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The Sniper
Stalingrad snipers were legends in their time. Their patience, keen eyes, and ruthlessness helped win the Battle of Stalingrad and turn the tide of the Second World War. James Riordan visited Stalingrad in 1959 and several times later. In 2006 he met Tania Chernova, whose story was so fascinating that Riordan made her the heroine of this compelling novel. The year is 1942. Legendary sniper Vasily Zaitsev, who killed a record 242 Nazis, recruits Tania to seek out and shoot German officers. At first, she finds it almost impossible to kill. But when she discovers that her beloved grandparents, along with many of her friends, have been brutally murdered by invading Nazis, she vows to “break them like sticks.” Following her capture and daredevil escape, she leads a handpicked unit on what seems like a suicide mission — to seize Field Marshall Paulus, the Commander-in-Chief of the invading army. But Tania is no ordinary marksman. Author Riordan’s dramatic narrative and wealth of period detail make this story of one of the lesser-known episodes in World War II history a gripping one.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2009
23 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
James Riordan
195 books32 followersRiōdan, Jeimuzu 1936-2012
Riordan, Dž.
Riordan, Džejms.
Riordan, James
Riordan, James William 1936-2012
Riordan, Jim, 1936-2012
James Riordan (10 October 1936 – 10 February 2012) was an English novelist, broadcaster, sports historian, association football player and Russian scholar.
Well known for his work Sport in Soviet Society, the first academic look at sport in the Soviet Union, and for his children's novels.
Riordan, Dž.
Riordan, Džejms.
Riordan, James
Riordan, James William 1936-2012
Riordan, Jim, 1936-2012
James Riordan (10 October 1936 – 10 February 2012) was an English novelist, broadcaster, sports historian, association football player and Russian scholar.
Well known for his work Sport in Soviet Society, the first academic look at sport in the Soviet Union, and for his children's novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 3, 2013
I first came across James Riordan with his excellent The Cello so I was interested to discover this title whilst browsing the shelves recently. It's set in Stalingrad in 1942 and, I think, spectacularly misleading in how it's presented. The cover to me is resolutely masculine with a figure that is too indistinct to accurately gender. The blurb on the back pages obviously (and awkwardly) avoids using gendered pronouns, referring to the true story of a 'teenage sniper recruited in 1942 ... the younger finds it almost as impossible to kill ... the sniper ... this sniper is no ordinary marksman'.
So to discover that this is actually the story of Tania Belova, young female sniper recruited into the Russian Army, came as a bit of a surprise. I appreciate coy promotional text, and I appreciate trying to hide 'the twists' but Tania's story is massive, and to be so reticent about selling this book as what it is, struck me as worthy of comment.
Once you get into the book itself, Riordan is very competent but strangely cool. There are moments when he surpasses himself. The opening chapters for one, where we see a sniper at work, and then the others where we're at school seeing the shift between this life and Tania's-life-to-come. But in other moments, moments of great tragedy, there's a curiously dispassionate tone to the text that devoid it of any emotional impact.
The Sniper covers an area of history that I've rarely read about in young adult literature, and it covers it from an angle that is fascinating. The problem is that all too often it slides into being too far removed from its story, and the story is what makes this book worth reading. I'd recommend it for those interested in this period of history. I'd be reluctant to recommend it for those who are not.
So to discover that this is actually the story of Tania Belova, young female sniper recruited into the Russian Army, came as a bit of a surprise. I appreciate coy promotional text, and I appreciate trying to hide 'the twists' but Tania's story is massive, and to be so reticent about selling this book as what it is, struck me as worthy of comment.
Once you get into the book itself, Riordan is very competent but strangely cool. There are moments when he surpasses himself. The opening chapters for one, where we see a sniper at work, and then the others where we're at school seeing the shift between this life and Tania's-life-to-come. But in other moments, moments of great tragedy, there's a curiously dispassionate tone to the text that devoid it of any emotional impact.
The Sniper covers an area of history that I've rarely read about in young adult literature, and it covers it from an angle that is fascinating. The problem is that all too often it slides into being too far removed from its story, and the story is what makes this book worth reading. I'd recommend it for those interested in this period of history. I'd be reluctant to recommend it for those who are not.
January 14, 2015
This book is about a girl named Tania Chernovia. She is a legendary sniper in World War Two. The book starts when Tania is at school one day in the town of Stalingrad. Stalingrad is in Russia. They were outside at recess when all of a sudden they saw bee shaped things really far up in the sky. What they didn't know is that they were the Germans starting to devastate their town. All of a sudden it started raining down bombs. The whole Russian country was about to get into the great war named World War Two. Tania was then selected to be in a special sniper unit the Russian army. That is how it started. She lost her whole family in the war and she was on her own. She killed 67 Germans sticks or officers. Then one fatal day that came to an end, when she lost her life to a German officers in a gunfight.
Tania was an active and simple girl before she got called into the Russian army. She always wanted to be a nurse when she grew up but that never happened. She liked to take care of people and when she saw the nurses in the war she got jealous. But at the same time she liked her duty in the war. She lost her parents in the war and she was on her own. She then turned shy and not talkative. But she knew she had to fend for her own and she adapted to that. She could not make friends that easily in the beginning of the war because almost everyone was male. She struggles at even knowing what to say when she talks to her officers. She expects the war to be over within two weeks but it went for a lot longer. But as the war went on she started to gain confidence in everything she had to do. She could talk and make friends more often. She will never give up in the war.
This novel would be good for people in high school who have in interest in war and maybe interested in going into the army. The topics in this book can be disturbing and rude sometimes. This book tales about life at its wits end and about death of family members. This book is nonfiction and real. It tells true events in the war that are very disturbing and bloody. It has a couple of swear words but it’s only a couple. All in all it is a very accurate book and will help you learn about other nation’s history.
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars because I like to learn about other country's history than our country. I liked every aspect of this book in all its ways and shapes. This is very important aspect in the war. I would like to read it again it was that good.
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March 22, 2021PERSONAL RESPONSE:
I think the book The Sniper was a very interesting book due to it taking place during the second World War. Instead of taking place in either America or Germany it took place in Russia during the invasions on Stalingrad. Typically books that take place during World War two don't acknowledge Russia’s importance during the end of the war, which piqued my interest while reading.
PLOT:
The story takes place in Tania’s perspective, she is a normal school girl, but due to recent attacks in Stalingrad she must retire her days as a student and take up arms against the German invaders. She wanted to be a nurse on the battlefield but instead she was with an anti-air unit, a secret police officer, to becoming a sniper. After many days of training she was the best out of her team, so she was assigned her own squad. They then went to attack a large building filled with Germans, and Tania told her squad to open fire too early, killing almost all of them.
CHARACTERIZATION:
Throughout the book the reader sees Tania Chernova turn from your average high schooler into a ruthless German killing machine. In the beginning of the book Tania couldn't think of killing someone until her brother was hanged by the Germans, she promised to kill every german she saw hoping to kill the one that killed her brother. Whilst on duty Tania had earned her own squad of snipers run by her commander Zaitsev. During a battle for a large building Tania opened fire too early and had gotten seven out of ten of her squad members killed. Typically Zaitsev would understand when someone did something wrong and not lose his temper, but Tania had specific commands not to fire until Zaitsev signalled to them. Zaitsev had screamed at Tania until she understood the magnitude of what she had done.
SETTING:
The time the book takes place is during the end of the second World War, specifically when the Germans invaded Stalingrad. The setting of the book mainly takes place in Stalingrad but throughout the book Tania goes to different posts along Russia to behind enemy lines. As you read the book the world changes from a nice urban city, to a war struck capitol. This is an important part of the book because of the war that took place there.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend this book to high school students both boys and girls, due to the book being difficult to follow at points. I would also recommend it to high schoolers because of Tania being in high school so there can be a connection between the character and the reader.
I think the book The Sniper was a very interesting book due to it taking place during the second World War. Instead of taking place in either America or Germany it took place in Russia during the invasions on Stalingrad. Typically books that take place during World War two don't acknowledge Russia’s importance during the end of the war, which piqued my interest while reading.
PLOT:
The story takes place in Tania’s perspective, she is a normal school girl, but due to recent attacks in Stalingrad she must retire her days as a student and take up arms against the German invaders. She wanted to be a nurse on the battlefield but instead she was with an anti-air unit, a secret police officer, to becoming a sniper. After many days of training she was the best out of her team, so she was assigned her own squad. They then went to attack a large building filled with Germans, and Tania told her squad to open fire too early, killing almost all of them.
CHARACTERIZATION:
Throughout the book the reader sees Tania Chernova turn from your average high schooler into a ruthless German killing machine. In the beginning of the book Tania couldn't think of killing someone until her brother was hanged by the Germans, she promised to kill every german she saw hoping to kill the one that killed her brother. Whilst on duty Tania had earned her own squad of snipers run by her commander Zaitsev. During a battle for a large building Tania opened fire too early and had gotten seven out of ten of her squad members killed. Typically Zaitsev would understand when someone did something wrong and not lose his temper, but Tania had specific commands not to fire until Zaitsev signalled to them. Zaitsev had screamed at Tania until she understood the magnitude of what she had done.
SETTING:
The time the book takes place is during the end of the second World War, specifically when the Germans invaded Stalingrad. The setting of the book mainly takes place in Stalingrad but throughout the book Tania goes to different posts along Russia to behind enemy lines. As you read the book the world changes from a nice urban city, to a war struck capitol. This is an important part of the book because of the war that took place there.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend this book to high school students both boys and girls, due to the book being difficult to follow at points. I would also recommend it to high schoolers because of Tania being in high school so there can be a connection between the character and the reader.
July 23, 2012
Three and a half stars of five stars. I really wanted to like this book. I love the title - "The Sniper." I love the cover - scenes of war in red and black. I love the topic - WWII Russian female snipers and spies. I love the opening scene - a sniper methodically picking off German soldiers. Boys pick up the book simply because of these things. However, the book fell a bit short for me.
"The Sniper" tells the true story of sixteen year old Russian schoolgirl Tania. When the Germans suddenly appear at the gates of Stalingrad all citizens join forces to keep them at bay, including children. Tania finds herself serving in the Red Army. When she demonstrates leadership, fearlessness, and skill, she finds herself employed as a Russian sniper. Despite the fact that Tania is in the middle of a war, the plot moved slowly at times. The last chapter is like a textbook example of writing a denouement - no subtlety whatsoever - just a list of what Tania had experienced. And the author did not directly correlate the opening scene back to Tania, which left the novel feeling unfinished.
Riordan tells this story rather dispassionately and, as a result, it was difficult to invest in the characters. What Tania experiences, what she loses, would bring most humans to their knees. I wanted to feel what she was feeling and empathize with her. For example, I did not shed a tear when she witnesses what happens to her brother. Whereas, in "Night" by Elie Wiesel, the scene in which the child is hung is one of the most compelling scenes in all of literature. It brought me to tears and is something I will never forget. The fault here is not in the story itself but in the telling.
Still, for reluctant readers, "The Sniper" might hold their interest, especially if they have read little on the subject previously. This would be nice paired with "Tamar" by Mal Peet, Beryl Markham's "West with the Night," or Elizabeth Wein's new book "Code Name Verity." "The Sniper" was just O.K. for me.
"The Sniper" tells the true story of sixteen year old Russian schoolgirl Tania. When the Germans suddenly appear at the gates of Stalingrad all citizens join forces to keep them at bay, including children. Tania finds herself serving in the Red Army. When she demonstrates leadership, fearlessness, and skill, she finds herself employed as a Russian sniper. Despite the fact that Tania is in the middle of a war, the plot moved slowly at times. The last chapter is like a textbook example of writing a denouement - no subtlety whatsoever - just a list of what Tania had experienced. And the author did not directly correlate the opening scene back to Tania, which left the novel feeling unfinished.
Riordan tells this story rather dispassionately and, as a result, it was difficult to invest in the characters. What Tania experiences, what she loses, would bring most humans to their knees. I wanted to feel what she was feeling and empathize with her. For example, I did not shed a tear when she witnesses what happens to her brother. Whereas, in "Night" by Elie Wiesel, the scene in which the child is hung is one of the most compelling scenes in all of literature. It brought me to tears and is something I will never forget. The fault here is not in the story itself but in the telling.
Still, for reluctant readers, "The Sniper" might hold their interest, especially if they have read little on the subject previously. This would be nice paired with "Tamar" by Mal Peet, Beryl Markham's "West with the Night," or Elizabeth Wein's new book "Code Name Verity." "The Sniper" was just O.K. for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2014
This book is about a teenage girl who is driven out of her home in Stalingrad during the German raid, also known as Operation Barbarossa. She had gone to school one day and a military officer walked in. He hand-picked soldiers that look good enough to fight in the war. The others that he didn't pick became anti-aircraft artillery crews, and they were positioned for days. Then once the girl, named Tania, left the artillery, she became a Secret Police member. She didn't hold that position long either, as she was recruited as a sniper on the outskirts of Stalingrad. She arrived at the command post and a man by the name of Vasily Zaitsev recruited and trained her as a Marksman/Sniper. Along the course of the story, she lost many friends and family members, and she plans to avenge the deaths of her comrades. One German at a time.
The storyline was great and the main character was relentless and battle-harden killer. The book was easy to follow along with, and I never lost interest throughout the book. There’s a few spots in the book where I actually decided to research to learn more, mainly about the Stalingrad snipers. This book was altogether a five star worthy book. Excellently written, easy to follow along with, and it can be pictured in my head easily.
The most outstanding character, in my opinion, wasn’t even the main character. That character is Vasily Zaitsev, an emotionless and ruthless soldier. Little did I know, he killed 242 German soldiers and officers. That’s more officially confirmed than the modern “ultimate” sniper, Chris Kyle, who got 160 confirmed by the Pentagon. Vasily, since this book is nonfiction, is one of the best marksmen in history.
I recommend this book to teenage boys and girls, as the main character is a teenager. It shows a lesson of patriotism, courage, and determination. All things that Americas youth should know. This is a 5 star worthy book. I will probably find myself reading it again.
The storyline was great and the main character was relentless and battle-harden killer. The book was easy to follow along with, and I never lost interest throughout the book. There’s a few spots in the book where I actually decided to research to learn more, mainly about the Stalingrad snipers. This book was altogether a five star worthy book. Excellently written, easy to follow along with, and it can be pictured in my head easily.
The most outstanding character, in my opinion, wasn’t even the main character. That character is Vasily Zaitsev, an emotionless and ruthless soldier. Little did I know, he killed 242 German soldiers and officers. That’s more officially confirmed than the modern “ultimate” sniper, Chris Kyle, who got 160 confirmed by the Pentagon. Vasily, since this book is nonfiction, is one of the best marksmen in history.
I recommend this book to teenage boys and girls, as the main character is a teenager. It shows a lesson of patriotism, courage, and determination. All things that Americas youth should know. This is a 5 star worthy book. I will probably find myself reading it again.
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January 3, 2019Name: Beyersdorf Carson
Book title: The Sniper
Personal Response:
I personally liked this book because of my interest in the time period. The book lets the reader know about a female schoolgirl who overcomes her fear of killing and kills about 84 Germans. The story takes you on an adventure of grief, joy, and pain.
Plot summary:
Tania Belova is a 16 yr old girl helping her school dig sandbags when they are attacked by German aircraft. When they get back to school Tania and her classmates are drafted into the russian military. Tania and a few fellow classmates are now a part of a russian anti-aircraft unit but are shortly after drafted into the sniper core. She is then considered to weak and is sent to transport a set of POWs and gets back only to be on the german side. She escapes only to almost be killed by a german guard and then almost killed by a russian patrol. She is brought back to base camp and is given orders to capture Field Marshal Von Paulus.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to high schoolers mostly boys and maybe girls. Mostly because of the gore and time period at which this book is written in.
Book title: The Sniper
Personal Response:
I personally liked this book because of my interest in the time period. The book lets the reader know about a female schoolgirl who overcomes her fear of killing and kills about 84 Germans. The story takes you on an adventure of grief, joy, and pain.
Plot summary:
Tania Belova is a 16 yr old girl helping her school dig sandbags when they are attacked by German aircraft. When they get back to school Tania and her classmates are drafted into the russian military. Tania and a few fellow classmates are now a part of a russian anti-aircraft unit but are shortly after drafted into the sniper core. She is then considered to weak and is sent to transport a set of POWs and gets back only to be on the german side. She escapes only to almost be killed by a german guard and then almost killed by a russian patrol. She is brought back to base camp and is given orders to capture Field Marshal Von Paulus.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to high schoolers mostly boys and maybe girls. Mostly because of the gore and time period at which this book is written in.
March 26, 2014
I think this book is really good. I never got bored while reading it and it kept me interested in it the whole time.
In the beginning of the book this 16 year old girl Tania is in a class when her school gets bombed. Then she has to carry her friend to the hospital who got badly injured. Tania then got drafted into the army, she was hoping to be a nurse for the army she she could help people. But she was positioned into an anti aircraft unit. She shot down nine German planes in four days. When she went to go meet her commander he thought she would be a good spy and asked her to carry a message to the front lines. She was really nervous but she realized that her dad was over there, so she agreed to help him and delivered the message. The next commander she met thought she would be a very good sniper. Tania now went into sniper training with nine other people. One person was having a lot of trouble so she helped him out and spent a lot of time with him trying to make him a better shot. When she was done with training she was one of the best snipers in the class.
Tania changes a lot during the book, because at the beginning she just wanted to be a nurse and help people. Then she went to shooting down planes then she turned into a spy and finally she is one of Russia's best snipers in the army.
I think this was a good book and I would recommend it to people who like action and fighting. If you don,t like war or violence you should not read this book. I think a lot of younger people would like this book a lot. I think mainly guys would like to read this but girls might also like it.
In the beginning of the book this 16 year old girl Tania is in a class when her school gets bombed. Then she has to carry her friend to the hospital who got badly injured. Tania then got drafted into the army, she was hoping to be a nurse for the army she she could help people. But she was positioned into an anti aircraft unit. She shot down nine German planes in four days. When she went to go meet her commander he thought she would be a good spy and asked her to carry a message to the front lines. She was really nervous but she realized that her dad was over there, so she agreed to help him and delivered the message. The next commander she met thought she would be a very good sniper. Tania now went into sniper training with nine other people. One person was having a lot of trouble so she helped him out and spent a lot of time with him trying to make him a better shot. When she was done with training she was one of the best snipers in the class.
Tania changes a lot during the book, because at the beginning she just wanted to be a nurse and help people. Then she went to shooting down planes then she turned into a spy and finally she is one of Russia's best snipers in the army.
I think this was a good book and I would recommend it to people who like action and fighting. If you don,t like war or violence you should not read this book. I think a lot of younger people would like this book a lot. I think mainly guys would like to read this but girls might also like it.
January 2, 2017
Personal Response: I thought that this book was all right for being a realistic fiction book about World War II. The only bad part about this book was one sappy love scene. Otherwise, the book was pretty good.
Plot: The Sniper by James Riordan is about a girl who becomes a really good Stalingrad sniper in World War II. Tania Chernova was just an ordinary school girl, until the day the Germans invaded Stalingrad. She was assigned the job of shooting the anti-aircraft gun. Tania shot down nine German fighter planes. Miss Chernova was then handpicked by Vasily Zaitsev, the famous sniper who shot over 200 Nazis. Tania starts slowly at killing Nazis, but she finds out that her grandparents and some of her good friends were killed by Nazis. She really wants to kill as many Nazis as soon as she can find them. She gets captured by some Nazis but escapes. Vasily assigns Tania to a suicide mission, to capture Field Marshall Paulus. Mister Paulus happens to be the commander-in-chief of the Nazis. Tania goes on the mission and succeeds, which ends the book
Characterization: Tania goes from a school girl who doesn't want to hurt anyone to a really good sniper who wants to kill every German she can find to avenge her grandparents and her friends were killed by Nazis.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to both males and females because there are parts in this book that either gender would like. For the males, the whole book is about World War II and most males like books about war. For the females, the main character is a girl and there is a love scene. Most females like love scenes and like it when the main character is a girl.
Plot: The Sniper by James Riordan is about a girl who becomes a really good Stalingrad sniper in World War II. Tania Chernova was just an ordinary school girl, until the day the Germans invaded Stalingrad. She was assigned the job of shooting the anti-aircraft gun. Tania shot down nine German fighter planes. Miss Chernova was then handpicked by Vasily Zaitsev, the famous sniper who shot over 200 Nazis. Tania starts slowly at killing Nazis, but she finds out that her grandparents and some of her good friends were killed by Nazis. She really wants to kill as many Nazis as soon as she can find them. She gets captured by some Nazis but escapes. Vasily assigns Tania to a suicide mission, to capture Field Marshall Paulus. Mister Paulus happens to be the commander-in-chief of the Nazis. Tania goes on the mission and succeeds, which ends the book
Characterization: Tania goes from a school girl who doesn't want to hurt anyone to a really good sniper who wants to kill every German she can find to avenge her grandparents and her friends were killed by Nazis.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to both males and females because there are parts in this book that either gender would like. For the males, the whole book is about World War II and most males like books about war. For the females, the main character is a girl and there is a love scene. Most females like love scenes and like it when the main character is a girl.
July 11, 2010
This book begins with the very grisly details of a sniper doing its job during WWII and the attack of the Germans on Stalingrad, Russia. The very next chapter begins the story of Tania Belov, a 16-year-old girl who is a very simple student with dreams of becoming a nurse someday at the start of the attack on Stalingrad. When word of the Germans closing in on Stalingrad begins, she and her classmates are first commissioned to try to sandbag around the petrol tanks in hopes of saving them but then Tania is put in charge of an artillery gun and she and two of her classmates shoot down nine German planes in the first attack on the city. Soon after, Tania joins the secret police and is trained to become a sniper. The rest of the book includes descriptions of her work and stories of fighting during the attack on Stalingrad. At the end in an author's note, the reader learns that this book is based on the real-life story of Tania Chernova, who became a woman sniper and in 2002, at the age of 80, recieved the Red Star for bravery from her country.
I thought this book was interesting because you don't usually hear of women snipers. In fact, after I got into the story and realized that the first chapters of the book were really about Tania, I thought to myself, how ironic that I just assumed that that character was male. I would give this book to my female students in a heartbeat. I think they would draw inspiration from it.
I thought this book was interesting because you don't usually hear of women snipers. In fact, after I got into the story and realized that the first chapters of the book were really about Tania, I thought to myself, how ironic that I just assumed that that character was male. I would give this book to my female students in a heartbeat. I think they would draw inspiration from it.
October 17, 2016
Personal Response
I liked this book because it had a lot of action in it. At the start of the book Tania was just a normal girl in school but at school one day the teachers made them go and dig trenches and as they were digging bomber planes came to bomb them. That is when all the stuff went down and all of Tania's class had to get seriously prepared for the war ahead of them. Tania's first position was to shoot missiles at enemy planes. Tania's second job in the war was to be a runner or to take papers from one general to another which is a very dangerous job this section also has a lot of suspense. Tania's last job was to be a sniper which she could hit any target in eye sight.
Plot summary
In the book Tania and her friends have to go to war at the start they do not take it seriously and are afraid to kill anyone. But after their first encounter with German planes they get very scared but Tania manages to shoot down 10 German planes before passing out after she recovers she is assigned to a running spot but she doesn't stay in that spot long before she is assigned a sniper she was still afraid to kill Germans until the general showed her the room of all the Germans belongings and encountering her brothers death.From that point on she wants to kill every German in sight.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to all genders of middle school and beyond because it has a lot of suspense and the character is a girl but is also about a war.
I liked this book because it had a lot of action in it. At the start of the book Tania was just a normal girl in school but at school one day the teachers made them go and dig trenches and as they were digging bomber planes came to bomb them. That is when all the stuff went down and all of Tania's class had to get seriously prepared for the war ahead of them. Tania's first position was to shoot missiles at enemy planes. Tania's second job in the war was to be a runner or to take papers from one general to another which is a very dangerous job this section also has a lot of suspense. Tania's last job was to be a sniper which she could hit any target in eye sight.
Plot summary
In the book Tania and her friends have to go to war at the start they do not take it seriously and are afraid to kill anyone. But after their first encounter with German planes they get very scared but Tania manages to shoot down 10 German planes before passing out after she recovers she is assigned to a running spot but she doesn't stay in that spot long before she is assigned a sniper she was still afraid to kill Germans until the general showed her the room of all the Germans belongings and encountering her brothers death.From that point on she wants to kill every German in sight.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to all genders of middle school and beyond because it has a lot of suspense and the character is a girl but is also about a war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2013
This book is extremely good. The plot is very attractive in my opinion. The main character, Tonia, is followed as she fights to protect as well as survive the the invasion of Stalingrad. Combining historical and fictional information, this book is perfect for any reader.
September 15, 2010
This book was a fast paced action packed book and i would recommend it to all readers
May 27, 2011
It had tons of action. at the end it had an interveiw of a world war 2 soldier. It had a lot of detail and very interesting
April 13, 2012
It wasnt interesting at all i got bored and sleepy while reading it
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October 15, 2021What I liked was that there was a 16 year old girl that went into fight a war.And she had left her family to go fight the war againts the germans she had shot planes down.And then she went back home and went to the army and she went to find her dad and the general of the camp put her somwhere to work.She told her dad that she had shot down 9 german planes and he was happy for her .Tania after she had fought in the war she wanted to be a nurse like her mom.
I like tanya and her dad,I like tanya because she was fighting for her country because she wanted to be like her mom but before she was a nurse she fought in the war so they could have that freedom.I also like is that she wants to be free so she fought in the war for her country.I like her dad because he was also fighting for freedom he was happy for his daughter because she was fighting for freedom to.I liked these charcters because they are fighting for freedom because they were being attacked by the germans.I don't like the soldiers that treat tanya wrong because she is fighting for her freedom and they were making fun because she was a girl in war.
I like tanya and her dad,I like tanya because she was fighting for her country because she wanted to be like her mom but before she was a nurse she fought in the war so they could have that freedom.I also like is that she wants to be free so she fought in the war for her country.I like her dad because he was also fighting for freedom he was happy for his daughter because she was fighting for freedom to.I liked these charcters because they are fighting for freedom because they were being attacked by the germans.I don't like the soldiers that treat tanya wrong because she is fighting for her freedom and they were making fun because she was a girl in war.
October 31, 2017
This book takes place in Russia. The main character is Tania, a young girl which I’m guessing is around 14-15 years old. During the book, Taina’s views on war changed. In the beginning of the book, she wanted to be a medic, but when the general told her that she is now a sniper she didn't agree. When she was being transported around, the driver told her his beliefs on war, kill or be killed. That changed the whole war for her.
While reading this book made me think and wonder about many things. Actually, my beliefs on war have changed, and how lucky we are to be in a safe place of the world.In this book, they talked a lot on how Tania's hometown got destroyed and there was nothing left that would even be liveable in.
I had this book recommended by a friend and I would do the same. I think anybody would generally like this book just because it is so interesting. I would definitely rate this book 5 out of 5.
While reading this book made me think and wonder about many things. Actually, my beliefs on war have changed, and how lucky we are to be in a safe place of the world.In this book, they talked a lot on how Tania's hometown got destroyed and there was nothing left that would even be liveable in.
I had this book recommended by a friend and I would do the same. I think anybody would generally like this book just because it is so interesting. I would definitely rate this book 5 out of 5.
February 14, 2018
A short novel, but a very well told story, rich with the details of the struggle in Stalingrad. When I started this book I had no idea the main protagonist would be a young girl. I thought it would be another story centred mostly around Vasily Zaitsev, the famous Russian sniper. While he is featured, the story follows a young 16 year old girl who is eventually trained by Zaitsev.
I haven't read many war books and I found that the descriptions and details shared by the writer created a very real experience of what that war must have been like. I could almost smell, taste, and feel the beleaguered city.
Highly recommend for young adults and adults. It was told well in a short span, but I still wish it could have been longer.
I haven't read many war books and I found that the descriptions and details shared by the writer created a very real experience of what that war must have been like. I could almost smell, taste, and feel the beleaguered city.
Highly recommend for young adults and adults. It was told well in a short span, but I still wish it could have been longer.
August 30, 2018
Very good book with a lot of twists
Read
October 30, 2018Personal Response
I liked this book. I liked how they incorporated actual events from real life. And I enjoyed the action scenes.
Summary
Tina is just enjoying a day at school when her school is bombed by Germans. She is then thrown into a military unit that shoots down enemy planes. Then she is moved into a sniper position with a girl from her school. Her first mission goes terribly wrong and seven of her squad is killed. Her next mission a girl steps on a landmine and is killed, but besides that the mission go good. She is promoted to the squad leaders general. Then the war is over and she gets to back to her family.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to people who like learning past events in real life history. Or if you're into military action books. I think high schoolers would enjoy this book.
Characterization
Tina starts this book as a normal school girl. She is then turned into a solider. But then is normal person by the end.
I liked this book. I liked how they incorporated actual events from real life. And I enjoyed the action scenes.
Summary
Tina is just enjoying a day at school when her school is bombed by Germans. She is then thrown into a military unit that shoots down enemy planes. Then she is moved into a sniper position with a girl from her school. Her first mission goes terribly wrong and seven of her squad is killed. Her next mission a girl steps on a landmine and is killed, but besides that the mission go good. She is promoted to the squad leaders general. Then the war is over and she gets to back to her family.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to people who like learning past events in real life history. Or if you're into military action books. I think high schoolers would enjoy this book.
Characterization
Tina starts this book as a normal school girl. She is then turned into a solider. But then is normal person by the end.
October 13, 2017
Personal Response
I liked this book because it is a war story about the snipers in Stalingrad, Russia. The story of Tania is good because it is the struggles of war, and how she got bounced around in the military from being a gunman in a anti aircraft battery to a sniper. The book showed how some small decisions can lead to a big mistake which I found interesting.
Plot Summary
The Sniper is a story about Tania Chernov who is a Russian in Stalingrad during World War II
when the Germans tried to take control of Stalingrad. Tania became a Anti-Aircraft Gunner after her school was targeted for a bombing which injured her friend Nina. One night she shot down 9 German aircraft but a piece of shrapnel hit her in the head. When she woke up she walked to the nearest command post, when she reported the commander said she had a message to deliver to her father at his base. After she told her father the message the General wanted to see her the next morning. The General had made her a sniper in Vasily Zaitsev's sniper squad, and she became one of the best in the group. On one of the missions she got stuck on the German side of the city and had to escape. When she was escaping, she ran into a German, and he almost killed her, but a group of Russians saved her. She thought she was a German because she was wearing German clothing.
When she told them who she was, she got sent on one of the most important missions the squad has ever been on, and she succeeded in capturing von Paulus, the Commander of the German Sixth Army.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to people who like World War stories or sniper books. This book would also be great for people in middle school or high school. Little Kiddo's wouldn't like this because it can get some what detailed with the killing.
I liked this book because it is a war story about the snipers in Stalingrad, Russia. The story of Tania is good because it is the struggles of war, and how she got bounced around in the military from being a gunman in a anti aircraft battery to a sniper. The book showed how some small decisions can lead to a big mistake which I found interesting.
Plot Summary
The Sniper is a story about Tania Chernov who is a Russian in Stalingrad during World War II
when the Germans tried to take control of Stalingrad. Tania became a Anti-Aircraft Gunner after her school was targeted for a bombing which injured her friend Nina. One night she shot down 9 German aircraft but a piece of shrapnel hit her in the head. When she woke up she walked to the nearest command post, when she reported the commander said she had a message to deliver to her father at his base. After she told her father the message the General wanted to see her the next morning. The General had made her a sniper in Vasily Zaitsev's sniper squad, and she became one of the best in the group. On one of the missions she got stuck on the German side of the city and had to escape. When she was escaping, she ran into a German, and he almost killed her, but a group of Russians saved her. She thought she was a German because she was wearing German clothing.
When she told them who she was, she got sent on one of the most important missions the squad has ever been on, and she succeeded in capturing von Paulus, the Commander of the German Sixth Army.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to people who like World War stories or sniper books. This book would also be great for people in middle school or high school. Little Kiddo's wouldn't like this because it can get some what detailed with the killing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2017
Personal Response
I liked this book because I enjoy reading books about war. I also liked this book because my grandpa fought in WWII, and this book was based in that time. Another reason I liked the book was because I feel like the author did a good job making sure all the events in the book were based on real life events in the war.
Plot Summary
The book starts out with a girl from Stalingrad, Russia,named Tania. She was just sitting at school during the beginning of WWII when a military officer calls a meeting with the students. He tells the students they are to put sandbags around the LP tanks to protect them from the German bombs. She and her classmates completed this job,and and when they returned to the school, they were set to help fight the Germans. Tania is placed on anti-aircraft gun duty. She is then put onto a sniper crew. From there the book follows her through the life of a Stalingrad sniper.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to teenagers who are interested in war-based books. I would also recommend it to people interested in the history of WWII. I feel that since this book is based off real events they would really appreciate it more than others.
I liked this book because I enjoy reading books about war. I also liked this book because my grandpa fought in WWII, and this book was based in that time. Another reason I liked the book was because I feel like the author did a good job making sure all the events in the book were based on real life events in the war.
Plot Summary
The book starts out with a girl from Stalingrad, Russia,named Tania. She was just sitting at school during the beginning of WWII when a military officer calls a meeting with the students. He tells the students they are to put sandbags around the LP tanks to protect them from the German bombs. She and her classmates completed this job,and and when they returned to the school, they were set to help fight the Germans. Tania is placed on anti-aircraft gun duty. She is then put onto a sniper crew. From there the book follows her through the life of a Stalingrad sniper.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to teenagers who are interested in war-based books. I would also recommend it to people interested in the history of WWII. I feel that since this book is based off real events they would really appreciate it more than others.
October 29, 2012
Paul Harrington Independent Book Review
Ubriaco The Sniper Book Review
The battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in history; this battle was fought in the streets and buildings of Stalingrad. Buildings, which soon became ruins. “The Sniper” by James Riordan takes place in Stalingrad during World War II and is the true story of a female sniper in the battle of Stalingrad.
The main character’s name is Tania Belova; her character is based on the real sniper of Stalingrad Tania Chernova. And the book closely follows her journey throughout the battle. Tania is only a senior in high school when the battle begins and is drafted into a sniper group. All the other characters including Tolya and Zaitsev were also based on real people. Tolya is a fellow sniper in their group and Zaitsev is their commander. These characters were all very believable and really came to life as the reader watches them see the suffering and death that comes to their city.
In the novel Tania and the other seniors in their school are put in anti- aircraft guns. After this she goes on a mission to bring a message to her father who is in the army. After she finds her father she is drafted into a sniper school. Later, the sniper regiment goes into Stalingrad to fight the Germans back. Tania is captured then, amazingly escapes back to Russian lines. After this she is put in charge of a dangerous mission, one that could turn the tide of the war. To find out what happens next you will have to read about it yourself.
Personally I had trouble relating to any of the characters in the book. I have never had my home city destroyed, grieved for the deaths of thousands, then fight in the streets killing enemies, and finally lead dangerous missions. But that’s just me, maybe you have? If you have done any of the above, you will certainly relate to Tania.
All things considered I very much enjoyed “The Sniper”. I found it adventurous, enthralling, and above all else fascinating. My favorite part of the book was the fact that it was true. That a child went through this, and fought through this and survived, is truly remarkable.
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend, I would even recommend it to an enemy its so good! The kind of person would like this book is anyone who likes historical fiction, World War II, or action novels. Come to think of it, anyone who likes to read will like this book!
Ubriaco The Sniper Book Review
The battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in history; this battle was fought in the streets and buildings of Stalingrad. Buildings, which soon became ruins. “The Sniper” by James Riordan takes place in Stalingrad during World War II and is the true story of a female sniper in the battle of Stalingrad.
The main character’s name is Tania Belova; her character is based on the real sniper of Stalingrad Tania Chernova. And the book closely follows her journey throughout the battle. Tania is only a senior in high school when the battle begins and is drafted into a sniper group. All the other characters including Tolya and Zaitsev were also based on real people. Tolya is a fellow sniper in their group and Zaitsev is their commander. These characters were all very believable and really came to life as the reader watches them see the suffering and death that comes to their city.
In the novel Tania and the other seniors in their school are put in anti- aircraft guns. After this she goes on a mission to bring a message to her father who is in the army. After she finds her father she is drafted into a sniper school. Later, the sniper regiment goes into Stalingrad to fight the Germans back. Tania is captured then, amazingly escapes back to Russian lines. After this she is put in charge of a dangerous mission, one that could turn the tide of the war. To find out what happens next you will have to read about it yourself.
Personally I had trouble relating to any of the characters in the book. I have never had my home city destroyed, grieved for the deaths of thousands, then fight in the streets killing enemies, and finally lead dangerous missions. But that’s just me, maybe you have? If you have done any of the above, you will certainly relate to Tania.
All things considered I very much enjoyed “The Sniper”. I found it adventurous, enthralling, and above all else fascinating. My favorite part of the book was the fact that it was true. That a child went through this, and fought through this and survived, is truly remarkable.
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend, I would even recommend it to an enemy its so good! The kind of person would like this book is anyone who likes historical fiction, World War II, or action novels. Come to think of it, anyone who likes to read will like this book!
December 9, 2016
Tania Chernovia was a young Russian schoolgirl who went to school in a town called Stalingrad. As she enjoyed recess one afternoon, German planes suddenly swooped down and showered the city with bombs and bullets, initiating World War Two. Tania Chernovia survived the attacks and was selected to be an anti-aircraft gunner where she was stationed briefly, shooting down over 8 enemy planes. After suffering an injury in the line of duty, Tania suddenly wakes up, still wounded, in her home, where she discovers her ransacked house and family long gone, dead. After making her way to the recruiting office on foot, Tania convinces the military officer to allow her to resign her anti-aircraft position to become a part of the Secret Police. However this was short lived when she was recruited and trained to be a marksman in the war against Germany. Because this was her best shot at avenging her fallen family and comrades, Tania shows extreme discipline on the battlefield and racks up a body count of over 60 officers. Her killing spree did not come without consequences, however, when Tania was killed in a gunfight with German officers.
I believe those who are interested in historical fiction would have a hard time putting this book down. The constant suspense of war is strongly emphasized throughout the book which keeps any reader on edge from cover to cover. The gore of war is portrayed well, making this a book most suitable for middle school readers and beyond, as well as those who love a good action book. As the story progresses, Tania experiences emotional stress as her relationships develop and resolve, making this book a potential pick for someone who likes a book tied into reality.
I believe those who are interested in historical fiction would have a hard time putting this book down. The constant suspense of war is strongly emphasized throughout the book which keeps any reader on edge from cover to cover. The gore of war is portrayed well, making this a book most suitable for middle school readers and beyond, as well as those who love a good action book. As the story progresses, Tania experiences emotional stress as her relationships develop and resolve, making this book a potential pick for someone who likes a book tied into reality.
February 13, 2015
The Battle of Stalingrad cost over a million lives but changed the course of the Second World as it was the first time the German forces tasted defeat. The snipers used by the Soviet forces in Stalingrad became legendary. They were trained in patience and reached an amazing level of accuracy for hitting their target. They also developed a ruthlessness that helped them tip the balance in the Battle of Stalingrad
Tania Belova, the main character, is 16 when she leaves school to help to defend the Soviet Union from the German invasion in 1942. She is at first put on anti-aircraft guns and manages to shoot down nine enemy aircraft before training as a teenage sniper. Her story is closely based on the true experiences of a real-life hero, Tania Chernova, who was awarded the Red Star for bravery by her grateful country.
When Tania is recruited as a sniper, she is trained by Vasily Zaitsev. She and the rest of her group are to seek out and shoot Germans, especially their officers. In the beginning she finds it finds it almost difficult to imagine killing another human being, but events help her to steel herself for the task. She goes on to 'snap’ as many as 84 ‘German sticks', as she call her targets. Following being caught in enemy territory and a bold escape, she goes on to lead a small unit on a hazardous mission to seize Field Marshall Paulus, the Commander-in-Chief of the invading army.
This is an accessible and well –researched narrative for younger readers. It is a gripping tale and also offers some interesting perspectives on war in general.
Tania Belova, the main character, is 16 when she leaves school to help to defend the Soviet Union from the German invasion in 1942. She is at first put on anti-aircraft guns and manages to shoot down nine enemy aircraft before training as a teenage sniper. Her story is closely based on the true experiences of a real-life hero, Tania Chernova, who was awarded the Red Star for bravery by her grateful country.
When Tania is recruited as a sniper, she is trained by Vasily Zaitsev. She and the rest of her group are to seek out and shoot Germans, especially their officers. In the beginning she finds it finds it almost difficult to imagine killing another human being, but events help her to steel herself for the task. She goes on to 'snap’ as many as 84 ‘German sticks', as she call her targets. Following being caught in enemy territory and a bold escape, she goes on to lead a small unit on a hazardous mission to seize Field Marshall Paulus, the Commander-in-Chief of the invading army.
This is an accessible and well –researched narrative for younger readers. It is a gripping tale and also offers some interesting perspectives on war in general.
February 15, 2016
THE SNIPER
If you know you had an advantage in warfare would you make the difference and play your role? Now what if I say it's in the bloodiest battle in history that lasted two years and took two million lives. The typical rifleman sees what he is shooting at 10% of the times but you will have to see it 100% of the time. Every friendly or enemy death is in your clear view. You will let your friends die so you can get one shot on a hostile. Doesn't matter what you say because you have to say yes no matter what. The Sniper by James Riordan is an historical fiction book that shows the cruelty a 16 year old girl sniper experiences in the battle for Stalingrad. Tina wants to be a nurse but Nazi Germany besieges her town of Stalingrad in Russia. She was forced into the military and assumed many roles when she finally gets assigned to a squad of snipers. So she put her dreams of being a doctor away and started training. While training she meets a guy she likes, Toyla. She gets put into combat with her squad serving under Major-General Gurtiev’s command. An excerpt from the book that illustrates war is not a nice place is, “what spoiled it was the blood curdling scream and cry ‘mama’ from the man she shot.” If you like this book, you may also like Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes because it shows the German and American side of World War Two. I rate this book two stars out of five because it looks like it was wrote by a twelve year old.
If you know you had an advantage in warfare would you make the difference and play your role? Now what if I say it's in the bloodiest battle in history that lasted two years and took two million lives. The typical rifleman sees what he is shooting at 10% of the times but you will have to see it 100% of the time. Every friendly or enemy death is in your clear view. You will let your friends die so you can get one shot on a hostile. Doesn't matter what you say because you have to say yes no matter what. The Sniper by James Riordan is an historical fiction book that shows the cruelty a 16 year old girl sniper experiences in the battle for Stalingrad. Tina wants to be a nurse but Nazi Germany besieges her town of Stalingrad in Russia. She was forced into the military and assumed many roles when she finally gets assigned to a squad of snipers. So she put her dreams of being a doctor away and started training. While training she meets a guy she likes, Toyla. She gets put into combat with her squad serving under Major-General Gurtiev’s command. An excerpt from the book that illustrates war is not a nice place is, “what spoiled it was the blood curdling scream and cry ‘mama’ from the man she shot.” If you like this book, you may also like Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes because it shows the German and American side of World War Two. I rate this book two stars out of five because it looks like it was wrote by a twelve year old.
October 3, 2012
The Sniper starts with a very gripping beginning. It opens with a World War II sniper taking out German enemies. The next chapter introduces Tatiana Belova, a 16 year old schoolgirl residing in Russia. She and her friends have to sandbag a petrol depot because of the German advance. While they are working, a German plane strafes them, and Tania’s friend is killed. Through the rest of the book we learn how Tania is commissioned into the army, and how she rises through the ranks to become a member of the Secret Police. Towards the middle of the book we learn that she becomes a sniper. (Pg. 2 to 221) This book is wonderful for people who enjoy war and historical stories. There is also a good it of action for people who enjoy action stories, and just because this is a history book doesn't mean it’s boring. Through the course of this book, the emotions are quite heavy, and I believe the author intended it to be that way. You laugh, you cry, you sit at the edge of your seat in suspense. And I think the most amazing part of this book is the fact that Tania is a teenager, and I find that encouraging. All in all, I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, as it is superbly done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2012
World War II has always been a topic of interest for many. The Sniper by James Riordan puts a new perspective on the war of wars. The book starts in Stalingrad with a sixteen year old girl, Tania. The year is 1942 and war is knocking on Russia’s door. Tania forcefully learns to come of age very fast as the invasion of Stalingrad begins by the Nazi Wehrmacht. She battles through difficulties as she is separated from her family and enlisted by the Red Army as a batter gunner. She also runs vital information through the war torn city to leading officials for the army. Finally, she joins the sniper school. Quickly rising through the ranks, this sixteen year old rifle prodigy leads countless missions across enemy lines leading up to her final and most important mission. I would recommend this book to war enthusiasts as it puts a whole new perspective on the military life. However, this book does describe graphic details of death. I found this book very intense and an easy read. It held my interest throughout the book as every chapter adds more excitement. This book indulges the reader with a new sense of war from the perspective of a woman and is definitely worth reading.
September 24, 2014
Just finished this about 20 minutes ago.
I'm a sucker for WWII stories and when I saw this at the library I grabbed it.
I am thankful to say I wasn't disappointed.
One of my favorite things, I think, is the fact that every character was based off of a real person. This was all taken from true events (though sometimes what the character is going through might not be what the person they're based off of went though, but it did happen)
It really gives you insight into war and how hard it was and how "all hands on deck" and dire the situation really was.
It made me cry and it made me laugh, which to me, are the markings of a good book.
I really enjoyed this book, though my only complaint would be that Tania's age isn't made clear until a little ways in and I was confused and thought she was far younger than she was.
That would be my only complaint, though.
The chapters are nice and short so it's a great read for when you're busy and only have a few minutes of reading time at a time.
I'd highly recommend this book for most anyone. Whether you care for WWII stories or not. :)
I'm a sucker for WWII stories and when I saw this at the library I grabbed it.
I am thankful to say I wasn't disappointed.
One of my favorite things, I think, is the fact that every character was based off of a real person. This was all taken from true events (though sometimes what the character is going through might not be what the person they're based off of went though, but it did happen)
It really gives you insight into war and how hard it was and how "all hands on deck" and dire the situation really was.
It made me cry and it made me laugh, which to me, are the markings of a good book.
I really enjoyed this book, though my only complaint would be that Tania's age isn't made clear until a little ways in and I was confused and thought she was far younger than she was.
That would be my only complaint, though.
The chapters are nice and short so it's a great read for when you're busy and only have a few minutes of reading time at a time.
I'd highly recommend this book for most anyone. Whether you care for WWII stories or not. :)
October 4, 2016
This book is an exceptional WW2 novel, and was very entertaining to me. The whole, wild adventure of a young girl in Stalingrad fighting for the Red Army, is a very wonderful story. The details in this book help me visualize every scene perfectly, and it feels like I'm in the ruined city. The way the author portrays Tania, turning her from just an average schoolgirl, into the sniper hero of the Red Army is full of detail and is marvelous. The book itself is saddening as well, as Tania sees her own brother and friends die right before her in brutal ways. I am a big fan of history books and this one is definitely one of my favorites. The only bad thing about the book is it's pace, and I believe the book is just too fast and easy to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2013
I didn't realize this was a YA book when I ordered it, and I'm still a little surprised that someone actually wrote a book about the Battle of Stalingrad for young people. Riordan's portrayal of the relationship between Zaitsev and Tania doesn't mesh with what I've read elsewhere, but this is a kids' book. Riordan doesn't shy away from decribing deaths and general nastiness, but he seems detached or dispassionate at times- like he's just describing what happened but doesn't really care. Overall, not bad.
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