My 4th grade daughter just finished The Lost Year and announced it was her new favorite book. So I thought it was about time I got around to reading this 2023 National Book Award Finalist, and it didn’t disappoint!
The Lost Year tells the story of the Holodomor – the horrific famine that killed millions of Ukrainians under Stalin’s rule in the 1930s – through the alternating timeline and perspectives of three cousins. Matthew is a 13-year old boy in the United States who is miserable at home in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. While helping his 100-year old great-grandmother (GG) sort through her old boxes, we are transported back to the 1930s in both New York and the Ukraine through the stories of GG’s cousins, Mila and Helen. It is a story of starvation, propaganda, haunting secrets, and betrayal, but also a story of love, hope, survival, and the importance of sharing one’s stories.
The Lost Year is an emotional tale, and all the more so knowing that it is based on true stories. I recommend it to all middle grade readers, especially those interested in historical fiction. It does include a big reveal at the end, which many readers will enjoy.
WHAT I LIKED
- It sheds light on a relatively unknown/forgotten event in history that is important to remember.
- The historical characters are well developed and have very engaging stories.
- It’s an emotional tale handled in a delicate and age appropriate manner.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- While my daughter was blown away by the secret reveal, this old reader figured it out pretty quickly.
- Matthew’s modern story and character development didn’t feel as strong as the 1930s stories.
With that said, I think this is a great book. I recommend it to readers grades 4 through 7.
Have you read The Lost Year? What did you think?
Birdie's Bookshelf 