A Visit to Moscow

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By L Johnson

Anna Olswanger's A Visit to Moscow is a captivating and haunting work that transports readers to a historical moment that is often disregarded: the covert journeys of American rabbis who observe the lives of Soviet Jews during the Cold War. The opening pages of the book captivate the reader with a blend of quiet tension, curiosity, and courage, transporting them to a world where faith, identity, and oppression intersect. The experience of reading it is both intimate and suspenseful, as if the reader is walking alongside the narrator through the shadowed streets of Moscow, experiencing the uncertainty, fear, and hope firsthand.

Evoking empathy, reflection, and a sense of historical awareness, the book engages the reader on emotional and intellectual levels. The narrative is accentuated by Yevgenia Nayberg illustrations, which establish a tone that embodies the resilience of the individuals residing under surveillance and the weight of it. Themes of faith, perseverance, cultural heritage, and moral responsibility are resonant beyond the confines of the narrative, serving as a reminder to readers that, despite the presence of oppressive conditions, individuals can witness, bear witness, and act with courage.

Nayberg's artistry is exceptional, as she seamlessly integrates evocative illustrations with Olswanger’s clear and compelling adaptation of Rabbi Rafael Grossman's account. The graphic novel format enables readers to assimilate the narrative visually and textually, while the dramatic use of color, shadow, and perspective conveys tension and emotion in a manner that words alone cannot. Occasionally, younger readers or those who are unfamiliar with Soviet-era contexts may find the historical density and specific nuanced cultural references to be a challenge. Nevertheless, the authenticity and depth of the work are ultimately enhanced by these details.

The tense interactions under watchful eyes, the subtle gestures of hope and solidarity that punctuate otherwise oppressive settings, and the secret visits to hidden Jewish communities are all memorable moments. Olswanger and Nayberg's capacity to transform real-life events into a visual and narrative experience is enduring.

A Visit to Moscow is a powerful, immersive exploration of history, courage, and faith. Anna Olswanger has created a work that educates, moves, and inspires, making it essential reading for anyone interested in graphic storytelling, Jewish history, or the enduring human spirit.

About the Author 

Anna Olswanger

Anna Olswanger first began interviewing Rabbi Rafael Grossman and writing down his stories in the early 1980s. She is the author of the middle grade novel GREENHORN, based on an incident in Rabbi Grossman's childhood and set against the backdrop of the Holocaust. The film adaptation of GREENHORN was named a 2015 Audience Award Winner for Best Short Film Drama at the Morris and Mollye Fogelman International Jewish Film Festival at the Memphis Jewish Community Center. It subsequently aired on public television in Memphis and Kentucky, and was part of the Festival Internacional De Cine Judio en Mexico. Anna is also the author of SHLEMIEL CROOKS, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book and PJ Library Book, which she wrote after discovering a 1919 Yiddish newspaper article about the attempted robbery of her great-grandparents’ kosher liquor store in St. Louis.

Anna lives in New Jersey where she is a literary agent and represents a number of

award-winning authors and illustrators.

About the Illustrator

Yevgenia Nayberg

Yevgenia Nayberg is an award-winning children's book author, illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and picture books, and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide. As a set and costume designer, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers, the Independent Theatre Award and the Arlin Meyer Award. She's a recipient of three Sydney Taylor Medals for her picturebook illustrations. She's the author/illustrator of ANYA'S SECRET SOCIETY, TYPEWRITER, and MONA LISA IN NEW YORK. Her latest picture book, I HATE BORSCH!, a witty take on the complicated experience of rejecting and embracing one’s culture, is the Gold Winner of The Forward Indies Book of The Year Award and is one of the New York Public Library Best Books of the Year. Her latest book, A Party For Florine, received a Kirkus Star.

Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Yevgenia now lives and draws from her studio in New York City.