Behind the Border

Kossman, now a painter and a language instructor in New York, lived in Moscow until the age of 10 (no year is given), when her parents were allowed to emigrate to the United States. In 13 short pieces, she offers a series of glimpses into her experiences growing up in the former Soviet Union. Some vignettes are touchingly funny: e.g., Kossman uses watercolors to paint the flagstones of Red Square red; in kindergarten, she tries to become a national hero by waking ``Grandpa Lenin'' from his tomb. Other episodes pungently convey the effects of growing up under a totalitarian regime. Kossman remembers her fears that she might accidentally mention that her father listened regularly to the forbidden BBC, as well as her feelings of guilt that she loved her parents more than Lenin. But while the subjects are engaging, too often the pieces seem brittle. Short, choppy sentences move the stories along hurriedly, affording little reflection on the experiences being described. Kossman sketches a varied and memorable picture of her childhood; it's too bad she hasn't filled in the outlines. Ages 8-up. (Aug.)