Face to Face

Brought together in this richly textured anthology are 18 examples of Soviet and American literature by such authors as Yuri Yakovlev, Robert Cormier, Anatoly Aleksin, Scott O'Dell, Jane Yolen and Cynthia Rylant. Carefully selected and impeccably arranged, the stories offer a wide variety of writing styles, moods, characters and settings which reflect life in different regions of both nations. Rather than focusing on the contrasts between cultures, the collection affirms the universality of young people's experiences and examines children's relationships with their parents, teachers and peers. Readers will find that the translations in this book are as readable and relevant to their lives as the more familiar American selections. Themes of death, war, loyalty and love are clearly and movingly expressed by writers from both countries. This extraordinary book's timely publication represents an enormous amount of work and a strong desire to promote international friendship through the sharing of ideas. The editors' efforts are to be commended. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)