The Endless Steppe could easily be compared to The Diary of Anne Frank due to their similar ages and some aspects of their stories, however this book does have a largely happy ending. It is one of The Originals from Penguin - iconic, outspoken, first. Boys should not be deterred by the female narrator, as her story is so powerful. THE ENDLESS STEPPE is based on the authors true-life experience. In the novel it tells of how determination, the human ability to adopt, and happiness can hold a family together and help them even preserver over all odds. However, older readers should not be put off by the simple language and adolescent voice, as I believe Esther's well observed comments about her conditions and the effect they had on her are interesting for any age. (Johann von Goethe) The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig is a novel about a family’s determination to survive. The subject matter is at times very disturbing and saddening, and as it is narrated by the voice of Esther herself, I would suggest no one younger than 11 should read it. So I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the social impact of the Second World War in the East. I have always been interested in this period of history, and in particular what happened to the citizens as result of the conflict under the Nazis – almost Esther's entire extended family were murdered during the Holocaust – but before reading this book, I knew very little about the effects of the brutal Soviet regime. She has whiny and determined moods, wants to fit in at school, dreams of winning a drama competition and even has her first crush on a boy, all of which made me feel oddly connected to a young girl whose experiences I could never imagine living through.
It is also made more appealing by the universal feeling Esther has of still being a typical teenager at heart, even when her upbringing is so far removed from normality. Yet throughout, Esther's hopeful nature and, at times, naïve optimism makes the tale an ultimately uplifting one of survival and the strength of family.
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