Understanding Ukraine

A year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, here is an updated booklist from Hayley’s 2014 series of posts about Ukraine.

In 2014, as Russia invaded the Crimean peninsula, Redeemed Reader provided a series of posts to help readers understand Ukraine and the conflict occurring in Europe. Some of the titles were Ukrainian-specific while others helped shed light on eastern Europe, Slavic culture, and the forces and history motivating Russia. As war continues in Ukraine, this booklist remains helpful. Today we’ll start with the fiction side.

Picture Books

The Birds’ Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story by Eric A. Kimmel (Excellent and overtly Christian, this beautifully illustrated book tells the legend behind pysanky, the beautifully decorated Easter eggs of Ukraine.)

The Castle of the Cats by Eric A. Kimmel (This lesser known fairytale originally comes from Latvia but has been retold in a Ukrainian setting with beautiful Ukrainian themed illustrations.  A youngest son sets off to seek his fortune and encounters a castle full of very interesting felines.)

When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest (Gorgeously illustrated story of one Jewish immigrant girl’s journey from Eastern Europe to America; this will help readers understand the emigration of many eastern Europeans to America in the 19th century.)

Early Readers

Favorite Fairytales Told in Russia by Virginia Haviland

This collection of Russian fairytales is sure to be appreciated by a budding reader and serves as an excellent introduction to Russian folklore.

Bony-Legs by Joanna Cole

Speaking of Russian folklore, this easy reader is the story of one little girl’s escape from Bony-Legs -another name for Babushka Baba Yaga!

Middle Grade

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman -takes readers to the shadow of Chernobyl and the world’s worst nuclear disaster.

Alias Anna by Susan Hood and Greg Dawson -In free verse, tells the story of surviving the Holocaust in Ukraine by hiding in plain sight.

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh -uses multiple voices to narrate a sad chapter of history: Stalin’s deliberate starving of Ukraine.

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall (understand how natural features shape history and economics)
• A Discussion:2023 Newbery Buzz #5: I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (Betsy and Megan discuss a timely YA novel)
• A Resource: Ukraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Part 3 (a look at some nonfiction resources)

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