48 pages • 1 hour read
Katherine MarshThe Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Widespread crises influence Matthew, Mila, and Helen’s perspectives throughout the novel. What is each country’s official position about the crisis that the characters live through? In what way do major news and political outlets try to minimize the extent of the crises, any why?
Matthew’s circumstances make him feel trapped and alone. What is his relationship to the outdoors during the pandemic? Is it a space of freedom or further entrapment? Use examples from the text to support your response.
How does the novel portray food, especially in the early chapters? What significance does food hold in the three storylines, and how does the characters’ relationship to food change throughout the novel?
Helen’s father is Ukrainian and her mother is Russian. Why is Helen so desperate to prove herself American? What efforts does she make to hide her familial origins, and why? Does her perspective on her familial and cultural identity change by the end of the novel?
Matthew is initially disinterested in helping GG with her boxes. Why does his attitude change the more time he spends with his great-grandmother? What is the symbolic significance of him taking GG outside? Use examples from the text to support your response.
Compare and contrast Matthew’s and Helen’s relationships with writing. Why do the characters start recording thoughts, feelings, and stories in their notebooks? How does their perspective on writing evolve, and why?
What personality traits do Matthew, Mila, Nadiya, and Helen share? How do their unique personality traits help or hinder them during their struggles?
Discuss the role of education in the novel. What kind of education does each character engage in, and how is it affected by their current crisis? Is education portrayed as positive, negative, or neutral in the novel? Use examples from the text to support your response.
How does the novel portray motherhood? How does each character’s relationship with their mother—including Matthew’s mom’s relationship with her deceased mother and GG and Mila’s relationship with her deceased mother—impact how they approach their lives?
Compare The Lost Year to real-life accounts of kids’ experiences during the pandemic. In what ways is the novel similar to these accounts, and in what ways is it different? How did the pandemic change the lives of kids who were 12 or 13 years old at the time? Use outside research to support your response.
