You Don't Know What War Is - The Diary Of A Young Girl From The Ukraine

"Everyone knows the word "war". But very few understand what it truly means - when you find you have to face it, you feel totally lost, walled in by fright and despair. All of your plans are suddenly interrupted - Until you've been there, you don't know what war is". This is the gripping, urgent and moving diary of a young Ukrainian refugee Yeva Skalietska, who has just turned 12 when her world is turned upside down. It follows twelve days in The Ukraine that changed Yeva's life forever. She was awoken in the early hours to the terrifying sounds of heavy shell fire falling down onto her street. Russia had just invaded The Ukraine, and her beloved Kharkiv home was now no longer the safe haven it once was. It was while she and her Granny were forced to seek shelter in a damp, cramped basement that Yeva decided to write down her story. And it is a story that the world needs to hear. Yeva captured the nation's heart when she was featured in the UK on the Channel 4 News with her granny as they fled The Ukraine bound for Dublin, in Ireland. In You Don't Know What War Is, Yeva records what is happening hour-by-hour as she seeks safety, follows her friends updates on social media, and is forced to flee from Kharkiv. Each eye-opening diary entry is supplemented with daily headlines from all around the world, while three beautifully detailed maps (by Kharkiv-native Olga Shtonda) help the reader track Yeva and her granny's journey throughout Europe. You Don't Know What War Is, is a powerful insight into what any military conflict is like when witnessed through the eyes of a child, illustrated with photographs, it is an essential read for both adults and older children alike. About the Author Yeva is a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl who grew up living with her granny in Kharkiv, near the Russian border. She loves learning languages, indoor bowling, playing the piano and painting. Yeva wrote a diary of her experiences of fleeing the war in The Ukraine. She now lives in Dublin Ireland, where she has made new friends and had a go at Irish dancing - but is still missing her homeland and worries daily about her surviving friends still under the Russian's guns. ***A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR*** *** Shortlisted for the Children's Book of the Year: Older Non Fiction The Week Junior Book Awards *** Featured on This Morning, Steph's Packed Lunch, Radio 4: Today and Channel 4 News _______________ Everyone knows the word 'war'. But very few understand what it truly means. When you find you have to face it, you feel totally lost, walled in by fright and despair. Until you've been there, you don't know what war is. This is the gripping and moving diary of young Ukrainian refugee Yeva Skalietska. It follows twelve days in Ukraine that changed 12-year-old Yeva's life forever. She was woken in the early hours to the terrifying sounds of shelling. Russia had invaded Ukraine, and her beloved Kharkiv home was no longer the safe haven it should have been. It was while she was forced to seek shelter in a damp, cramped basement that Yeva decided to write down her story. And it is a story the world needs to hear. Yeva captured the nation's heart when she was featured on Channel 4 News with her granny as they fled Ukraine for Dublin. In You Don't Know What War Is , Yeva records what is happening hour-by-hour as she seeks safety and travels from Kharkiv to Dublin. Each eye-opening diary entry is supplemented by personal photographs, excerpts of messages between Yeva and her friends and daily headlines from around the world, while three beautifully detailed maps (by Kharkiv-native Olga Shtonda) help the reader track Yeva and her granny's journey. You Don't Know What War Is is a powerful insight into what conflict is like through the eyes of a child and an essential read for adults and older children alike. Published in association with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with a foreword by Michael Morpurgo. _______________ 'Everyone, absolutely everyone, should read it. You will love Yeva' Christy Lefteri, No.1 international bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo 'Yeva speaks a truth all of us must listen to' Michael Morpurgo, award-winning author of War Horse 'Exhilarating, shattering, heartbreaking, brilliant' Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-winning author 'The most important story of our times' Viv Groskop, podcaster and writer 'A herstory of Ukraine' Olia Hercules, Ukrainian chef and food writer "An inspiring memoir of resilience by a young survivor of the war in Ukraine, as told through her diary entries -- a harrowing and ultimately hopeful survival story. Yeva Skalietska's story begins on her twelfth birthday in Kharkiv, where she has been living with her grandmother since she was a baby. Ten days later, the only life she'd ever known was shattered. On February 24, 2022, her city was suddenly under attack as Russia launched its horrifying invasion of Ukraine. Yeva and her grandmother took shelter in a basement bunker, where she began writing this diary. She describes the bombings she endured while sheltering underground and her desperate journey west to escape the conflict raging around them. After many endless train rides and a prolonged stay in an overcrowded refugee center in Western Ukraine, Yeva and her beloved grandmother eventually find refuge in Ireland. There, she bravely begins to forge a new life, hoping she'll be able to return home one day." -- Description provided by publisher On Thursday 24th February 2022, twelve-year-old Yeva Skalietska is woken by the sound of explosions. Though there have been rumblings and rumours, few truly believe that war will break out between Russia and Ukraine. And yet - it has. What follows are twelve days that will change Yeva's life forever. At first Yeva and her granny rush to take shelter from the missile attacks in a dusty, crowded basement. But when the situation around them worsens, they know they need to find somewhere safer to stay. This will mean they have to make some very hard decisions. Decisions which will mean leaving everything they know and love behind. Throughout it all, Yeva kept this diary - partly to document what was happening around her, and partly to give herself something to focus on as bombs rained down on her beloved home