Set in Mariupol, Dariia in the Shadow of War by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch is a powerful, heartbreaking novel that opens on the day Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022. Through the eyes of 12-year-old Dariia, readers witness the unimaginable realities of war as her life is turned upside down. Separated from her twin sister and father after the first bomb hits, Dariia and her mother are forced to shelter in a crowded basement with little food, no water, and worsening conditions. As events unfold, Dariia’s harrowing journey takes her through bombings, loss, and ultimately to a devastating reality: she becomes one of the 700,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped and sent to Russia.

Teachers and librarians will find this novel to be an important addition to any middle-grade collection. While the language remains straightforward and accessible for readers ages 8–12, the story doesn’t shy away from the harsh, real-life events of the war, making it a compelling way to introduce students to current events and inspire empathy and understanding. It also opens up opportunities for classroom discussions around resilience, survival, and the human cost of war..

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

No one does historical middle-grade fiction like Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. While “Under Attack’ is set in present-day Ukraine, I am sure fans of “Making Bombs for Hitler” and Skrypuch’s other historical books will enjoy it. The novel is captivating, meticulously researched, and heartbreaking. Another must-read by Skrypuch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've enjoyed the author's book that I've read so I knew this one would be really good too. This book seems harder to read because this war is happening now, in our lifetime.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Dariia Popkova is outgoing, while her twin sister, Rada is quiet. She lives in Mariupol with her mom and dad. Two twin sisters wake up one morning never expecting a Russian attack on February 24, 2022, which changes their lives.

The attack separates the family while Dariia and her mom go to get groceries; their apartment building is bombed. Dariia and her mom stay in the basement of a school supply store with over 30 people, searching for food and water for weeks until it is attacked. They are humiliated and then are separated when captured by Russian officials, and Dariia is sent to a camp in Taganrog, Russia to prepare her to live with a Russian family. There, Dariia lives with two other adoptees with a woman and her son, who are paid to write pro-Russian comments on websites and sell goods that were stolen from Ukrainian households. Dariia relies on her new friends to find the best way to find her way back to her family.

This book explores a current event, making it accessible for children to understand and relate to the main character. It is heartbreaking. It shows the resilience of the Ukrainian people. The author shares that only 700,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped during this war and only 300 have been rescued, as the parent or a power of attorney on behalf of the parent come to claim the child.