Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, Erin Litteken’s The Lost Daughters of Ukraine follows the intertwined fates of three Ukrainian women—Vika, Liliya, and Halya — as they struggle to survive amid the devastation wrought by Soviet oppression and the devastating Holodomor, Nazi invasion, and the relentless turmoil of war.

Drawing on her own family’s history, Litteken crafts a powerful portrait of resilience and hope: Vika, a mother determined to protect her children; Liliya, a young artist forced to abandon her dreams; and twelve-year-old Halya, whose childhood is shattered by violence and displacement. Their journeys, marked by loss, courage, and the search for connection, illuminate the personal cost of conflict and the enduring strength of the human spirit, making this novel a moving tribute to those who endured unimaginable suffering in pursuit of freedom and love.