Tag: Putin

Kidnapped from Ukraine: Under Attack

Published by Scholastic on Jan 7, 2025.

This gripping, accessible novel by celebrated Ukrainian Canadian author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch follows two sisters as they struggle to survive the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

12-year-old twin sisters Rada and Dariia Popkova couldn’t be more different. Dariia is outgoing and chatty while Rada is a quieter and artsy. But what they have in common is their love for each other and their home. The family lives in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is attacked by the Russians on Feb 24th, 2022.

The attack separates the family — Dariia is with her mom and Rada with her dad. Dariia and her mother are then separated by Russian officials and Dariia is sent to live with a Russian family. As the war rages around them, the sisters and their family must overcome unimaginable hardships. But they will learn how powerful hope is in the face of disaster.

Reviews:

*”Gut-punching: This is essential reading.” — Kirkus, starred review

*”Fans of Alan Gratz and Jennifer Nielsen will devour this fictional account of the all-too-real ongoing experiences of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children.” — Booklist, starred review

“important and tough to read novel, which fictionalizes, in harsh detail, true events from a child’s point of view.” — Publishers Weekly

“I just read this must-read and could not put it down. Thoughtful, gripping, well researched and nicely paced. A hell of an accomplishment. An important novel. A brave author.” — Pam Withers, author.

“Under Attack is fast moving and gut punching. It will appeal to a vast audience, hitting on current events, adventure, family and friendship.” Crackingthecover

“A must-have for all libraries, the perfect historical fiction!! A ‘can’t-put-down’ read!” Goodreads

“This is a must have for libraries serving grades 5 and up and readers should be encouraged to read the author’s note for information on the history that is still unfolding and reminded that this is why learning about world history is so important: If we do not learn from it, we are destined to repeat it as it is being repeated now.” Goodreads

“No one does historical middle-grade fiction like Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. While “Under Attack’ is set in present-day Ukraine, I am sure fans of “Making Bombs for Hitler” and Skrypuch’s other historical books will enjoy it. The novel is captivating, meticulously researched, and heartbreaking. Another must-read by Skrypuch.” Netgalley

“Teachers and librarians will find this novel to be an important addition to any middle-grade collection. While the language remains straightforward and accessible for readers ages 8–12, the story doesn’t shy away from the harsh, real-life events of the war, making it a compelling way to introduce students to current events and inspire empathy and understanding. It also opens up opportunities for classroom discussions around resilience, survival, and the human cost of war..” Netgalley

What a novel!!!! Truly I cannot do the book justice. It’s an incredible read from cover to cover. I am not surprised–I’d expect nothing less from Skrypuch. She excels at everything–writing, plotting, characterization. But it is the characterization that particularly wows me every time. Because though it shouldn’t be rare, it mostly is. The depth of characterization is outstanding. It isn’t just that there’s depth and substance of the main character, but it is how expansive the characterization is. There’s no shortcuts, no character too small to not get treated as important. It makes it impossible not to get invested and thoroughly absorbed in the story. Becky’s Book Reviews.

Making Bombs for Hitler published in Ukraine

I am so very thrilled to have this novel finally available for Ukrainian readers. Yulia Lyubka’s translation is brilliant and I LOVE the cover art by Anya Styopina. Making Bombs and Stolen Girl tell the tale of two Ukrainian sisters torn apart by the Nazis in WWII. One is considered racially valuable and is kidnapped, brainwashed into thinking she’s German, and placed in a Nazi home. The other sister is considered not racially valuable, and is starved and worked nearly to death. Although these books are historical, they’re unfortunately also current because Putin channels Hitler and Ukrainians are currently going through this all again. The publisher is Books XI. In Canada they’re available through Koota Ooma.

Talking about Winterkill and Putin’s war with avid readers from Southside Junior High

It was wonderful to speak with avid readers from Southside JH this morning. It was great to answer some very good questions and some of them were ones I had never been asked by students before. What I particularly enjoyed were the connections that students made between the Holodomor and the current war in Ukraine, and between Stalin and Putin. One student asked how an American kid could help people in Ukraine. I told them that if they wanted to raise money, the best place to donate is the US-Ukraine Foundation but also said that doing things that keep the reality of war in Ukraine in the minds of regular people was very important too. There’s a simple way to keep it in people’s minds and that’s to follow #KidsFleeWar on social media and to share the images. What is #KidsFleeWar? The Shevchenko Foundation, myself and educators from across Canada who have Ukrainian refugee kids in their schools have been facilitating and sharing artwork about the war from a child’s perspective. Following, commenting and sharing these images keeps the injustices of the war on the radar of regular people but it also gives a voice to kids. I also host those pics on my website here.

Southside students were introduced to Winterkill and the Holodomor many weeks ago by their librarian, Jenna Remedies-France. Many thanks to HREC ED for funding this visit. Here is a quote from Jenna: I read Winterkill a few weeks ago; I absolutely LOVED it! I have to be honest and say that I had never heard of the Holodomor before, much less knew anything substantial about it. I love history! I cannot believe that in all my schooling it was never brought up. Thank you for writing such a beautiful book about this tragic time in history. The story deserves to be told, read, and known by everyone. I will definitely do my part in making that happen! Jenna Remedies-France, Middle School Librarian, Southside Junior High, Denham Springs, Louisiana

Winterkill ARCs

Writing Winterkill, set during the Holodomor in 1930s Ukraine, was a gut-wrenching experience. I thought I was writing history, but mere weeks after finishing the final edit, Putin launched a genocidal campaign against Ukraine and the world inspired by Stalin’s actions in the Holodomor.

There is satisfaction in holding this book in my hands and I look forward to September 6th when it will be born. I pray that Putin’s war will be history by then. What we forget we do repeat.

Banning books

Here’s a recent Amazon.com “review” of Don’t Tell the Nazis: This should not be permitted in our school library. This is not a children’s book. It describes in graphic detail violence against women and children. My child brought this home and we have gone chapter by chapter writing a summary for his class, but I should have investigated the content prior to him using this book. I will be speaking to the school board and superintendent about the removal of any of this disturbed author’s works.

Within hours of the above “review” being posted, someone trolled through my Goodreads list and left a comment on my review of a piece of old Soviet propaganda published in book form titled Famine, Fraud and Fascism: The Ukrainian Genocide Myth from Hitler to Harvard. It’s long been part of the Soviet (and now Putin) playbook to label Ukrainians as fascists and therefore killable. Before WWII, they were labeled kulaks to identify them as “enemies of the people” and a killable group. In the 1930s, using this propaganda method, the Stalinists killed millions of Ukrainians by starving them. My review of this book was simple. I gave it a single star and noted that it was hate propaganda. The troller’s comment was, “found the kulak”. Everything old is new again.

When one writes books on topics that others won’t touch, it’s a given that some people will direct hate your way. I’m not a shrinking violet, but thought the timing was interesting. Two attacks within hours of someone like me, a mere children’s writer. Multiply this by all of the other Russian information warfare out there. Smells of desperation.

Pray for Ukraine, but donate too

If you’re feeling helpless as maternity hospitals, kindergartens and children’s cancer hospitals are routinely bombed, yes, please do pray. But also, please donate. This is a war of attrition and Ukrainians are dedicated to the freedom of their country but they’re outnumbered. Please donate. Canadians, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation is the most efficient way to give Ukraine help. Money is best so the exact supplies needed can be purchased.

I had also been recommending the Red Cross because the Canadian government is matching donations, but I’m alarmed with their negotiations with Lavrov and their potential opening of an office in Rostov-on-Don, which basically legitimizes the abduction of Ukrainians in the Russian “humanitarian” corridors. I think many Red Cross donators would be appalled that their well-meaning donations would go to such a use. More on this in this Reuters story.

If you are American, the US-Ukraine Foundation is the best place.

 

This evocative painting was created by my friend and artist, Martin Springett.https://martinspringett.com/

Juda School and questions about Putin’s war in Ukraine

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure to speak with these articulate students from Juda Wisconsin. The session went well beyond the usual hour because in addition to talking about Don’t Tell the Nazis and the Holocaust, we discussed Putin’s authoritarian regime and the horrific assaults on Ukraine right now, and how reading history informs the present. Thank you, Juda students, for your well-considered questions, your compassion and empathy.

Sick at heart over Putin’s mad war but I’m still doing talks with students

Since this mad war began, my virtual visits have continued but students’ questions have changed. My WWII books give context and history to Putin’s expansionist fantasies. They also help students step into the shoes of a Ukrainian on the ground during times of the past that were much like today.

But while I can compartmentalize my rage and despair long enough to do the presentations, I haven’t been keeping up with posting photos of all the smart, inquisitive, and compassionate young people that I get to meet. So here is a gallery.

Madras