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libraryrobin's review
3.0
A Ukrainian who proclaimed hate for borsch discovers a nostalgic love for it after emigrating and having many American foods. Recipe included.
Polish borscht is delicious and judging by this recipe, not the same thing.
Polish borscht is delicious and judging by this recipe, not the same thing.
lifeisstory's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.75
Any immigrant will tell you that part of one’s cultural identity is found in food from the motherland. All Ukrainians are supposed to love borsch, but what if (gasp!) you don’t? I Hate Borsch! Is a somewhat autobiographical tale of a young Ukrainian girl who couldn’t stand the stuff, but after immigrating to the United States and becoming an adult, finds a longing to taste once more the food she never liked.
On the surface, I Hate Borsch! is a story about not liking a food as a kid, then growing up and finding out that you do like that food now. (Turns out you gotta cook the broccoli, Mom.) But dig a bit deeper, and it’s a story about finding one’s cultural identity as a minority, rejecting and embracing one’s culture, growing up to have a better appreciation of the past, and how food is so uniquely tied to cultural expression.
Yevgenia Nayberg combines her story of coming to like borsch (or borscht) with bold illustrations that really capture the main character and her feelings. This would be a great book for an elementary school culinary class. There’s even a borsch recipe at the end! With current world events and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine driving so many Ukrainians out of their homeland, this book could be used as a tool to teach kids (and adults) about their new refugee neighbors. There’s never a bad time to celebrate Ukrainian culture, but now is an especially appropriate time to reflect on the hardiness and strength of the Ukrainian people—just like a good bowl of borsch.
On the surface, I Hate Borsch! is a story about not liking a food as a kid, then growing up and finding out that you do like that food now. (Turns out you gotta cook the broccoli, Mom.) But dig a bit deeper, and it’s a story about finding one’s cultural identity as a minority, rejecting and embracing one’s culture, growing up to have a better appreciation of the past, and how food is so uniquely tied to cultural expression.
Yevgenia Nayberg combines her story of coming to like borsch (or borscht) with bold illustrations that really capture the main character and her feelings. This would be a great book for an elementary school culinary class. There’s even a borsch recipe at the end! With current world events and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine driving so many Ukrainians out of their homeland, this book could be used as a tool to teach kids (and adults) about their new refugee neighbors. There’s never a bad time to celebrate Ukrainian culture, but now is an especially appropriate time to reflect on the hardiness and strength of the Ukrainian people—just like a good bowl of borsch.
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