• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

This gripping, accessible novel by celebrated Ukrainian Canadian author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch follows two sisters as they struggle to survive the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

12-year-old twin sisters Rada and Dariia Popkova couldn’t be more different. Dariia is outgoing and chatty while Rada is a quieter and artsy. But what they have in common is their love for each other and their home. The family lives in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is attacked by the Russians on Feb 24th, 2022.

The attack separates the family -- Dariia is with her mom and Rada with her dad. Dariia and her mother are then separated by Russian officials and Dariia is sent to live with a Russian family. As the war rages around them, the sisters and their family must overcome unimaginable hardships. But they will learn how powerful hope is in the face of disaster.

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch est l’auteure d’une dizaine de livres dont Cher Journal : Prisonniers de la grande forêt, Enfant volée, Soldat clandestin et Faire des bombes pour Hitler. Elle a remporté de nombreux prix et est l’une des auteures canadiennes de romans historiques pour les jeunes les plus respectées. L’écriture de Marsha met en relief son héritage ukrainien. Elle a reçu l’Ordre de la princesse Olga de la part du président ukrainien. Elle vit à Brantford, en Ontario.

MARSHA FORCHUK SKRYPUCH is the author of more than a dozen books, including Dear Canada: Prisoners in the Promised Land, Stolen Child, Making Bombs for Hitler, Underground Soldier and Don’t Tell the Enemy. She has won many awards for her work and is one of Canada’s most respected authors of historical fiction for young people. Much of Marsha’s writing focuses on stories from her Ukrainian heritage, and she has been presented with the Order of Princess Olha by the President of Ukraine and named a Canadian Ukrainian Woman of Distinction. Marsha lives in Brantford, Ontario. Visit her online at www.calla.com.

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's profile page

Praise for Under Attack:

*"Gut-punching: This is essential reading." -- Kirkus, starred review

Praise for Winterkill:

“Unflinching...Skrypuch handles difficult themes with intelligence and honesty...couldn’t be timelier today.” -- The New York Times Book Review

"In a timely, hard-hitting novel, Forchuk portrays the manufactured famine Holodomor that Stalinists inflicted on Soviet Ukrainian farmers in the early 1930s...[providing] important historical context around history that has resonance for current events." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Traitors Among Us:

* "Told in alternating chapters narrated in the first person by Ukrainian sisters Krystia, 16, and Maria, 14, this gripping novel tells a lesser-known story of the war's horror... this is ultimately a story of the strength of the human spirit. Krystia and Maria are survivors, and they never give up, drawing strength from remembering their parents' belief in them as they struggle to stay alive. Gripping, harsh, and superbly written." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Praise for Stolen Girl:

"The author once again deftly sheds light on lesser-known aspects of the Ukrainian experience during WWII . . . A gripping exploration of war-induced trauma, identity, and transformation." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A fascinating, compelling read." -- Booklist

"In addition to helping children understand conditions that immigrants face in current times, this stands as a deeply personal, relatable study of the long-term psychological effects of war on children, making it a useful addition to a Holocaust or World War II curriculum." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Excellent back matter . . . gives context to Nadia's story . . . This is a strong addition to World War II historical fiction collections, shining a light on a little-known aspect of the Nazi regime's insidious programs." -- School Library Journal

Praise for The War Below:

"Skrypuch offers a compelling, visceral novel of survival that provides an unusual view of the war... The suspenseful story carries the reader along to its satisfying conclusion." -- Booklist

"Skrypuch continues to shed light on the double jeopardy that many Ukrainians experienced... A page-turning window into a complex piece of World War II history." -- Kirkus Reviews

"This story, full of numerous acts of compassion and valor, sheds welcome light on a less familiar battleground of World War II." -- Publishers Weekly

"A riveting read." -- YA Books Central

Praise for Making Bombs for Hitler:

"A gripping story that asks: What would you do to survive?" -- Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

"Inspired by real, historical accounts, this is a powerful, harrowing story of transformation." -- Booklist

"Skrypuch draws on real-life stories of survivors in telling Lida's poignant tale, and she creates a cast of young people who are devoted to one another in both thought and deed.... A well-told story of persistence, lost innocence, survival, and hope." -- Kirkus Reviews

"The story [has a] strong undercurrent of friendship and loyalty; an author's note gives further background on this important piece of history." -- Publishers Weekly

"Students will admire Lida's pluck amid such heinous conditions.... An absorbing read about the lesser-known Ukrainian experience during World War II, this is a solid choice for curricular ties and for middle school historical fiction collections." -- School Library Journal

"Skrypuch has written a gripping, emotional novel of one Ukrainian girl's perseverance during the horrors of war.... This is a vivid picture of what youth experienced during World War II and the hopelessness of displaced populations of all backgrounds and religions." -- Voice of Youth Advocates