Standoff Kidnapped From Ukraine 2, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Standoff Kidnapped From Ukraine 2, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
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Standoff (Kidnapped From Ukraine #2)

Author: Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Narrator: Allyson Voller

Unabridged: 9 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/07/2025


Synopsis

This gripping, accessible novel by celebrated Ukrainian Canadian author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch follows two sisters as they struggle to survive the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.12-year-old twin sisters Rada and Dariia Popkova couldn't be more different. Dariia is outgoing and chatty while Rada is quieter and artsy. But what they have in common is their love for each other and their home. The family lives in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is attacked by the Russians on Feb 24th, 2022. The attack separates the family -- Dariia is with her mom and Rada with her dad.Rada and her father navigate the treacherous journey from shelter to shelter as they make their way to the Azovstal plant so that her father can fight in the resistance. Meanwhile, Rada is still trying to get in contact with her sister and mother. As the war rages and each family member must contend with their own battles, their love for their country and their family keeps them going.

About Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch is the acclaimed author of more than twenty books, including Dear Canada: Prisoners in the Promised Land, Stolen Child, Making Bombs for Hitler, Underground Soldier, and Don't Tell the Enemy. She has won many awards for her work and is one of Canada's most respected authors of historical fiction for young people. Much of Marsha's writing focuses on stories from her Ukrainian heritage, and she has been presented with the Order of Princess Olha by the President of Ukraine and named a Canadian Ukrainian Woman of Distinction. Marsha lives in Brantford, Ontario.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Marsha on November 20, 2024

In my very biased opinion as the author, I think this is a good book.......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on July 08, 2025

Marsha Skrypuch, writer of the Making Bombs for Hitler and Trapped in Hitler’s Web trilogies plus standalone Winterkill, is known for her meticulous research and personal connections to the topics highlighted in her historical fiction for middle grades and younger YA readers. Ukraine is home to both......more

Goodreads review by Gsmyles on October 16, 2025

A very good second book in the series. This one focuses on the Dad and other sister, Rada, who are separated from the Mom and twin Dariia, once their building in the Ukraine is attacked by Russia and collapses. Rada is forced to live with a neighbor's family in Astorval which is a huge steel plant b......more

Goodreads review by Kathy on November 08, 2025

Captivating Story with real life info I really enjoyed this continuation of the Kidnapped from Ukraine series. I especially liked that it told the story of the other twin. Looking forward to the third book.......more

Goodreads review by Gabriele on October 31, 2025

The author lets readers dive deep into the atrocities of this real-time war and into survival mode in the dark, dank bunkers deep under the Azofstal Iron and Steel plant. It’s a middle grade story, yes, but adults will appreciate the research and detail that Skrypuch incorporates into this novel. I’l......more


Quotes

Praise for Under Attack (Kidnapped From Ukraine #1):*"Gut-punching: This is essential reading." -- Kirkus, starred reviewPraise for Winterkill:"Unflinching...Skrypuch handles difficult themes with intelligence and honesty...couldn't be timelier today." -- The New York Times Book Review"In a timely, hard-hitting novel, Forchuk portrays the manufactured famine Holodomor that Stalinists inflicted on Soviet Ukrainian farmers in the early 1930s...[providing] important historical context around history that has resonance for current events." -- Publishers WeeklyPraise for Traitors Among Us:* "Told in alternating chapters narrated in the first person by Ukrainian sisters Krystia, 16, and Maria, 14, this gripping novel tells a lesser-known story of the war's horror... this is ultimately a story of the strength of the human spirit. Krystia and Maria are survivors, and they never give up, drawing strength from remembering their parents' belief in them as they struggle to stay alive. Gripping, harsh, and superbly written." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewPraise for Stolen Girl:"The author once again deftly sheds light on lesser-known aspects of the Ukrainian experience during WWII . . . A gripping exploration of war-induced trauma, identity, and transformation." -- Kirkus Reviews"A fascinating, compelling read." -- Booklist"In addition to helping children understand conditions that immigrants face in current times, this stands as a deeply personal, relatable study of the long-term psychological effects of war on children, making it a useful addition to a Holocaust or World War II curriculum." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Excellent back matter . . . gives context to Nadia's story . . . This is a strong addition to World War II historical fiction collections, shining a light on a little-known aspect of the Nazi regime's insidious programs." -- School Library JournalPraise for The War Below:"Skrypuch offers a compelling, visceral novel of survival that provides an unusual view of the war... The suspenseful story carries the reader along to its satisfying conclusion." -- Booklist"Skrypuch continues to shed light on the double jeopardy that many Ukrainians experienced... A page-turning window into a complex piece of World War II history." -- Kirkus Reviews"This story, full of numerous acts of compassion and valor, sheds welcome light on a less familiar battleground of World War II." -- Publishers Weekly"A riveting read." -- YA Books CentralPraise for Making Bombs for Hitler:"A gripping story that asks: What would you do to survive?" -- Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee"Inspired by real, historical accounts, this is a powerful, harrowing story of transformation." -- Booklist"Skrypuch draws on real-life stories of survivors in telling Lida's poignant tale, and she creates a cast of young people who are devoted to one another in both thought and deed.... A well-told story of persistence, lost innocence, survival, and hope." -- Kirkus Reviews"The story [has a] strong undercurrent of friendship and loyalty; an author's note gives further background on this important piece of history." -- Publishers Weekly"Students will admire Lida's pluck amid such heinous conditions.... An absorbing read about the lesser-known Ukrainian experience during World War II, this is a solid choice for curricular ties and for middle school historical fiction collections." -- School Library Journal"Skrypuch has written a gripping, emotional novel of one Ukrainian girl's perseverance during the horrors of war.... This is a vivid picture of what youth experienced during World War II and the hopelessness of displaced populations of all backgrounds and religions." -- Voice of Youth Advocates