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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
Slower start but ultimately a good read about a part of history I wasn't familiar with.
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This was an incredible read! I loved how the story was woven together with alternating chapters of three young teens, in two different time periods, trying to survive. I had never heard of the Holodomor before, and I’m so glad that this author told her family’s story. Highly recommend reading the Author’s Note and looking at an image of the Bitter Memory of Childhood. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
Middle grade historical fiction about the Ukrainian Holodomor
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death of parent, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I picked up The Lost Year since I have a Ukrainian refugee student this year who loves reading about her home country (but might not always want it to be about the current war). I'm not saying my bar was low, but I definitely wasn't expecting the way this book gripped me!
Told in 3 perspectives (two set in the 1930s, one in 2020), the chapters are short and propulsive. I got attached to all the main characters, but was especially touched by Matthew. Stuck in the first COVID lockdown, he starts spending more time with his Ukrainian great-grandmother ("GG") who recently moved in. Tasked with going helping her go through some old boxes, he stumbles on pictures, letters, journals, and documents from his GG's past - and there we see the other two story lines.
The two historical perspectives are cousins on either side of the Atlantic, one living through the Holodomor, the other going through her own smaller family challenges. I don't think I've ever seen the Holodomor (Great Famine) tackled in fiction, let alone middle-grade, having only learned about it in university level history classes. I thought the author did an amazing job of not shying away from the terrible realities of Stalin's mass starvation policies while respectfully showing the different ways that folks deal with trauma. Including the narrative of how the media neglected to tell the truth of what was going on in Ukraine brought another layer of depth that I really appreciated.
This would be a great book for anyone who's enjoyed Ruta Sepetys' books, or who wants to read historical fiction set in Europe that isn't from World War II. I'm buying a copy for my classroom, not only because I loved it, but because kids love multiple perspective books, and will love the many twists and turns in the action.
Told in 3 perspectives (two set in the 1930s, one in 2020), the chapters are short and propulsive. I got attached to all the main characters, but was especially touched by Matthew. Stuck in the first COVID lockdown, he starts spending more time with his Ukrainian great-grandmother ("GG") who recently moved in. Tasked with going helping her go through some old boxes, he stumbles on pictures, letters, journals, and documents from his GG's past - and there we see the other two story lines.
The two historical perspectives are cousins on either side of the Atlantic, one living through the Holodomor, the other going through her own smaller family challenges. I don't think I've ever seen the Holodomor (Great Famine) tackled in fiction, let alone middle-grade, having only learned about it in university level history classes. I thought the author did an amazing job of not shying away from the terrible realities of Stalin's mass starvation policies while respectfully showing the different ways that folks deal with trauma. Including the narrative of how the media neglected to tell the truth of what was going on in Ukraine brought another layer of depth that I really appreciated.
This would be a great book for anyone who's enjoyed Ruta Sepetys' books, or who wants to read historical fiction set in Europe that isn't from World War II. I'm buying a copy for my classroom, not only because I loved it, but because kids love multiple perspective books, and will love the many twists and turns in the action.
This story tore my heart out, twisted it up, set it on fire, and planted it back in my body. My heart hurts for the people who suffered through the Holodomor. Millions of Ukrainians starved to death in one year because of a man-made famine. The "drought" was fabricated; greed is what powered their systemic starvation.
I had never heard of the Great Ukrainian Famine until I saw the title of this book. I love historical middle grade fiction with points-of-view that come together in interesting and surprising ways, and this book embodies that description. It's always interesting to consider how the author chooses which points-of-view to include and which to leave out. The cycle of Mila, Helen and Matthew's POVs propel the story forward until I was sneaking in minutes here and there of listening. I couldn't stop! The narration of the audiobook is wonderful and distinctive. I appreciated learning the origin of several of the stories in the author's note at the end, as well. I'm so glad I heard their stories and learned about this incredible period of history.
I had never heard of the Great Ukrainian Famine until I saw the title of this book. I love historical middle grade fiction with points-of-view that come together in interesting and surprising ways, and this book embodies that description. It's always interesting to consider how the author chooses which points-of-view to include and which to leave out. The cycle of Mila, Helen and Matthew's POVs propel the story forward until I was sneaking in minutes here and there of listening. I couldn't stop! The narration of the audiobook is wonderful and distinctive. I appreciated learning the origin of several of the stories in the author's note at the end, as well. I'm so glad I heard their stories and learned about this incredible period of history.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This is a very interesting book. I found it quite unique in how the story as laid out and its approach in exposing the reader to an important time in history. I had not heard of the Holodomor before (a man made famine in Ukraine in the 30’s that resulted in millions of deaths) and although it’s incredibly heartbreaking history this book prompted me to research and I’m glad to know more about that time. I appreciate authors who don’t shy away or water down difficult times in history because it is so important that the next generation know of these events and learn from them. That being said, I believe that this book would be much better directed toward teens then ages 11+ (which is age range the book suggests). There are some very difficult scenes that are detailed enough that I believe could be deeply disturbing for younger, more sensitive readers.
But besides that, I definitely recommend it!
But besides that, I definitely recommend it!
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This book was amazingly good. As an adult, it wasn't hard for me to predict the plot development of a middle grade novel. The rich historical background, however, made this story so powerful that the book will stay with me for a very long time. Told through the perspective of the three cousins who experienced the Holodomor (The Ukraine Famine) in 1932 differently, I got a comprehensive picture about the struggles of a country that was under the control of a dictatorial government.
The book, however, didn't quite specify the famine was a man-made disaster, at least not directly enough to me.
"The Lost Year" was such a wonderful and moving read. There were some flaws but not enough to deter my love of the story. Personally, I loved it and have learned so much bout the less-known history. I highly recommend.
The book, however, didn't quite specify the famine was a man-made disaster, at least not directly enough to me.
"The Lost Year" was such a wonderful and moving read. There were some flaws but not enough to deter my love of the story. Personally, I loved it and have learned so much bout the less-known history. I highly recommend.