Customer Reviews

Enough

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Few children's books set out to reflect on the tragic. Marsha Skrypuch's "enough," located in 1930s Soviet Ukraine, reminds us of the genocidal fury that Stalin and his collaborators unleashed on a Ukrainian peasantry that refused to submit to communist tyranny, and of the heavy price they paid for their resistance (many millions deliberately starved to death). While charming in its evocation of how a young girl helps to save her one village from this man-made famine, the true story, beguilingly intertwined with this folk tale, is one with a far less happy outcome. For me as a parent, and for my daughter, this important book took on a dual quality - not simply a good read it is simultaneously a reminder of the horrors that befell Ukrainians and many other victims of communism in the 20th century. Those crimes against humanity must never be forgotten. This book is not only a must read, it is a must have book, not only for children but for adults, for all of our futures may well depend on just how accurately we remember who the villains were and what they did. Some of them are still alive and amongst us.

`Enough' was published with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP), and the Ontario Arts Council. The project was funded in part by the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko.

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (member, Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) has been a keynote speaker; a panelist; a Writer in Residence at St. John's Kilmarnock School, 2004-5; taught at the Maritime Writers' Workshop in July 2003; and, has been nominated for numerous awards, including: in 2006, BC Stellar Award nomination for Nobody's Child; in 2004, Alberta Rocky Mountain Book Award nomination for Hope's War; in 2002, Nominated for the W.O. Mitchell Literary Prize for her body of work and mentorship of other writers; in 2006, named Canadian Ukrainian Woman of Influence by the World Congress of Ukrainian Women's Organizations; and, in 2001, recipient of Resource Links `Best of the Best 2001' in picture book category for `Enough.'

In this Ukrainian folk tale, historical picture book (`Enough'), she does a formidable job, indeed, in presenting to young readers (ages 6-8) a Ukrainian folk tale that deals with a very horrific, very real occurrence in Ukraine's history! `Enough' is complemented throughout with artistic, vibrantly colored, large illustrations depicting Ukrainian scenes from the story by Michael Martchenko, an illustrator of more than 50 books for children. He was awarded the Ruth Schwartz Award for Children's Book Illustration for Thomas' Snowsuit.

Albeit a Ukrainian folk tale, the subject matter, nonetheless, concerns a true chapter from Ukraine's history. `Enough' introduces the young child very gently and very aptly to Ukrainian's Holodomor.

E News Channels wrote recently informing readers that Holodomor, which took place between 1932-33 during Stalin's brutal reign against the Ukrainian populace, was genocide by famine--murder by starvation. Its aim was to bring about Sovietization of the Ukrainian people and forced collectivization of Ukraine's farms.

The Communist Regime confiscated grain produced by Ukrainian farmers, withheld other foodstuffs, punished those who attempted to flee, and executed anyone trying to obtain food. Thus, in the land called the Breadbasket of Europe, up to ten million men, women, and children were starved to death. Over 20% of the Ukrainian population died as a result of the famine; at least three million were children. At the height of the man-made famine, 25,000 Ukrainian villagers were dying per day, or 17 per minute.

An excellent reference source on the Holodomor is a DVD by Ukrainian-American Film Director Slavko Nowytski, `Harvest of Despair: The Unknown Holocaust.' He's been awarded numerous international film prizes; moreover, any undertaking bearing his name is guaranteed to be a professional production. This DVD is sold by Amazon.com (USA), or may be obtained through interlibrary loan.

Recommended in `Enough' are several sources to learn more about the Ukrainian Holodomor: The Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest (available on Amazon.com [USA]), Oxford University Press, 1987, ISBN 0195051807; Harvest of Despair, a 55-minute black and white film, ISBN 1-57299-377-4; and, on the Internet: `Black Famine in Ukraine 1932-33: A Struggle for Existence' by Andrew Gregorovich.

Not only is `Enough' an excellent Ukrainian folk tale with beautiful illustrations throughout, but it also acquaints admirably young readers with the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932-33. The author and the illustrator have both handled a difficult subject tastefully and with the gentleness and art deserving a young reader's attention--it's heartily recommended for adults, too! `Enough' is available through Amazon.com [USA], on Amazon.ca and through interlibrary loan. This is a must-read, must-have book! A definite five-stars plus is merited!

P. S. Readers, you're invited to view 152 images (photos) of Ukraine taken by me and posted on Amazon.co.uk (the 2003 edition of Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine by Anna Reid). I actually took thousands of photos, but this sample will give you an idea of Ukraine and her people.

Although there are more (179 total) photos on Amazon.com, the quality of the photos is bad-many of them show specs. My photos do not have specs. There is something wrong with Amazon.com's software. The photos on Amazon.co.uk are better quality (without specs).

Kids and those young at heart may enjoy viewing 69 photos, which I took while traveling throughout Ukraine in 1993 and 1994--to see them, please visit my review of How the Animals Built Their House and Other Stories. Most of my reviews have photos--over 600. Additionally, the website of Encyclopedia of Ukraine has lots of info about Ukrainian and Ukrainians.

I loved this picture book. The paintings are funny but sad at the same time, and so is the story.

It reminds me of a Grim fairy tale. I didn't know about the Ukranian famine until I read this book.