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A review by readingwithtrey
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Book Review || The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken
 
Written in dual timelines, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv follows the stories of Katya (circa 1930s Ukraine) and Cassie (circa Illinois 2004). Katya’s storyline starts with the wedding celebration for one of her cousins. During dinner, she hears her father and some of adults talking about rumors they had heard regarding Stalin and collectivization. When she inquires about the conversation, she is told there is nothing to worry about. But with each day that passes, her world gets darker and scarier leading to a chain of devastating events.
 
One day Cassie’s husband Henry decides to take their daughter to get ice cream. Cassie stays behind to work on an article and the next thing she knows a police officer is knocking at her door and informing her that Henry was killed in a car accident. Her daughter only suffers minor injuries but no longer speaks. The doctors say it’s psychological and she will talk when she’s ready. Months later, Cassie’s mother arrives and says that her grandmother, Bobby, is showing early signs of dementia and could use Cassie’s help. Believing the move would be good for herself and her daughter, Cassie agrees. When she arrives to Bobby’s home, she finds a few notes written in Ukrainian. This odd as Bobby has never talked about her life in the Ukraine. One day Bobby says that her time is coming to an end but she wants Cassie to know her story. She tells Cassie to get a box out of her closet and asks her to have their neighbor (who is also Ukrainian) translate everything for her. What Cassie finds is more than she could have ever imagined. 
 
Set during the Holodomor (terror famine) inflicted on Ukraine in the 1930s, Katya’s story took me through so many emotions with the main two being rage and sadness. It should be unfathomable that humans could treat other humans as if they are nothing. But yet it has happened over and over throughout history and continues today. I had never heard of these events until this book and honestly, that is so incredibly sad and irresponsible. These stories should be told and honored to ensure that we never allow this evil to occur again. It’s so easy to remain in blissful ignorance to avoid discomfort when you aren’t directly impacted by certain events. But I encourage you to just imagine for a second that you were. Wouldn’t you want someone to know and share your story? Wouldn’t you want someone to come to your aid?
 
This is historical fiction with a little romance, and I would give it a million stars if I could. You’ll need a box of tissues throughout the entire story, but this book should really be required reading. It’s a tough one to get through, but it will ignite a fire in you for your fellow man and we certainly can always use more of that.
 
5/5 stars
 
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