The Lost Year

The Lost Year
Katherine Marsh
Roaring Brook Press, 2023
338 pages
Grades 5-8
Historical Fiction

Three narrators tell the story of three cousins during the 1930's experiencing famine in Ukraine in different ways. Matthew is our main narrator who pulls all of the stories together. He is stuck sheltering in place during the early days of the COVID pandemic with his mother and elderly great-grandmother. Matthew misses his father, who is trapped in Paris, very much and is struggling with the isolation. Conversations with GG, his ninety-nine year old great-grandmother, lead to her sharing the story of her past. We slowly hear the tales of the three cousins. Helen lives in Brooklyn with her Ukrainian immigrant parents. A letter from a Ukrainian cousin, who she has never heard of, alerts her to the struggles of Ukrainian farmers suffering from hunger at the hands of the Soviets. Nadiya is the starving cousin. After the death of her mother and brothers, she travels to the city to find another brother of her father's who may be able to help. This uncle is a Soviet higher-up and is the only family to whom she can turn. Mila is the Soviet official's daughter. She has lead a sheltered and privileged life in Kiev and is shocked when a cousin of whom she has never heard lands on her doorstep starving. She is even more shocked when her beloved father sends the cousin away. Mila is determined to help, even if doing so is dangerous and leads to deadly consequences. Matthew pulls together all of the strands of his family history's braid to create a tale, offering truth and solace to his beloved GG.

This National Book Award nominee is a true winner. Historical fiction at it's best, it explores a lesser-known chapter of world history, the Holodomor-or great Ukrainian famine of the 1930's, while still offering a thrilling story. Marsh further draws in a contemporary audience by telling the tale through the eyes of a contemporary boy living through the pandemic, which is history in the making. I love that Matthew lives in a nearby town to where I work in New Jersey, further making the book relatable to my young readers. The different narrators and time periods are always made clear at the start of the chapters and I was never confused as to where we were or who was talking. The plot is compelling and readers will be at the edge of their seats. Dangers lurks behind many corners and there is a huge twist to the plot that completely took me unawares. The author includes historical information at the end of the volume, including her own family history, that will plug readers into the fact behind the fiction. This book was a little long for me, but it reads quickly and I couldn't wait to get back to it. Marsh does not waste words, but is very intentional in her writing. A perfect fit with contemporary events, young people will see that history can repeat itself and this volume offers a cautionary tale to pay attention to the past. Another plus: kids may be encouraged to talk to their own relatives about their stories and write down the histories. A true gem of a book with many relevant connections.