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Children's Fiction Survival Stories

Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders

by (author) Olya Illichov & Maddy Shyba

illustrated by Diana Bezukh

Publisher
Durvile Publications
Initial publish date
Aug 2022
Category
Survival Stories, Peace, Political Freedom
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781990735141
    Publish Date
    Aug 2022
    List Price
    $29.95

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 8 to 16
  • Grade: 3 to 11

Description

Publisher donations from sales of the book go toward "HOME IN OUR HEARTS" donation program to help Ukrainian newcomers settle into their new homes.
"Thank you so much! This is truly kind of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
—Yuliya Gorbach, St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Evacuee Welcome Committee

From the publishers of The Little Book: Story Reader for a Free Ukraine comes Olya and Olena Escape the Invaders, a story about two young Ukrainian ballet students who escape the Russian invasion of Mariupol and embark on a difficult journey to safety. Along the way they encounter helpers who aid them on their way, including an angelic grandmother and a dog named Rinnie. Although they know they will miss their homeland, they eventually make their way to Canada where they too become important helpers.

About the authors

OLYA ILLICHOV, who is 13 years old, started to write stories when she was 8. She lives in Kyiv, Ukraine but also loves to visit her grandfather in Radvantsi, a village near Lviv. Her hobbies are fishing and playing volleyball. She also helps homeless cats find forever homes.

Olya Illichov's profile page

Diana Bezukh's profile page

Maddy shares a house in Calgary with two cats, an oil painter, a pianist, and a dog. When not writing Maddy likes to spend time practicing as many hobbies as possible, all at the same time.

Maddy Shyba's profile page

Excerpt: Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders (by (author) Olya Illichov & Maddy Shyba; illustrated by Diana Bezukh)

It was a clear morning for the students of Mariupol’s ballet academy. Everyone was eager to get to their classes and prepare for the school’s recital of ‘The Winter’s Tale.’ Two of the older students - Olya and Olena - did their warmup together before class, just like they always did.
“I wish I could have played the princess,” Olya sighed. Olena giggled.
“Not me,” she said. “I like being a shepherdess!”
Their teacher arrived right on time and the whole class paid close attention. There was only one week left until the performance and there was still a lot of work to be done. Class began, and they went through the choreography they knew by heart. The students remembered every detail, but still the teacher shook his head when they finished.
“You’re each dancing as if you’re alone,” he said to them. “It won’t matter how beautifully you dance if you don’t dance with one another.”
The dancers listened to what he said and when they danced again their movements became smoother and smoother, until they danced with unified grace. Their teacher smiled, and the class felt proud by the end of their time together.
They were paying such close attention to dancing that the class was over before they even realized, and Olena and Olya were the last to leave. There was a rumble of thunder in the distance as they picked up their bags, but the sky was clear through the studio windows.
“That’s weird,” said Olya, looking out across the school campus and towards the city. She looked down at the street and saw military tanks, and unfamiliar soldiers approaching.
They heard the sound again, and then louder. This time, the room shook with the noise of it and the noises didn’t stop. Olena grabbed Olya and pulled her away from the window, and when they looked back a cloud of dust engulfed the apartments that had been there moments ago.
“What’s happening?” Olena shouted. They were frightened and confused, but too stunned to move. Suddenly, they each felt firm hand grasp their wrists and pull them towards the stairs.
“This way!” shouted their teacher, who had come back to bring them to safety.

Dust fell from the ceiling as Olya, Olena, and their teacher led them into the basement of the school. Some of their fellow students were huddled there already. The younger ones cried as the booming noises above them didn’t subside, and some of the older ones did too, but Olya and Olena sat on the floor with their teacher and felt secure.
“What should we do?” they asked. “Who are those soldiers? Why is our town being blown up?”
The students all looked to their teacher, who smiled sadly.
“They’re invaders,” he said. “They want to take Mariupol away from us.”
The children didn’t understand, but Olya and Olena knew they had to escape somehow. Their teacher agreed, and sat with them as they planned how to do it. They would have to go by foot through the city, and then through a forested park, then take a train far away from the explosions.
“Aren’t you coming with us?” Olena asked. Their teacher shook his head as he put bottles of water and granola bars into their backpacks.
“The younger children need me more,” he said. “You know the way.”

Editorial Reviews

News editors everywhere face a balancing act in determining what to include in war reporting. Wading into sensitive subjects like war for a readership of eight- to 14-year-olds isn’t easy. It is tempting to protect youngsters from bad news. Yet children are most disturbed when there’s an information vacuum .... These forms of media may be making children more politically engaged and active. — From “How do you explain war to a six-year-old? The Economist, April 9, 2022

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