Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart (Book Review!)

LIke a River from Its Course

by Kelli Stuart

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Historical

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 363

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4414-2

The country of Ukraine and its role in World War II is not known to many.  Kelli Stuart spent fifteen years researching and interviewing survivors for this book.

In this book the reader meets Maria Ivanovna (fourteen and sent to a German labor camp), Luda Michaelevna (sixteen and raped and pregnant by German soldiers), Frederick Hermann (wanting to do the best for Nazism), and Ivan Kryilovich (mistaken for a Jew and sent to Babi Yar, the “killing ditch”).

What will happen to them and their loved ones during the war?  Will they survive?  What will happen to their city, Kiev?

About the Author-

Kelli Stuart currently lives in Florida.  Her blog is KelliStuart.com.  She has written for American Girl, Disney, and Short Fiction Break.  Stuart is also a coauthor of Dare 2B Wise and Life Creative.

My thoughts-

I have never studied much about World War II.  I know some of what happened in England, France, and Germany, so I was very interested when I learned about this book.  I knew nothing about Ukraine’s involvement and Babi Yar.  Since part of this novel is about Ivan Kryilovich, who was sent to Babi Yar by mistake, it must mean that there many Jews living in Kiev at the time.

As with many books of historical fiction, I make sure I read everything about the book, from the testemonials to the acknowledgements.  Since this book didn’t have a special section discussing the historical background of this book, it is important to read the acknowledgements, because Stuart discusses some of her research.  It would have been nice if she had included more about her research and the people that the characters were based on.

This was a book I had hard time putting down.  I wanted to always learn more about their circumstances and what happened to them. 

If you want to learn more about World War II in the Ukraine, I would suggest that you read this one.  It is good for both men and women.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Like a River from Its Course, by Kelli Stuart, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.