I appreciate that this is a book which depicts the current Ukraine war from the real life vantage point of a 12 year old child, but personally i found this book to be disappointing.

It lacks any depth or detail (sometimes even context) and for at least half of the book, the focus is on Yeva being interviewed by a Channel 4 news team, who assist her and her grandmother to flee to Ireland.

Whilst i understand that this book was never going to read as if it had been wrote by an adult, i also wasn't expecting it to be so childlike.

It very much comes across as a literal copy of a child's 'Dear Diary'. Perhaps okay for Yeva's peers and to educate other children on what it is like to be a child in a war, but certainly not something i would buy or recommend for an adult.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

Really moving account of the start of the Ukraine Invasion through the eyes of a 12 year old girl, Yeva. She lives with her grandmother in the town of Kharkiv, which is near the Russian border.

Yeva decided to write her diary of her experiences, following in the footsteps of Anne Frank, but this is the modern world, so she is still able to keep contact with her school friends and her family that stay in Kharkiv, when her and her grandmother decide to leave.

You feel Yeva's despair but realise how much worse it must have been for the adults having to make the decisions of where to go and how they are going to get there etc. Why this is happening, and what will be there for them to go home when this is over, no one knows and I am heartbroken for them.

I would definitely recommend this book as it does give you an insight to what these poor children have gone through and the kindness of the people they met along their journey to Dublin

Yeva's diary is a detailed, complete account of what the Ukrainian people have been going through since the war started. One day you go about your everyday duties and the next, you flee for your life.
I admire Yeva's courage in writing this diary and cheer for their journey to safety. Will she be the next Anne Frank?

Thanks to @Netgalley for this advanced copy and the opportunity to experience war through the eyes of a 12-year-old.

A very basic insight into the war in Ukraine as expected from a twelve year old. Quite shocking in its simplicity, though I would have liked a little more detail! Yeva lives in Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine and the bombing begins. She and her Grandmother Iryna have to move down into the basement of their flat for safety, she is eventually transported to Hungary and from there to Dublin where she and her grandmother will live until it is safe to return home. I do hope she does get to finish her painting of the angel!

I found this book a good insight into the realities of war for children, but struggled with the writing style and the flow. It was difficult to feel truly engaged with the events. As much as I hate to say it about such an important book about such travesties, I was disappointed by it.

A short well written book about the first few days of the war in Ukraine. Yeva and her grandmother live in Kharkiv when Russia attacks. At 12 years old Yeva gives us a first hand account of the dreadful first attacks. Yeva and her grandmother escape to another part of the city, then outside and with various stops coming to the Hungarian border with the good chance to be picked up by a Channel 4 News team who help them eventually escape to Dublin.

I feel particularly for Yeva's friends scattered around Europe but especially poignant are the ones left behind in Kharkiv scared and under constant bombardment. I liked the way the beginning of each chapter starts with news headlines from various papers which gives the reader a grounding of what we knew at that particular time. Read and understand.

This is going to be a very important book ! Yeva is 12.She lives with her grandmother in Kharkiv . In February 2022 she writes in her diary how she celebrates her birthday with a bowling party. She says how happy she feels, how she loves the cosy fifth floor flat where she lives, how much she enjoys school and how much fun she has with her friends. Then the explosions begin. What follows in this very short book is a child's account of how she and her grandmother flee to Ireland, via Hungary and how she settles into her new life there.
Written in very accessible language this would be an ideal book for children to read who want to understand more about the war in Ukraine and the effect on its children. For adults it serves as a salutary reminder of how quickly lives can change. Some of the most poignant moments are where Yveva transcribes the text messages from her friends who voice their fears and try to console each other in equal measure.
The foreward by Michael Morpurgo undoubtedly lends weight to the importance of this book but it is Yveva's words which will stay with the reader.

Twelve-year-old Yeva Skalietska could never have predicted what was about to happen when she woke up that morning. Girls of her age should never experience what she lived through in a perfect world. But our precious world is nowhere near perfection. Yeva learned this sad lesson not in her school teacher but in her Grannie’s house and in the city where she lived. She decided to keep a diary and faithfully recorded the atrocities hour by hour. Her Mum and Dad were not in Ukraine during those first few days that the Russians attacked their country with full out war, and they could not return home either now. Yeva lived in Kharkiv and was terrified, frightened for her Nana’s life and hers as well. The bombs, the missiles, the smell of war, the ruination of Ukraine were all too telling. She couldn’t sleep well, their basement was ineffectual and they were frightened they would end up buried in their own home if it was attacked. When their flat was damaged they moved away to another area that may have been safer for them. But soon they were on the run again.
Yeva witnessed everything that came within her sight. Moving on she saw homes in ruins, cars flattened, soldiers rescuing the frail, the young and every citizen they could. Some of these soldiers had left University to fight and take care of their homeland. Yeva took photographs of the devastation all around her homeland and personal photos as well. She included the headlines of the daily newspapers from all over the world and reported what had happened. She joined an internet link for the school she attended and kept in contact with her friends, giving and receiving love and support and she was the voice of reason and love, sometimes hearing when another friend moved with their families to keep safe. These were her lifelines. Some left Ukraine and settled in other countries as refugees. Adjoining countries welcomed them with hospitality and friendship. Lots of countries were desperate to save whole families, and did.
Then she met some Channel Four foreign news reporters. They became friends and looked out for Yeva. They often met up and were keen to tell her story. She appeared on Channel Four News with her Granny and became a national treasure. Granny and Yeva were offered safe haven in Ireland. She drew maps herself and she brought three stunning maps with her made by artist Kharkiv-native Olga Shtonda when she was rescued. They travelled in stages through Europe and eventually met their saviour, their host in Dublin. She marvelled at her freedom, her new home, the countryside and the tranquillity. Those first twelve days of war felt like forever but now they were safe, living in peace, albeit in another country.
I have read lots of stories about wars written by adults, but now this is my third biography written by a child, all three are girls: Anne Frank living in Amsterdam the Netherlands and written in 1942-1944 during World War 11, Zlata Filipovic living in Sarajevo, Bosnia, written in1991-1993 during the Bosnian War. Each of these has been profoundly affecting, poignant and interesting but also I found the themes horrific, shocking and appalling. One thing that stood out for me was that Yeva was able to use modern technology to find out important factual information that certainly enhanced her story. Anne Frank died when she was betrayed. Zlata Filipovic survived and is still writing and making films and also once lived in Dublin too.
I was really honoured to review this biography through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books, sent to me in return for an honest review. Thank you again for granting my requests for each novel. I enjoyed seeing the artefacts, reading her story and learning more about Ukraine. It is a 4* review from me.

This last February (2022) Yela Skalietska turned twelve . A few days later her world was bombed- literally bombed as she lived in the Ukraine when the Russians attacked. This tells her story. A story of a brave young lady who has gone through things no adult should suffer, let alone a child. Of uncertainty like no other, of war right on your doorstep at a time when all she should be worrying about is which friend she is going out with.
A chance comment by her grandmother, whom she lives with, sets Yeva on a path which not only saves her life but brings her story into the spotlight. It's a short read and one for any age- aimed at the childrens market but brings home the realities to all. A harrowing story with thankfully Yeva and her grandmother being safe but living knowing that their friends and relatives and city are still being targeted. There's photographs through the book showing Yeva’s flat and of her in her new environment and of their journey west. This is most certainly a book to remember. A brave young lady who through her age tells it exactly as it is without the trappings of adulthood. A truly wonderful memorable read.



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I would imagine that writing this diary was cathartic for this brave young author who has suffered more trauma than any twelve year old child should suffer. The war in Ukraine is far from over but the book gives us hope that the people of Ukraine will survive and rebuild their country. We are given a picture of normal life in a beautiful city before February 24th 2022. Life for children was very similar to the life of most children in any free country but all that changed overnight when Ukraine was invaded. The diary is interspersed with news headlines from other countries who report on the horrors of this war but as the title suggests, you don’t know what war is unless you have lived through it - the noise of bombing, fear, loss, destruction, living in cold basements, torn from your home and everything and everyone you know. The people become refugees fleeing to whichever country will give them refuge. The book is also about the kindness of the people who help. Yeva’s friends also have a voice. Mobile phones keep them in touch with each other via school chat even when they are thousands of miles apart. Yeva and her granny start a new life in Dublin. The book contains maps and photos which are both interesting and informative. In the last section of the book we hear a few of their stories too. We can only hope that one day they will be able to return to their homes. This book is inspirational and I am so glad that Netgalley gave me an advance copy to read and review.

This is a very humbling and emotional read. I have read several books about the plight of refugees but this is the first one from the viewpoint of a 12 year old child which made it even more of a profound experience.
Yeva had just celebrated her 12 th birthday with her friends by going to a bowling alley in her hometown in Ukraine and shared the usual birthday rituals with her friends and family. Little did she know that a couple of days later her life would be turned upside down forever.
Yeva's diary account shifts swiftly from the bowling party to hiding in basements to avoid missiles, exchanging frightened text messages with her friends and then fleeing the country with her Grandma to ensure their safety.
Yeva's diary includes newspaper headlines from the times she writes alongside her text chats with her friends and her thoughts and feelings as she describes her terrifying ordeal. What is stunning to grasp is that even in the midst of such difficult and challenging situations Yeva still has the capacity to see positives in the moment and to show gratitude to others for their help and support.
Highly recommended to those who would like first hand insight into the awful situation still on-going in the Ukraine, particularly through the eyes of an innocent child. It is an account I found heart-breaking and inspirational in equal measure.
Thank you to the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Over these past months we've heard a lot in the press/TV about the war in Ukraine but it was interesting to see it from a child's perspective. It was enjoyable reading about their feelings at what was initially happening, how they managed to cope living in bomb shelters and then how their new life became a way of "normality" rather than what normal kids would be doing. It was then interesting to read about how she and her grandma managed to get out of Ukraine and find a new home in Dublin.

"You Don't Know What War Is" tells the story of the  Russian invasian of Ukraine this year, through the eyes of 12 year of Yeva.

The book begins with Yeva introducing herself and her life growing up in the city of Khaviv, in North-eastern Ukraine. She describes her home, a fifth floor flat in the cuty centre, which she shares with her granny Iryna. She talks about her 12th birthday where she celebrated with a  bowling party with a her school friends.  Little did she know a few days later her world would be turned upside down and that may have been the last time she would see her friends for a while....

Using extracts from her diary, she tells how her life changed completely on Febrarury 24th when the Russians attacked. She describes how she and her granny sheltered in the cramped, dark basement of their block of flats for several days, ¹owith little access to food and water. As the bombing intensified they are forced to flee to the home of her granny's friend, in a quieter area of the city.

Yeva misses her friends but, fortunately, is still able to keep in touch via her mobile phone. In the book she shares some their school messenger group conversations, which show how they comfort each other when they are afraid and send funny videos to distract themselves from the destruction around them.

Eventually Yeva and her granny decide that their best option is to try to get out of Ukraine and her diary describes their long journey, interspersed with "holiday snap" type pictures of the places they travel through. She also meets a Channel 4 journalist and  talks about her experiences on the UK news!

Yeva's story is heartfelt  and heartbreaking  at the same time. I hope that this brave young girl will soon be able to return to her home town and be reunited with friends and family.

What an amazing, well written book by what seems like a very mature 12 year old. Even in the short time they were in Ukraine after the war broke out, what they went through and what they had to go through to find somewhere safe really made you think about what you would do. It also makes you think about all the people that cant leave or don't want to leave there home country.. Very sad too that the home they grew up in would never be the same, streets would be changed forever from the bombing and the memories. A really good read that I would recommend.

This was an emotive portrayal written by such a young girl. It made me sad and angry at what these people are suffering. Yeva tells her story in a simplified manner that people of all ages can appreciate what is going on rather than what we hear in the media. I trust she thrives and continues to become a writer. I could not put her diary down.

This was such a sad book and awful what people have to go through when war happens. I liked the book but I think it lacked a lot. I get it was written by a 12 year old though but seemed after the half way mark it was focused alot on interviews with news crews and living elsewhere. Overall not bad.

Extraordinary and utterly compelling. Reading about war is harrowing and humbling but even more so when seen through the eyes of a child.
We are introduced to Yeva’s life before war and can completely identify with her as a normal twelve year old, enjoying the things we all do at that age including a birthday celebration where she goes bowling. This highlights further that, although Ukraine is a long way away geographically, actually the life she was leading as a child there is utterly relatable and very familiar which brings it home that this experience was as alien to her as it would be to us, suddenly thrown into the middle of a violent conflict.
Yeva’s writing style is incredibly open and honest and she comes across as a very likeable, kind and compassionate person. I think writing this is a fantastic achievement and excellent record of history and what it feels like to live through it. An absolute must read for adults and young adults alike and a valuable record. I wish Yeva and her family and friends and fellow Ukrainians all the best for the future. Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

Everyone knows the word 'war'. But very few understand what it truly means. Prologue

This is the diary of a young Ukrainian refugee Yeva Skalietska. It follows the war in Ukraine that has changed 12-year-old Yeva's life forever. These are the words as written by this young girl who experienced hardship, shells, bombs and fear with her Grandmother in a damp shelter.

It starts with excitement of it being Yevas 12 birthday and how happy she is to be going bowling with her friends. It quickly turns into sadness and fear when Russia declares war on Ukraine.

This diary is so heartbreaking. It tells of Yeva and her grandmother’s journey across Ukraine to find safety. This young girl should be enjoying her young life but instead she has had to face losing her home, her belongings, her friends and her childhood.

This book should be read by everyone because like Anne Franks diary it is the true story of a child in war. I wish Yeva and her grandmother all the very best and I hope one day they’ll ge able to return home and live safely without fear.

Yeva’s diary is nothing if not a tear jerker. It’s so moving, powerful and harrowing. This is a book which reminds us how insignificant our “first world problems” really are in the grand scheme of things.

Such a powerful book that should be read by everyone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this heartfelt ARC.

A powerful, heartfelt and moving diary account of the war in Ukraine as lived by Yeva. A really important book for everyone to read irrespective of age.