Cynthia LeBrun
October 18th, 2024
Cynthia LeBrun’s Black Sunflowers (Fitzhenry & Whiteside $21.95) draws inspiration from a true story to explore the devastating impact of the Holodomor, or “death by hunger,” which killed over three and a half million people in Soviet-occupied Ukraine during the late 1920s. The narrative begins in 1928, focusing on Veronika and her family in the village of Kuzmin where life appears good despite the Soviet presence. However their world soon unravels as they face catastrophic changes. Told through the perspectives of Veronika and her father, Janek, the book vividly captures the brutal realities of life under Stalin’s regime. Their story serves as a haunting yet uplifting testament to the resilience and humanity of the Ukrainian people during one of their darkest times. 9781554556434
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