Susan McClelland,
Nataliia Mariichyn,
Leon Buchwald
Jun 9, 2026
Hardcover
Young Adult Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Historical / History / Holocaust / Religion / Judaism
Ages 12 And Up, Grades 7 And Up
Told from dual perspectives, this remarkable true story for YA readers recounts the tale of two individuals—a Ukrainian teen in the early 2010s and a Jewish boy in hiding during WWII—whose lives are entwined through a box of letters.
Nataliia, a teenager in Ukraine, is at home when she makes a puzzling discovery: a box of letters written from a Jewish boy, Eliezer, about his experience during the Holocaust. At first, Nataliia doesn't understand why her family possesses Eliezer's letters. But as she reads through them, she is able to piece together a fascinating connection—her ancestors were the ones who sheltered Eliezer during the war. Decades later, Nataliia and Eliezer’s family find each other in the same orbit again—as the world faces conflicts anew.
This is the incredible true story of two families brought together through war and a girl’s discovery of her family’s past—and what it means for the future.
Story Locale: Ukraine
Nataliia, a teenager in Ukraine, is at home when she makes a puzzling discovery: a box of letters written from a Jewish boy, Eliezer, about his experience during the Holocaust. At first, Nataliia doesn't understand why her family possesses Eliezer's letters. But as she reads through them, she is able to piece together a fascinating connection—her ancestors were the ones who sheltered Eliezer during the war. Decades later, Nataliia and Eliezer’s family find each other in the same orbit again—as the world faces conflicts anew.
This is the incredible true story of two families brought together through war and a girl’s discovery of her family’s past—and what it means for the future.
Story Locale: Ukraine
