The Steamship Goes to Rostov

This little book is something like a monument. Its author, Misha Grinin, wrote down the story that happened to his family in 1963, when he was 15 years old.

In the 1960s, you could travel from Volgograd to Rostov on a real paddle steamer. A large family—mom and five children—goes on such a steamer to Rostov to visit their grandparents and experiences all kinds of funny and sad events. But when mom accidentally falls behind the steamer, the children are left alone. Yet it turns out there are so many kind and good people around that the incident is not scary at all—neither for the kids, nor for their mother.

The story is told from the perspective of a 14-year-old teenager and is filled with interesting observations, gentle humor, and love for people.