The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken

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In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, espousing the greatness of collective farming. It was the first step in creating a man-made famine that, in Ukraine, stole almost 4 million lives. Inspired by the history the world forgot, and the Russian government denies, Erin Litteken reimagines their story.

In 1929, Katya is 16 years old, surrounded by family and in love with the boy next door. When Stalin’s activists arrive in her village, it’s just a few, a little pressure to join the collective. But soon neighbors disappear, those who speak out are never seen again and every new day is uncertain.

Resistance has a price, and as desperate hunger grips the countryside, survival seems more a dream than a possibility. But, even in the darkest times, love beckons.

Seventy years later, a young widow discovers her grandmother’s journal, one that will reveal the long-buried secrets of her family’s haunted past.

This is a story of the resilience of the human spirit, the love that sees us through our darkest hours and the true horror of what happened during the Holodomor.

May we never forget, lest history repeat itself.

A share of proceeds will be donated to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Review:

This is an incredibility timely story about, at least to me, a very little known time in Ukraine. The Holodomor killed about 13% of the Ukrainian population and it was entirely manmade. I am so glad this book was written to let people know about this terrible time in history. The book itself is wonderfully written in a dual timeline. It is written during the Holodomor and in the present. The Holodomor time is full of love, determination, and heartbreak. It was at times hard to read about the content but the author writes in a way that you feel the impact of the story without going into excessive details of the horrors. In the authors note she writes what is real and what is fiction and that is so important to know. This is a great historical fiction novel that everyone should read for the subject matter and for the writing. I very much look forward to reading more books by Erin Litteken.

Author Info:

Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. Her first historical fiction title, drawing on those experiences, will be published by Boldwood in June 2022.  She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.

 Thank you to the publisher and Rachels Random Resources for including me on this blog tour.

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