SYNOPSIS

In the early 20th century, three Ukrainian brothers choose different paths.

Mykola stays in the Ukrainian village of their birth, Lev renounces his family to become a Communist leader in Kyiv, and Ivan immigrates to New York City.

When a mass Party-orchestrated famine kills millions of Ukrainian, Mykola’s daughter Nadiya loses her whole family.

She seeks help in Kyiv where her uncle Lev turns her out but cousin Mila hides her and helps nurse her back to life.

The secret is discovered, Lev is pronounced a traitor, and the two girls are thrown into a typhus-infested children’s orphanage.

Nadiya dies; Mila is saved by Ivan who arrives from Brooklyn to rescue his brother’s starving daughter.

It is not until 2020 that family descendants learn which girl was actually saved back in 1933 when…

12-year-old Matthew, stuck at home during COVID, discovers the horrors of the USSR regime in 1933, and documents his own family’s tragedy.

PERFECT AGE 10 – 14

We love

• Fascinating, heartbreaking story about a moment in history not well known in the Western world.
• Beautiful inclusion of unique components of Ukrainian culture – foods, Easter celebrations, religion, language.
• The three cousins and Matthew all have inspiring and relatable characters – great role models for young readers.

WATCH OUT FOR (Language, Big / Sensitive Topics, Outdated Concepts):

• The book describes a period of world history rife is tragedy and horror; some advance prep may be helpful for young readers:
• The Holodomor caused the gradual death of millions of innocent people throughout Ukraine.
• The young protagonists’ individual stories are stark – Nadiya’s mom and baby brothers starve to death; Mila’s dad is shot by the Party; Nadiya dies of typhus.
• Family / friend betrayal is an important theme in the storyline.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• What reasons do you think Mila had to keep her secret for so many years?
• What could have happened to Mila’s secret if she never shared it with Matthew while she lived?
• If you were to continue Matthew’s story, what do you think he may do with his videos and writing?
• Do you have further questions about this period in history? Would you like to do some more research into it?