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.
★ Kirkus Reviews, starred review
When Nataliia, a teenager in Ukraine, uncovers a mysterious box of letters written during the Holocaust, she is drawn into the story of Eliezer, a Jewish boy in hiding during World War II. As Nataliia reads, past a…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781662621086 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1662621086 |
| Author: | Susan Mcclelland |
| Publisher: | Astra Publishing House |
| Imprint: | Astra Young Readers |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 160 |
| Release Date: | 4 February 2026 |
| Weight: | 567g |
| Dimensions: | 127mm x 178mm |
| Audience Age: | 12 |
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Critics Review
★ “A remarkable creative nonfiction story of courage and survival that satisfyingly comes together like a jigsaw puzzle… McClelland, known for collaborating with survivors of conflicts, worked with Mariichyn (now a refugee in Canada) and consulted members of Mariichyn’s and Buchwald’s families. The meticulous storytelling, occasionally supplemented with sections of straightforward historical content, unfurls slowly in mesmerizing detail before a fascinating conclusion. The afterword offers additional context and includes illuminating photos of the book’s subjects and Leizer’s correspondence. Powerful, heroic, and inspiring.“—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“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… A great addition for middle and high school nonfiction collections, especially for collections where World War II history or narrative nonfiction is popular.“—School Library Journal
Susan Mcclelland
Susan McClelland is an award-winning journalist and the author of more than ten books, many for young adult readers, including Boy from Buchenwald, a Kirkus Best YA Biography and Memoir and a Sydney Taylor Award Notable, Every Falling Star, and The Bite of the Mango. Her work brings global history to life through intimate, human stories of survival, resilience, and moral courage. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and are read around the world.
Every Falling Star, her account of a North Korean teen’s escape, received the Freeman Award for Young Adult Literature and multiple US national honors. The Bite of the Mango has been recognized internationally, including by the American Library Association and IBBY.
Susan McClelland’s books have earned widespread critical acclaim across North America and abroad, and are widely used in schools and libraries. She lives in Canada.
Nataliia Mariichyn is the great-granddaughter of Grigory and Mariya Palidova, a couple in Ukraine who sheltered the Buchwald family in their home in Ukraine during WWII. Raised in Ukraine, Nataliia is currently a war refugee in Montreal, Canada, where descendants of the Buchwald family helped her relocate.
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