  | Honor Author: McClelland, Susan | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
Told from dual perspectives, this remarkable true story for YA readers recounts the tale of two individuals, a Ukrainian teen in the early 2010s and a Jewish boy in hiding during WWII, whose lives are entwined through a box of letters.
| Added Entry - Personal Name: | Mariichyn, Nataliia |
| Buchwald, Leon |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (06/01/26)
School Library Journal (05/15/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/15/2026 Gr 6 Up—While on a school suspension, Ukrainian teenager Nataliia starts to dig through a box of letters left in her home that contains the story of a boy named Eliezer. Told through a dual narrative, Eliezer Buchwald's story from 1943 is recounted through the letters that Nataliia Mariichyn reads in 2013. She soon discovers that her grandparents, Grigory and Mariya Palidova, sheltered the Buchwald's family during World War II and helped them survive. This title shows readers the struggle that Ukraine has endured throughout its history, while also providing a personal perspective for two families and their urge to survive. The title discusses trauma and how it impacts the body and mind, which is a perspective that is not always explored in juvenile nonfiction. The book also includes a timeline of Ukraine's history, an afterword that explains changes made to the story with justification, and back matter with family photos. VERDICT A great addition for middle and high school nonfiction collections, especially for collections where World War II history or narrative nonfiction is popular.—Alexa Dumas - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
