As a children’s and teen librarian I absolutely love the way Thompson was able to condense so much history into 240 pages without leaving out any important details. I know so many kids with insatiable curiosities that will be in love with this book. Honestly, even as an adult who didn’t know a lot about how we got to where we are today with Russia and Ukraine, I learned so much and am grateful that Thompson did so much research. I cannot wait to order a copy for work!

For young children hearing adults talk about current events can be very confusing. In this title Putin vs Zelensky, author Thompson lays out in simple but extenstive detail the conflict between Ukraine and Russia tracing the conflict throughout history and ending in the present day. Recommended for children grades 5 and older who are interested in current events.

Ben Thompson has written the book that I wish I had been able to read in 2022. The history between Russia and Ukraine is long and intertwined. That made it difficult for me to understand as I was trying to get a crash course in knowing why Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since the beginning of the war, I have read deeply researched tomes that went into far more details and tangential topics than I needed but that was what I had available to me. And even still, I did not learn all of the pertinent factors that led to Putin's decision to invade until reading Putin vs. Zelensky: The Russo-Ukrainian War.

Thompson has taken a complex history and distilled it into the easiest-to-read volume I have come across yet. Aimed at a middle grade audience, this book is a well balanced combination of quantity of information and understandability. Whether you are an adult wishing to better understand the politics behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine or a young person who doesn't know much about the background of the war, this book will give you better insight.

Thompson, in this middle-grade non-fictional history of the Russian/Ukrainian conflict. Starting from the time of the Tsars to the present day. Written for middle-grade readers, this is also good for adults who want to learn more about this conflict. It breaks down the complexities of both nations, making it easier to follow the ongoing conflict. Interwoven throughout the historical narrative are the grandfathers of both Zelensky and Putin. They were in the background of the conflict before the rise of their grandsons.

I recommend this to people who want to know the history of the Ukrainians' quest for independence and the expansionism of the Russian Empire. This is also good for helping your children understand today's current conflict.

This is a tragic book, loaded with information, and fascinating to read. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and rate this book.

I was curious about this title and if it would appeal to my older kids (ages 10, 12, and 15) who have been very curious about the war between Russia and Ukraine since it first started. This book has so much history and depth. It was too complex to keep the attention of my 10 year old, but my teenage son enjoyed reading it and my 12 year old read parts before ultimately feeling overwhelmed by the information. I enjoyed the historical perspective which helped me to understand the current tensions in this ongoing war.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC.

Interesting look at the history of Russia and Ukraine as well as the background of both presidents. This book is well-written and really helps the reader understand the driving forces behind the Russo-Ukraine War.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A much needed easy to read history lesson for young readers and adults alike about why there is such a fierce rivalry and long running war between Ukraine and Russia. The author obviously did a lot of research into the historical roots of both Putin and Zelenskyy. I learned a lot and feel better informed about current events.

This is a hard book to rate. As an adult, I appreciated the thorough information, but I can’t see kids getting into it.

Thompson begins with the early 20th century history of Czar Nicholas in Russia. He explains how his unpopularity led to the rise of Lenin and communism and eventually to Stalin in World War 2. His details clearly explain the repetition of cruel Russian governments being overthrown by revolutionaries, only to be replaced by one just as bad. The author repeatedly uses the saying “I fled from a wolf, but ran into a bear” to show that the situation for the Russian laborer never improved when governments changed. It’s a fascinating read for people who grew up under benevolent governments. Side note: Vladimir Putin’s grandfather was a personal chef to all three of the previously mentioned dictators.

The book does eventually get around to Putin and Zelensky. It talks about Putin growing up in the Cold War and, having seen the USSR fall from power in the 80s and 90s, wanting to return it to greatness. Zelensky, on the other hand, was a Ukrainian celebrity. His only advantage was that he wasn’t a corrupt politician. The book talks about how the NATO situation plays prominently in the current war. I was happy that the book stayed completely unbiased and just stated the facts.

Unfortunately, the book isn’t narrative enough for kids, which makes it a hard sell. Even I had to skip one of the chapters because I found it to be too boring.

This is a well-researched history of Russia and Ukraine, as the author takes us back and forth in time to discover how Putin came to power, as well as the strength of Ukraine in seeking independence and fighting back. This is listed as a children's non-fiction history book but I think it will appeal more to YA readers as there is a lot of dense information, unfamiliar names, and the complicated history of Russia pre- and post- Soviet Union. That said, I think now more than ever readers have to understand Eastern European history to make intelligent connections to current US events. This is a very reader-friendly book for adults, and I recommend all adults who are concerned about Putin's threat to not only Ukraine but democracy around the world.