Like other Ukrainian-Americans and peace-loving people throughout the world, I am saddened by the tragic events in my grandparents’ homeland of Ukraine. My grandmother, or baba, Olha was an outspoken supporter of Ukrainian independence before and during WWII and was imprisoned for her activism; many of her brothers died in fighting for the same cause; millions of other Ukrainians died from famine or war during the same era.
Like many other lucky families, mine was able to flee Ukraine in the wake of what they hoped would be the last war to decimate their people, and they were fortunate to eventually find peace and relative prosperity here in the United States. My strong baba lived to the age of 101 and remained connected to Ukraine and its politics until the end of her long life.
Unfortunately, in some ways, current events feel like history repeating itself. But the world has become aware of the amazing resilience of a people that has seen and survived many conflicts before—a people strong like my baba. The outpouring of support for Ukraine has been enormous, and Ukrainians are grateful. In an email I received today, a cousin in Lviv voiced her heartfelt appreciation for “the help of your wonderful country and the whole world.”
If you, like me, are interested in learning more about Ukraine, its history, its culture, and its people, consider starting with the many offerings in the Pima County Library catalog. Here are a few non-fiction and fiction texts that can help us dig deeper than daily news reports.
Due to tragic recent events, Ukraine is in the news and on many minds at the moment. Would you like to learn more about Ukraine, its history, and its people? This list includes both non-fiction and fiction selections for readers from children to adults.
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