Random Things Tours: You Don´t Know What War Is by Yeva Skalietska

At the beginning of this year, Yeva Skalietska was a Ukrainian girl in Kharkiv, trying to split her time between her many hobbies and friends. Shortly after her birtday spent at bowling, Ukraine was attacked by Russia and her dreams were shred into pieces.

You Don´t Know What War Is is her diary of her new life, while trying to make sense of a new reality around her and running for her life. ´But we do what we have to do to survive. We have to save ourselves at any cost´. Now a resident of Dublin, alongside her grandmother, she may have escape the war, but the memories of such a trauma will not leave her too early.

In different contexts and situations, I had the chance to discuss with people who experienced war as children. The trauma remains, reappearing in the most unexpected moments. The experience of running for your life is one of those experiences that reshape one´s life. Mostly for the bad.

Yeva´s diary is a first hand testimony about the beginning of war in Kharkiv, but also about the way in which young people react and experience armed conflict. The innocence of the youth makes this experience and the pictures of her used to illustrate the book are equally a proof of authenticity and innocence.

A recommended read to anyone interested in the situation in Ukraine, particularly Kharkiv, at the beginning of the war, as seen through Yeva´s eyes. An useful material for both historians and trauma psyhologists.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review