3.5 stars
This was a harrowing novel to read. What makes it even more sad is the fact that the situation between Ukraine and Russia has not been resolved yet, here at the beginning of 2025.
The book was detailed and informative, as all of Skrypuch’s writings are. Due to the dark nature of the subject matter, it is more appropriate for middle-grade readers and older. The author’s notes at the end are excellent; this would be a great teaching tool in classrooms.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

This important story follows Dariia, who wakes as bombs begin to fall on her city. She goes to the corner store with her mother to ensure the family has food but a bomb hits the staircase making it impossible to return to their apartment. She and her mother hide in a basement together in hopes of surviving the siege. After leaving their refuge, they are taken by the Russian army, which separate mother and daughter. Dariia is sent to learn how to be Russian and "adopted" to a Russian family, leaving her to figure out how to return home and maintain her identity.

The story is excellent but the writing is very clinical. It reads less like a fiction book and more like a nonfiction. Nonetheless, it was easy to read the entire book in one evening, one sitting would be possible.

This is a book that will interest many kids. The relevancy of the subject matter is important. I am debating adding it to my library. My school has a sizeable population of Ukranian students, many of whom have arrived recently. I am not sure if they will want to read this or would prefer to avoid the subject matter as it hits too close to home. I have a few older girls I am going to ask and perhaps I will grab it at our upcoming book fair.

Thank you to Scholastic and Net Galley for the DRC. All opinions are my own!

3.5/5 stars

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.