Erin Litteken may be a debut author, but this book is written with a wonderful grasp of storytelling and wordsmithing. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv struck me to my very core. We all know about he horrors of the Holocaust, but I am embarrassed to say that prior to reading this book I knew nothing about the Holodomor that was perpetrated in Ukraine during 1932 and 1933 by Stalin's regime. Of course, this is a very timely story as Ukraine is once again under attack by Russia. A portion of each sale of The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is being donated by Boldwood Books to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
This dual timeline novel tells the story of Katya and her family as they work to survive in Ukrain in the early 1930s, a story filled with suffering and loss as well as hope and love. It also tells the story of Cassie, Katya's granddaughter, in the United States in the early 2000s as she and her mother discover their family history, a history that provides not only answers to their many questions, but also encouragement for Cassie's hurting heart.
Nothing I could write here would do this book justice without telling more than readers would want revealed. Let me just say that this is a book that shouldn't be missed. Erin Litteken is a gifted author, and this book is a valuable gift to readers. In the Author's Note at the end of the book Litteken tells readers that she plans a second novel based on her own Ukrainian ancestors' story. I look forward to this offering. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Memory Keeper of Kyiv from Boldwood Books via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
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