The Lost Year

In "The Lost Year," narrated by Anna Fikhman, Christopher Gebauer, and Jesse Vilinsky, thirteen-year-old Matthew grapples with isolation during the pandemic while uncovering a hidden chapter of his great-grandmother's past tied to the Holodomor—the devastating Ukrainian famine of the 1930s. As he discovers a tattered photo that reveals a life-changing family secret, the story weaves between present-day struggles and historical horrors, exploring themes of family, survival, and the impact of history on our lives. Inspired by the author's own family history, this middle-grade survival story illuminates a largely overlooked tragedy, making it both timely and timeless.