20th Century, there is a feeling of foreboding about the story that I do not think would occur to children unfamiliar with the timeline.

We got our copy used and I am happy with the purchase, but this would probably make a good library check out.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some rather deep subjects are touched upon in this children's story about three little girls and their mother in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. The fear felt from the soldiers, the talk of pogroms introduces a difficult period of history to young ones, but never frightens too badly. My only complaint is the story seemed to end so abruptly - leaving a whole lot of questions that never get answered.

[Jamey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows a mother and her three daughters, trying to survive the day to day during the Nazi occupation in Russia. It is told in the same way one would read a diary, and the reader gets a look into the hearts and minds of the young girls of the story. The family survives through perseverance and wit, and begins to dream of one day journeying to America.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House on Walenska Street is about a Jewish family during World War II, I think. Almost every chapter begins with "Mama, come quick! Esther ______ (has nails in her mouth, has a ribbon up her nose, etc.)!" Esther reminds me of someone else I know...Hmmmm....A good book.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boys liked it.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story to help children realize that not everyone lives like they do.

[Lindsay Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family read-aloud

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little reader about a family in Russia.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a simple story about a poor Russian Jewish family in 1913 whose father has died and who live in constant fear of soldiers raiding their house and stealing from them.

[Pianodino · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the begining of every chapter (exept the last two)Esther is always in trouble!