Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by Elizabeth Kiem

Pages: 264
Intended Audience: Teens and up
Genre: Real life with elements of mystery, science fiction, Soviet Russia history
Notes for Parents: Has some mature moments, violence, language

The Inside Cover

Marina is born of privilege. Her mother, Sveta, is the Soviet Uniorn’s prima ballerina: an international star handpicked by the regime. But Sveta is afflicted with a mysterious second sight and becomes obsessed with exposing a horrific state secret. Then she disappears.
Fearing for their lives, Marina and her father defect to Brooklyn. Marina struggles to reestablish herself as a dancer at Julliard. But her enigmatic partner, Sergei, makes concentration almost impossible, as does the fact that Marina shares her mother’s “gift,” and has a vision of her father’s murder at the hands of the Russian crooks and con artists she thought they’d left behind.
Now Marina must navigate the web of intrigue surrounding her mother’s disappearance, her ability, and exactly who she can—and can’t—trust.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series for this debut novelist.

What’s good?

Set in the 1980s, this story begins in Soviet Russian in the midst of the Cold War. This is a fascinating look at communist life, with its proletariat rules and government propaganda. After the main character, Marya, and her father flee their homeland, we get immersed in the lives of Russian immigrants living in Brighton Beach (Little Odessa) in New York. A complicated plot and an intricate mystery make this an intriguing tale of secrets and lies. Marya is a strong female character, the setting is unique, and the story is sophisticated.
Best Part: I love the title and the cover. It’s definitely what drew me to the book.

What isn’t good?

There’s a strange supernatural element that is completely unnecessary. The dancing and romance (with Sergei) that’s hinted at in the cover description is disappointedly minimal. The pacing slows dramatically at times, but even when things get exciting, the plot is murky. I had a hard time figuring out who (CIA, KGB, Mafia) was after what from whom. While then ending was satisfying, I’m not sure if I really liked it.
Worst part: The superfluous supernatural element.

Recommendation þþþoo

I’m torn. The mystery was good (you never really knew who to trust) but a few times the plot felt heavy and hard to follow. There were parts, especially in Soviet Russia, that I loved, but…I wanted more. I wanted more history, more danger, more intrigue, and more dancing. Overall, it was good, but it wasn’t great. Recommended, but with reservations.

Kiem, Elizabeth. Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy. New York: Soho Press, 2013 (Hardcover)