Tag: Kidnapped from Ukraine

Upcoming book events

Next week, I’ll be touring for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre in North Vancouver and Pemberton BC. There is one open event at the NVPL. More info here.

I’ll be back in Toronto on May 14th, at Koota Oooma!

On May 21, I’ll be with London Ukrainian Canadian Congress for a book talk. A portion from book sales will be donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. There will also be a raffle, and I’ve donated some hard-to-get editions of various books. May 21 is Vyshyvanka Day, and I will be wearing my newest traditional embroidered blouse! It will be neat to see a variety of vyshyvanky!!

On May 24th, I’ll be close to home, doing an event hosted by my favourite local bookstore, Riverside Bookshelf!

Mabel’s Fables triple book launch!

Many thanks to Eleanor LeFave and Mabel’s Fables for hosting a wonderful triple book launch last night! April is Canadian Independent Booksellers’ Month, so it was especially sweet to be in this iconic Canadian children’s bookstore right now.

It was an honour to be introducing my newest book with kidlit powerhouses Lorna Schultz Nicholson and Anna Rosner. An interesting and storied evening. And there were cookies and fruit! Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a meaningful event.

Visiting Oakville Ridna Skhola for Holodomor Remembrance Day

Many thanks so educator extraordinaire Oksana Levytska, her team, and her fabulous students. It was a pleasure to discuss my books set during various times in Ukraine’s history, particularly my books set during the Holodomor, and my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy, which is set during a time these students are all too familiar with. It was a dual presentation, with some students in person, and others attending remotely.

Copies of Under Attack, book #1 of my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy had been pre-purchased through Koota Ooma, my favourite Ukrainian book and gift store, so I got to know the names of each student as I signed them.

After all of the books were signed and I was packing up my things, it was thrilling to see so many students reading their brand new books — an author’s dream.

Ms Levytska invited me to attend the school’s Holodomor assembly. I was moved by students’ dedication and talent in honouring those who had perished in this genocide orchestrated by Stalin.

Online presentation, Dec 4th

Thank you, Centre for Ukrainian Studies, University of Manitoba, for this invitation to speak about Standoff, book #2 of my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy. Looking forward to lots of questions.

CUCS Lecture Series

How and why Marsha Skrypuch wrote the “Kidnapped from Ukraine” trilogy

Date and Time: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 12 PM CST

Location: Online via Zoom

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://umanitoba.zoom.us/meeting/register/XUP5uT77ShygI7Qeee7h2g

Standoff: Koota Ooma Book Launch!

This young reader had so many interesting things to say! His favourite of my books is Stolen Child — but he’s read a lot of them. He said that reading my books is more interesting than being on his device. High praise!
Mirka and I are wearing our Ukrainian colours!
Before the book launch, I met up with Sophia Isajiw for an early dinner and chat.

Reading the backmatter for Standoff

I got to read the backmatter for the Scholastic audiobook edition of Standoff, book #2 of my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy. Melanie Gagnon, the producer, arranged for me to do the recording at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton. Thanks, Emma Whale, producer/engineer for making the session such a great experience! This is the 8th time that I got to read my own backmatter!

book 2, release Oct 7, 2025

Kidnapped from Ukraine #3: Still Alive

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.

The thrilling conclusion to this trilogy will have readers reaching for tissues on the edge of their seats.

Reviews

“Throughout the poignant story, the Popkova family meets many people they grow to care about—individuals who work collectively to support Ukraine’s war efforts by making drones, creating camouflage nets, and decorating pysanky eggs to sell on Etsy to raise money for supplies. Additionally, ­Ukrainian citizens work together to care for stray pets displaced from their families.” Starred Review, School Library Journal

Read an excerpt here.