Arcady's Goal
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Understated, affecting glimpse of child's life under Stalin.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In Stalin-era Russia, a boy named Arcady has lived in state-run "homes" for orphans since his parents were arrested when he was a toddler. He's the best soccer player in his camp, playing for food rations with makeshift goals. When inspectors visit, Arcady is told to impress them with his talent – until one of the inspectors halts the violent game. The inspector, Ivan Ivanych, returns to adopt Arcady, who hopes Ivanych is really a soccer coach who will help him achieve his dream: to play on the Red Army Soccer Team. Ivanych proves a disappointment as a soccer coach, but his heart -- and his yearning to live and love fully -- are a revelation for Arcady.
Is It Any Good?
Yelchin, whose personal history is entwined with Russia's, writes with great compassion. In ARCADY'S GOAL, Yelchin revisits the frightening, traumatic period he wrote about in Breaking Stalin's Nose. His narrator this time is a bold boy the government would like to keep hidden away, but his audacious personality and talent are hard to contain. Arcady needs some softening, and Ivanych needs some strength. There's no miraculous perfect ending in store for them -- just the quiet happiness of a connection that preserves their humanity and hope.
Yelchin's nuanced, intriguing black-and-white illustrations underscore the emotional resonance of the story. A sequence of three full-spread illustrations as Arcady settles into his new life is particularly graceful and touching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how fiction can deepen our understanding of history. What did you learn about this period of Russian history from reading the book?
Is Ivan Ivanych overly fearful,or appropriately wary?
How do the illustrations complement the narrative?
Book Details
- Author: Eugene Yelchin
- Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Friendship , History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date: October 14, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 240
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate