I remember following the beginning of Yeva's story on Channel 4 in the early weeks of the war in Ukraine. It was harrowing to see this courageous girl and her grandmother on their journey in search of safety, not knowing if they would escape.

At just 12 years old, Yeva's voice is remarkable and the words and phrases she uses to describe how war robbed her of her life as a happy schoolgirl are mature and thoughtful. She longs for her friends, she longs for her toy cat. After all, she is still a child, forced to grow up far too fast by the evil that has been inflicted on the people of Ukraine. And no child should be exchanging messages online with her classmates about bombings, fear, becoming a refugee.

I like that Michael Morpurgo has written the introduction, and I was so happy that Yeva and her grandmother were so warmly welcomed in Ireland and helped to settle there, but she still longs for home, of course she does, and her life, and the lives of all people forced by conflict to flee, will never be what they should have been.

This is the story of 12 year old Yeva, from the day that war starts in Ukraine through her attempt to leave the country. She shares her thoughts, images from her homeland and chat sessions with her friends, highlighting everyone's different experiences.

Having a Ukrainian child in my class at the moment, this brought home just some of what the children of the country have been through.

Whilst a very worthy memoir written by a very brave and bright girl I couldn't help feeling she was also very lucky because she managed to escape when many of her friends remained. I realise this makes me sound churlish and priviliged- I admit it. I wish her and her gran all the very best of course and pray I never find myself in their shoes.

The war diary of 12 year old Yeva fits into the same category as such giants as Anne Frank (WW2), and Zlata's diary (Bosnian War).

The fear and uncertainty of Yeva's experience, from the first shelling to her and her grandmother's escape to Dublin is touching, heartbreaking and compelling in equal measure. It is supported by images of Yeva through her experience, beautifully drawn maps, the headlines around Europe on each day and transcripts of text conversations between Yeva and her friends.

Year 7 + - and I would go as far as to say it might be a great one for a class reader. I will definitely be recommending this to students.

A moving portrayal of life in wartime. From someone turning 12 shortly before the invasion, this is a story of experience of war for Yeva, friends and relatives, from early survival to looking for a future. The strongest element of the book are in the first half or so, the despair and hopes to keep going, or shortages, death and the practical realities of living.

It loses a little impact in travel out of Ukraine eventually to Ireland, though it needs to be remembered that this is a child's diary and life, a journey into a new life whilst thinking of hoping to return home and of those left behind.

A precis of the friends' stories helps to reground the book into the brutalities of the experiences of those who should not have had to endure this invasion.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and advanced copy of this book. It’s a heartbreaking story of the Ukrainian war and what this young girl and her family have gone through. It’s a young girls journey through the devastation that’s happened in her life!

Something compelled me to read this book. It is unusual in that it was a diary written by a twelve year old girl, caught up in the war in Ukraine. Yeva lived with her granny in Kharkiv when the war broke out., her book starts a few days before this. In many ways Yeva gives us a glimpse of the life of young ones, social media and how they lived in Kharkiv. These children faced so many difficulties when war started, they had some understanding of the situation, as the atrocities could not be kept from them, neither by what they saw nor what they heard.
Yeva had a positive attitude and whilst she shared her fears with friends, she remained cheerful. Yeva's journey and her story is undoubtedly helped by journalists along the way who picked up on her writings. In many aspects there was a chink of light, that this next generation remain so positive and open about what has happened in their country..
This is a short book, a glimpse into one young girl's experiences.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to imagine what it was like.

I have mixed feelings about this book, on the one hand I feel that it should be read by all children that are old enough to read it on their own and it should be read in parts to those younger and then, in either case, talked about in great detail.

On the other hand, I feel that many adults who should read this will not do so. The ones that do read it will at least partially understand what is being said by a 12 year old child who is displaced, perhaps for ever, from her place of birth whilst going through the changes between child and adult. I am pleased that this is something that I have never had to face, even though many of my family did during the second world war.

This is a short diary covering the first 12 days of Russia's attack on the Ukraine, supplemented by contributions from Yeva's friends and is well worth your time to discover something of what an unprovoked attack by another country feels like to the civilians. Cannot imagine what it must feel like in the Ukraine now that Russia has wantonly destroyed the electricity supplies for a million plus civilians.

May I suggest that when you have read this book, you persuade someone who would not normally choose to read such a book to make an exception, even if you have to buy it for them. Those aware of what one might describe as the real world almost have an obligation to share reality with those who prefer to wear blinkers.

This is a story of war. But told by a twelve-year-old living in Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine. She is a happy at home, happy at school, almost-teenager. Her life is peaceful but on the 24th of February, that changes.

This is a true story of the fear felt by ordinary unprepared adults and children. Families uprooted trying to escape the bombs and shelling. It is a surprisingly well-written account of something no one would want to experience. It is written in the style of a diary and parts are very moving but it is written in a twelve-year-old’s language. An interesting read however, I didn't find it as dramatic as I expected it to be.

Important, thought-provoking read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this title in exchange for my feedback.

This book brings home the reality of war on the lives of ordinary people.
Told by a twelve year old girl in Ukraine we see the war through her eyes in the form of her diary. We read about the things that are important to her and the steps her and her Grandmother must take to stay safe.
It starts on the morning of her twelfth birthday and is all the more poignant for that. She could be any young girl waking up full of anticipation to celebrate her birthday with her friends. Unfortunately her everyday life is soon to change beyond all recognition and these changes are documented in her diary.
It is not a sophisticated piece of literature but it is an honest eye witness account as seen by a young girl in the thick of it all. We also have some accounts from her friends.
War is not just images on the news or proclamations from the aggressors, it has a real impact on the lives of people like you and me and this book details the effect on one of them.

Yeva Skalietska lives in Kharkiv........not sure I need to say any more really. We've all seen what the Russian bombing did to this once beautiful city.

But this is Yeva's own account. She wrote a diary from day 1. She explains what Kharkiv was before when she was an ordinary girl going to school, living with her grandmother and studying hard.
And what it is like when the war starts. How they hide in the basement at the start and what happens from that basement to ensure her and her Grandmother's safety is quite terrifying to read. Let alone be part of. There are lots of text messages shared that were sent between herself and her friends from school.

This would make an excellent source to look at recent history of war alongside the usual World war 1 and 2.
The forward to this book is written by Michael Morpurgo who has taken an interest in Yeva's story. He is full of praise for her.

An incredibly moving and poignant book, written by 12 year old Yeva at the start of the war in Ukraine. As the war rages on Yeva and her friends give you their first hand accounts and experiences of war and the devastation they face.

You Don't Know What War Is by a young Ukrainian girl who wakes up one morning expecting to go to school as normal only to find that her country has been invaded by neighbouring Russia and she and her grandmother start navigating their way through the blaring air sirens and the constant fear of being injured or killed. Her diary entries provide a stark reminder of how in such a short period of time, survival becomes the only goal. Although it is a tough read, it is also an essential one as Yeva very articulately shares her thoughts and fears as she has to leave her town and then her country. No-one chooses to become a refugee and this beautifully frank account is a must-read for all those who cares for their fellow humans. The forward by Michael Morpurgo and his experience after World War Two provides a sombre reminder that war is awful for all those involved.

A very moving and poignant record of a childs experience of war. I read sections of the book to my grandchildren , who had heard of Yeva from the tv. It shows the massive futility of war and its impact on lives. A future classic.

What a terribly sad, but also important book. I have a 12 year old daughter and I ahte to think of her having to deal with what Yeva and her comtemporaries have in the last few months. A fascinating insight to the human side of the war and a great book to encourage young readers to read to show how quickly life can change but also how kind and accommodating people can be in the face of adversity.

What a powerful and moving book this is. Sad, shocking and descriptive as only one who has been there can be.

For such a young author to put in words the horrors and struggles she has lived through in her short life is a huge achievement.

Everybody, absolutely everybody should read this book and face the reality of it.

Thank you Yeva, I will always stand with you.

The title really does say it all. For those of us in our safe homes and lives it brings home the reality of what is happening (still) in Ukraine.

The fact that is through the eyes of a young girl makes it even more poignant. While emotional, it's also quite matter of fact, it is amazing how quickly Yeva's life changes but even more amazing how quickly she and family and friends adapt and almost accept the new 'normal'.

This book should be compulsory reading for all kids around the same age whose main problem is not having enough gaming time or being denied the latest mobile phone!

God bless everyone in Ukraine and may the war end soon so they can start to rebuild their lives.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
A moving first hand account of a child's experience of war and her journey with her grandmother to safely.
It makes you thankful for the everyday things that are taken for granted.
A must read to make you appreciate the little things in life

Review posted on my blog (zbestbooks.blogspot.com) on 08/10/22 and Goodreads.

This is an absolutely soul-destroying book. I rarely read non-fiction, diaries or memoirs, but this was a must, especially as the author is only 12. It follows her journey through the first days of the war in Ukraine, her home country. I didn't actually know that she was featured on Channel 4 until it was mentioned in the book, so I will have to see if I can watch that at some point.

I love how You Don't Know What War Is includes photos of her, as well as a map and headlines from around the world for every day, which all made me feel much closer to her and her story, and reminded me of the headlines that I was seeing around that time. Her writing was simple, but effective, and very profound and mature for such a young age. I really enjoyed her way of recounting her days, and even if there were points that I wanted to cry, there were also parts which definitely made me smile.

I loved the group chat messages, where you get an insight into the conversations between her and her friends. This resonated with me a lot, and made it feel even more real. No 12 year old should have to have these kinds of conversations with her friends.

Michael Morpurgo wrote the introduction, which I felt was very fitting, and I liked what he had to say too, especially as he has written so many war stories. I also went to a Michael Morpurgo talk a few weeks ago, so saw him and listened to him talk about his life and books, and his wife was there too which was interesting.

This is the kind of book that I don't want to say too much about, aside from the fact that it will break your heart and give you a new awareness of the war in Ukraine and everything that is going on there. I have two Ukrainian students in my class and there are quite a few in our school, and reading this book has given me a new perspective on what they've been through. Although I will never fully understand what they have seen and lived through, this book is as close as I can come.

This did, in places remind me of Anne Frank's diary. The innocence and way that she recounts the events in a matter of fact way but never forgetting the terror and pain that she lived through.

This is a day by day account of her journey, and I felt like I was almost with her every step of the way. I can never know what war is unless I experience it, but through Yeva's book, I've had a glimpse of it.