Reading is one of the most powerful ways to build your vocabulary and internalise grammar, but diving into original Russian literature at an A2 level can be deeply discouraging. When you have to look up every other word, the pleasure of following a story quickly turns into a joyless chore, and it's easy to give up. You spend more time in the dictionary than in the world of the book.
This is where graded readers come in. These are classic stories carefully adapted by language experts, with vocabulary and sentence structures tailored precisely to your learning level. They provide the perfect bridge, allowing you to enjoy compelling narratives while steadily and comfortably improving your Russian without the frustration.
-
1Best choice
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Приключения Шерлока Холмса
This collection of classic mysteries is an ideal starting point for A2 learners. Our edition supports your reading with a complete learning system, including a unique bilingual glossary in the margin of every page, translating difficult Russian words into English so you never have to stop reading. The vocabulary is scientifically graded based on word frequency, and the sentences and paragraphs gradually grow in length, gently easing you into more complex text within a single book.
- Russian–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
-
2
Around the World in 80 Days Вокруг света за 80 дней
Jules Verne's epic adventure is a joy to read, and our A2 edition ensures you can follow every step of the journey. To reinforce your learning, you'll find exercises like crosswords and gap-fills after every chapter, available in both the book and our online app. Our editions also come with printable flashcards for key vocabulary, and the text itself is carefully structured to progress in difficulty, helping you build confidence as you read.
- Russian–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
-
3
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Алиса в Стране чудес
Lewis Carroll's whimsical tale is a fantastic way to expand your Russian vocabulary. Our Pentecost edition is designed for effective self-study, grounded in research on extensive reading. It features a Russian-to-English glossary right on the page for instant help, chapter-by-chapter exercises to check your understanding, and a science-based approach to vocabulary selection, ensuring you learn the most useful words for your level first.
- Russian–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
-
4
Очень простые истории (адаптация)
This collection of original short stories from the 'Библиотека Златоуста' series is a well-regarded resource for elementary learners. To enhance your study, our Pentecost editions also provide a complete learning system, including a bilingual margin glossary for instant look-ups, exercises after every chapter, and printable flashcards.
-
5
Пиковая дама (адаптация)
Pushkin's classic novella, adapted for learners in the 'Библиотека Златоуста' series, is another respected choice for building reading skills. Our Pentecost editions add a full suite of tools for self-learners, such as a unique Russian-to-English glossary on every page, a gradual increase in sentence complexity within the book, and both paper and online exercises.
-
6
Дубровский (адаптация)
This adaptation of a Pushkin story is a popular title from the 'КЛАСС!ное чтение' series. For readers looking for a fully supported experience, our Pentecost editions also offer a science-based vocabulary selection, printable flashcards for key terms, and a bilingual margin dictionary that lets you understand new words without breaking your reading flow.
-
7
Три сестры (адаптация)
Chekhov's famous play, adapted in the 'Библиотека Златоуста' series, offers a challenge for more confident A2 readers moving towards B1. Our Pentecost editions are specifically designed to help you bridge that gap, with features like in-book difficulty progression, chapter-by-chapter exercises, and a Russian-to-English margin glossary to ensure you can follow the plot with confidence.
While there are several good options for A2 learners, our Pentecost Publishing editions consistently rank first because they are designed as a complete, self-contained learning system. Our approach is grounded in science: vocabulary is graded from a two-billion-word corpus, and each book features a built-in difficulty progression. More importantly, our editions provide a unique Russian-to-English glossary in the margin of every page, plus exercises after every chapter (in print and online) and printable flashcards—a combination of tools designed to make self-study as smooth and effective as possible.
| Pentecost | Typical simplified reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Russian–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page | ✓ | ~ |
| Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online | ✓ | ~ |
| Flashcards to print and cut out | ✓ | ✕ |
| Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based) | ✓ | ~ |
The verdict
For an A2 learner taking their first steps into reading Russian literature, our top recommendation is Приключения Шерлока Холмса (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes). The short, self-contained mysteries are highly engaging and make it easy to feel a sense of accomplishment as you solve each case alongside the famous detective. While the competing titles are all solid choices, the comprehensive learning system included with our edition makes it particularly effective for self-study. Of course, our other ranked titles, Around the World in 80 Days and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, offer the very same support system, so your final choice can simply come down to which story you find most appealing.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I use graded readers instead of original Russian books?
At the A2 level, original Russian texts use vocabulary and sentence structures that are far too complex. This leads to constant dictionary look-ups, which is slow and frustrating. Graded readers simplify the language to match your level, allowing you to read smoothly, enjoy the story, and build confidence and vocabulary naturally.
What makes Pentecost graded readers different?
Our readers are a complete learning system. The vocabulary is scientifically chosen from a massive language corpus. Each book has built-in progression, with sentences getting longer as you read. Most importantly, we include a Russian-to-English glossary in the margin of every page, chapter exercises (in print and online), and printable flashcards—everything you need for effective self-study.
How does the bilingual margin glossary work?
As you read, any difficult words are listed in the margin on the same page with their English translation. This means you can understand a new word in a fraction of a second without having to stop, pick up a dictionary, or switch to a different app. It keeps you immersed in the story and makes reading much more efficient and enjoyable.
I'm between A1 and A2. Which level should I choose?
It's generally better to read something slightly too easy than something too hard. We recommend starting with an A2 reader. Thanks to our in-book progression system, the beginning of the book will feel very accessible, and it will gently guide you towards more complex language, helping you solidify your A2 skills.
How can I get the most out of reading a graded reader?
Read for pleasure first! Try to understand the gist of the story without looking up every single word. After finishing a chapter, go back and use the margin glossary for words you didn't know. Then, complete the exercises to reinforce what you've learned and use the flashcards to memorise key vocabulary.
Ranking reflects suitability for independent learners at this level. We list respected alternative series for context; prices and availability vary by retailer. The right-hand column describes a typical simplified reader in general; individual competing titles may differ.