Russia, a History to 1917

This is a suprisingly well-written(not dry) Russian history. There are many color photographs highlighting different aspects of Russia, which is a plus. Many books from the 80's still used black and whites. The tone is well balanced in its presentation of this nation. The Russian Orthodox Church is respectfully treated as an important part of Russia's background, the slavery (serf) issue is not glossed over, and each section of coverage is given enough detail without being overwhelming. Rulers such as Catherine and Peter the Great are not fawned over, or downplayed, and their best achievements are covered. Certainly there are many fascinating tidbits about Russia and its rulers that cannot be presented due to the scope of the book, but there may be enough to entice a child to read more as an adult. The reading level is best for 5th to 10th grades, although chronological histories are really better for jr. high and up. The length of the book is ideal for the upper grades as it leaves a child with some time to read other biographies and fiction on the subject.