Summer 1941. War rages in Europe. The Germans march towards Ukraine. Halya, Liliya and Vika are no strangers to sorrow. They lost family during the Holodomor, loved ones in Stalin's purges, and war looms once more on the horizon.
Vika lives in fear for her children. She and her sister survived the terror famine by leaving their whole family behind. Now, years later, many believe the Germans will free them from the Soviets, but she’s not so sure. Should they stay in Volhynia or flee the approaching Eastern front?
Liliya has lost too much in her 17 years. As those around her join the resistance, Liliya wonders how she can fight for her friends, family, and country. When the choice is made for her, can she find the will to survive and protect those still with her?
Twelve-year-old Halya is struggling to discover who she is. But as the war escalates, can her mother Katya’s tactics keep her safe from the Nazi soldiers rounding up slave laborers? How can a child survive the horrors of war on her own?
These daughters of Ukraine will face devastation and loss as they fight to survive and protect the ones they love.
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Moving, heart -wrenching, captivating.
Some books would stay with you long after you turn the last page. The Lost Daughters Of Ukraine was one of those books for me, and even though I finished it a while back, I can’t seem to get it out of my mind. I got this book a while back from Netgalley, but due to a hectic school schedule didn’t have time to read it until recently. My mom is from Ukraine, and I was born in Ukraine and had family there, so this book was close to my heart. When I picked this book, I knew that The Lost Daughters Of Ukraine would be hard to read, and a few scenes were tough for me to read. I can’t even begin to imagine what they went through during that time, but as I read the book, I felt like I could. The descriptions in The Lost Daughters Of Ukraine were so vivid I could picture everything as I read the book. I teared up a few times while reading the book.
I loved how most of the characters came together in this story. I loved the friendship that formed between Liliya, Halya and Slavko. Both Liliya and Slavko made it their mission to take care of Halya from the moment that the two of them met her. I’m glad that Halya had Slavko when the two of them got separated from Liliya, and I had feeling that his feelings towards Halya were more than friendship, and I wondered if she picked up on her. I enjoyed reading the story from both Liliya and Halya’s point of view, they are both different but yet the same in few different ways. The three of them had been through so much together, but I am glad that they had each other during such horrific time.
Vika. She was different from the other two girls, but unique. The similarities between the three women, their bravery. Despite everything that was happening, they kept on going and not giving up hope. I know that one of the hardest things during that time, is hope, not knowing if your loved ones were dead or alive. All through the book I was hoping for the good outcome where all of them would be reunited.
The Lost Daughters Of Ukraine was one of the best researched historical fiction books that I have read this year. It was interesting to me that it was based on author’s family history, I can’t begin to imagine how hard that must been to write. I would highly recommend this for any historical fiction fans. Be prepared to be on edge of your seat from the start until the end.
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