Formational book review by Megan

4.5/5 stars

“People’s stories matter.”

The Lost Year follows Matthew, Helen, Mila and Nadiya and how their stories are intertwined. How the decisions of their parents changed their own stories and how their own decisions will irrevocably alter their story.

Reading as a Disciple

“I suddenly wished that Nadiya had never shown up at my door. I missed that Papa and I were united in a great struggle. Doubt was a much lonelier place.”

Doubt is a lonely place. It is no fun to be in a place of confusion and uncertainty. We all want to know what God’a plan is; where should I live, what career should I pursue? It is just easier if someone tells us instead of trying to decide ourselves and feel good about our decision. Doubt creeps in when someone questions our choices, mocks or laughs at our decision or when we are alone in our decision and it seems everyone is doing something else. In The Lost Year, Mila longs for the days where she was united with her father in a common goal, but now she is filled with doubt and is lonely. Choosing what is right when it appears that you are the only one doing so is incredibly hard, Mila is forced to decide whether her father is right or wrong and what should she do about it.

It is good to keep in mind that in the midst of doubt and confusion, God is there. While we may feel alone and uncertainty feels normal, God is constant and is with us. Mila may have been lied to, she may be forced to make difficult decisions that everyone will tell her is wrong but God was with her as he is with us in our times of doubt.

Reading Communally

“Stories were powerful, but even more powerful was the act of sharing them.”

Stories are powerful, that is why it is good to be in a community that can be open and share life stories. That’s why support groups are so helpful. We need to share and to listen to people’s stories. If I don’t know someone’s story, it is easier to assume the worst of someone and we are less likely to extend grace. Hearing someone’s story gives us, the community, a chance to enter into a person’s story, to see them differently or in a new light; we have the opportunity to insert respect and kindness in their story.

As Helen becomes friends with Ruth, they share stories they have heard from others concerned for family in Ukraine. Ruth declares that Helen is a leader, this shocks Helen, she never saw herself as one and it took another person, hearing her story to encourage her in this character trait. “A leader. No one had ever used this word to describe me. But maybe, just maybe, I could be one.”

It always amazes me how God made every single person in the world, past, present and future, to be so incredibly different. Not only physically but also in our personalities and character and therefore, our stories are so immensely different. It is such a joy to discover how God created someone, (I am that weird person on a plane that enjoys talking to strangers.) In the moments of meeting someone new, sharing in a moment of their story, I remember imago dei, that everyone is created in the image of God. What glimpse of God does this person carry?

Final Thoughts

Great story! What’s beautiful is that part of this book is based on the author’s family history, she is sharing part of her story with the reader. She has done a great job with research and language. I highly recommend it to help people understand Holodomor and what life was like in early Soviet era Ukraine.