113. Kidnapped From Ukraine #2 Standoff. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. 2025. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [realistic fiction, family, drama, war] [5 stars]
First sentence: The bed moved. I squinched my eyes shut and flipped to my side. Smack. Something hit my head. Was Dariia doing one of her silly tricks again? I reached over to push her away, but her side of the bed was empty.
Premise/plot: Standoff is the companion novel to Under Attack. Under Attack was the story of what happened to Dariia (and her mom). Standoff is the story of what happened to Rada (and her dad). The focus of both books is primarily on these twin sisters--Dariia and Rada. This family is literally torn apart, separated by the sudden onset of war. Since Rada's father is fighting in the resistance or army, she's in the care of neighbors at the shelter at the Azovstal plant. Many have taken shelter, but, it's a hard, desperate struggle to survive. So many unknowns. Each day a struggle to survive--for food, for water, for warmth, for health. Will these sisters ever find one another again?!
My thoughts: Both books are intense and compelling. I do recommend both books. They are companion books. I think they could be read as stand alone books. I think they could be read out of order.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
1 comment:
Thank you for the wonderful review!
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