Threads: Zlata’s Ukrainian Shirt

by Lina Maslo

Threads is an inspiring picture book about a girl’s survival of the 1930s Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, messaging hope, pride for one's heritage, and context for today's War in Ukraine.

The threads on Zlata’s beautiful birthday blouse were knotted by her mother’s hands. “Red is for love, and black is for sadness,” her Papa says. Her Mama warns her not to show it off. Ever since the Communists came from Russia to Ukraine, they prohibited the teaching of Ukrainian culture. They’ve even taken the grain from Zlata's family's fields. But despite the danger, her parents refuse to give up their art, language, or beliefs.

As Zlata works to help her community survive, she finds that the dream of freedom is stitched deeper into the Ukrainian spirit than she could ever imagine.

Drawing from her own family’s experience in the 1932-33 Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, Lina Maslo weaves a thoughtful story that dares us not the forget the pain of the past as it informs the present conflict in Ukraine and inspires hope for the future.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Ukraine, Childrens, Historical, War, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

Published January 23, 2024

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
Being of Ukrainian descent, I was intrigued when I read GR friend Mai's review, so I immediately put a hold on it through my local library.

Praises:
1. although this book showcases a traditional vyshyvanka (Ukrainian embroidered shirt), author Lina Maslo relates the main theme of this story to young readers, in a very gentle way, the horrors of Stalin's Holodomor (murder by starvation) and the effects of it on Ukrainian families in the 1930s through the eyes of a child;
2. Maslo's simple drawings and strategic use of color depicts mood throughout the story, from sadness and fear, to hope and love;
3. one of the sources Maslo referenced is Anne Applebaum's Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine. I highly recommend this nonfiction book for readers who would like more information about this horrific event; and,
4. I read this book aloud to a Grade 3 class, who as part of our province's social studies curriculum, learn about Ukrainian culture, beliefs, and traditions. Here are their thoughts:
- "It made me sad because her Papa (father) didn't come back."
- "I liked that she got her shirt back and that the girls are friends again."
- "I'm Ukrainian and it made me a little scared that my Dido (grandfather) might have went through that."
- "It was nice that she got a new shirt when she was older that had other colors."
- "Others should know about this history."

Overall Thoughts
A sobering read; I was quite impressed with these children's thoughtful comments!

[Mai H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fun way to learn about Ukrainian culture. Probably better in print form, as illustrations would add to the overall picture.

📱 NetGalley

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The statement on the cover of this children’s book aptly summarizes the story: “an inspiring picture book based on the true story about a girl surviving the Ukrainian famine- genocide of the 1930’s”.

Lina Maslo’s fictional little girl whose survival during the Holodomor provides a good introduction to this part of Ukraine’s history for young children. Her sensitive depiction of life during this period of time and its ultimate message of hope is inspiring. 🇺🇦

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, a sad and hopeful story about Ukraine's history during the Soviet era. Don't forget to read the historical and cultural notes in the back of the book.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story inspired by the author's family history during the Holodomor in Ukraine.
For those wanting to learn more on the background of the current war between Ukraine & Russia.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story closely mirror's my own father-in-law's childhood in what is now Yugoslavia. His father never came home either.
It is important not to forget. Equality can not be gained through control. Only evil results.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

(for Ukraine thread in Children's Books group)

Intense but beautifully done. Knowing that Zlata herself survived to tell the story is helpful. Back matter is also helpful. But I'm angry that I've never heard of the Holodomor. Three million + people lost to genocide in the 30s. I want historical fiction writers to write not yet another book about the Holocaust of WWII but about other genocides, like in Cambodia and Armenia and Darfur. The Jewish people are not the only ones to suffer!

(I even had to add Holodomor to the spell check dictionary.)

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully, sad story that needs to be told. It is 1932 and communism has taken over the country of Ukraine. This beautiful story is about Zlata and her stunning embroidered shirt given to her for her birthday. Zlata’s family doesn’t support communism. This is a great introduction into the basic principle of Communism at a child’s level and a way to you learn a bit of Ukrainian culture.

The threads on Zlata’s beautiful birthday blouse were knotted by the hands of her mother. Red threads are symbolic of love, and black is for sadness, her Papa says. Her Mama warns her not to show it off. Ever since the Communists came from Russia to Ukraine, they prohibited the teaching of Ukrainian culture. They’ve even taken the grain from Zlata's family's fields. Even though it’s dangerous, her parents refuse to give up their art, language, or beliefs.

Lina Maslo Writes from her own family’s experience in the 1932-33 Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. Threads is a thoughtful story challenging readers to never forget the pain of the past as we witness the present conflict in the Ukraine.

[Alanna-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

Wonderful children’s book that commemorates a horrendous time in Ukraine. As a Ukrainian-Canadian, I truly wish that I had had books like this when I was young, to teach me about the history of my ancestors.

This story demonstrates the stalwart maintenance of Ukrainian culture against terrible odds, the meanings of different embroidery thread colours, and shows the beginning of the egregious genocide of millions of Ukrainians during Holodomor (killing by hunger and starvation in 1932-33 as a result of Soviet policies and practices), from the viewpoint of a newly hungry child.

It is very well written, and tackles this monstrous history in a very age appropriate way, without minimizing the experiences of those who lived through Holodomor.

While the audiobook is very well read by the narrator, I now need to seek out the print version of this book, to see the illustrations. That said, I absolutely believe that audiobooks are essential.

Huge gratitude to the publisher, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley, for an AUDIO ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by stories from the author's grandparents from Ukraine in the 1930s. This historical picture book is poignant and heartbreaking, but accessible for young readers. A good introduction to the longstanding oppression -- and continual perseverance of the Ukrainian people. The book design is very good on this one: under the cover is an artistic rendering of the Ukrainian flag to represent the symbolism of the flag, the end pages have black and red Ukrainian style embroidery, and throughout the use of symbolic colors and a limited palette make for striking illustrations.

[Kelly]

This is a beautiful story. I like that little hint we get that Yeva's going to have a part in turning in Zlata's family. It's a sad but necessary story to make sure the Holodomor is not forgotten.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Threads: Zlata’s Ukrainian Shirt (Hardcover)
by Lina Maslo
The Ukrainians shirt with red thread for love, black thread for sadness. A Ukrainians shirt was a show of wealth. Russian communism took everything from a family because of a neighbors jealousy. The communist ideals everything belongs to everyone they take from everyone give only to a few. It was not proper to resist their ideals the men were arrested the family left destitute. The people who turn in their neighbors lose everything.
Blue is for healing.
Green is for renewal.
Gold hope that Wheatfield will touch the sky.

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a cool kid’s book that deals with Ukrainian culture and history (and politics!). The cover is beautiful, and I think I would have appreciated it even more as a physical book where I could enjoy the illustrations throughout. It wasn’t quite the story I was expecting, but I still appreciate what the writer was trying to do.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5/2024 - Wow, I was not expecting this! Very heavy subject that was beautifully illustrated and written. It was a bit much for my 2 year old, but I’d like to read it with her again when she’s older. I learned a lot as well.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Very sad, but an important picture book about the Holodomor, the man made famine that starved so many in Ukraine. Very important to read now, with what's going on in Ukraine, and with the looming famine in Gaza. :(

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book that sheds light and teaches about the Holodomor.

Just like The Lost Year, these books aim to educate about the man-made famine that killed over 3 millions Ukrainians in the 1930s. This book teaches about this event in an accessible way for children. An important, necessary book to educate children about a terrible crime.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past meets present?

It's hard not to draw parallels of this story from the starving period in Ukraine in the 1930's with what is happening today. Based on her own family's experiences, author Lina Masio gives us a poignant story of one girl's experiences in the starving time. It's a story of not just deprivation, but one of family and love of not just each other but their culture and their hopes for a better future. You'll learn a bit of Ukrainian culture as you read, as well as the strength of human character. I had the audio version and it's a mere 10 minutes but it's 10 minutes that will stick. As we watch human despair in so many areas of the world today, we're reminded that this isn't the first time such horrors happened. The human desire for freedom and life shine through, however, as symbolized by Zlata's lovely Ukrainian shirt. Zlata means "golden" in Ukrainian, btw. It's survival perhaps is the strongest symbolism of the book.

Written for a young audience, the story somehow manages to tell the story unflinchingly without resorting to graphic imagining. The goal is to introduce us to the past with a subtle nudge of how it applies to our current and future lives. I liked the subtle sound effects in the audio version although, I must admit, I rather wished I'd gotten a hard copy for the illustrations as I'm sure the mind-pictures in my adult mind were much more frightening than the actual scenes visualized. The idea of fathers simply disappearing may be a tough one for children but it isn't dwelt on, I noted. In addition, the fact additional colors were used in future shirts and designs, not just the red and black, is symbolism in a simple form. The narrator has an adult voice, btw, but remember that this is a recollection, so it makes sense an adult sounding voice is narrating.

Bottom line, I found it a satisfying, warm, hopeful read/listen. It may serve to open up discussion of then and now while sharing bits of Ukrainian culture and design with us. Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio - #MacmillanYoungListeners for making this sneak peek available to me. The cover is lovely and as full of hope as human longings.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Threads: Zlata’s Ukrainian Shirt" by Lina Maslo provides a poignant reflection on life under communist rule in Central Europe during the 1930s. Sparked by a trip to the region and hearing first hand accounts, this resonated deeply with my recent interest in real life experiences of those who lived through recent modern day communist regimes.

Maslo's narrative skillfully captures the innocence and vulnerability of childhood, highlighting how children often parrot the beliefs of their parents without fully comprehending their implications, as seen through Zlata and her friend.

The stark contrast between the idealized image of communism as a force for equality and the harsh reality of its oppressive nature is poignantly illustrated through Zalta’s friend's experience. Initially, she echoes the propaganda she has been taught, believing in the promise of equality until her father is unjustly taken away by officers, shattering her illusions.

Maslo also sheds light on the Ukrainian struggle for survival during the famine and genocide of 1932-33, perpetrated by Russian oppression. Through Zlata's story, the author sensitively portrays the resilience and tenacity of the Ukrainian people in the face of immense suffering and loss, underscoring the enduring impact of historical trauma while simultaneously maintaining their cultural identity and customs.

Furthermore, Maslo's personal connection to the narrative, recalling memories of her own childhood, imbues the story with authenticity and emotional depth, inviting readers to empathize with the characters' experiences on a profound level. "Threads: Zlata’s Ukrainian Shirt" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of bearing witness to history's injustices and honoring the resilience of those who have endured them. We must be open to hearing their stories, learning from them, and committed to not let these atrocities happen again.

🎧 Many thanks to Libro.fm for sharing this audio version as part of your educator subscription. This is certainly a book that needs to be in the hands of today’s students.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Striking acrylic gouache illustrations appropriately filled with golden wheat in this picture book [3.5 for me!] complement an important story that offers insight into why there continues to be bad blood between Ukraine and Russia. Since the events take place during 1932-1933 and are narrated by Zlata, a young Ukranian girl, the topic of this famine-genocide, long covered up by authorities, becomes accessible but also enraging. As Russian Communists infiltrate the area, they demand more and more taxes and food, forcing Zlata's family to hide as much as they can. Eventually, they take the farm animals and even Zlata's beautiful shirt with its intricate Ukranian embroidery, a gift for her eighth birthday. After they take her father, Zlata's family has almost nothing left. Still, her mother reminds her that they still have certain traditions to which to cling and draw comfort. Ironically, as it turns out, their family was betrayed by her best friend Yeva's father, but Yeva eventually tries to atone for his actions. The text makes it easy to understand how others might turn on their neighbors in order to survive and how continuing to find or make beautiful things like that shirt keep hope alive. This story of resilience, based on actual events, handles the Holodomor gently in a way that young readers can understand, and the back matter, including an Author's Note, adds more background and historical context, noting that 3.9 million Ukrainians died from hunger from 1931 to 1934. How amazing to regard embroidery as part of a way to resist oppression! The slender threads of hope and resilience that must have kept so many Ukrainians alive are present in how this story is told and the book's design, including colors and patterns on the endpapers.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sad historical fiction about an event in 1937. A family in Ukraine is part of the enforced famine from the Russian communists of that day. We see how a whole village suffers from the horrors of communism.

The is a great sheet at the end of the story that talks about the history of this event, the facts. The Russian government said this was a natural famine and it wasn't until 1985 that the US declared this was man-made. The Ukrainians have been fighting for independence from Russia since the thirties. The Russians only want the country for food the country produces.

Oh, the neat part of the story is their needlework is very cultural. Red is for love and passion and black is for sadness since life has both parts.

The artwork is lovely and helps keep the tone from being too hard to bare with the tough subject matter of starving.

This is a great book to learn a little bit about the history of the area. Well done and good for the age range of 5-10 years old.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Goodreads friend Debbie is of Ukrainian descent and featured this book on her page. I was intrigued by her review and obtained a copy from my local library. Zlata's Ukrainian shirt showcases the custom of wearing an embroidered shirt called a vyshyvanka. The colors in the embroidery are symbolic:

Red = love, live, or passion
Black = sorrow (sometimes the drak Ukrainian soil)
White = purity
Blue = healing
Green = spring, newness, renewal, youth
Dark yellow or gold = wheat and wealth

As a girl Zlata is given a vyshyvanka for her birthday. Then the days of famine or Holodomor came and Zlata's life changed forever. While this time was a grim one in Ukrainian history, the subject is treated with a relatively light hand making this book appropriate for picture book content. Included are notes about the author's own family story and about the Ukrainian embroidery on the shirt. As Ukraine is now in its third year fighting off Russian invaders, this book is especially relevant.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a young girl, Zlata, and her family's struggles in 1932 Ukraine that is inspired by Maslo's grandparents' experiences. The title comes from the handmade shirt Zlata's mother makes her for her eighth birthday. The shirt is confiscated when the Communists come to their home and essentially leave them with nothing. Although this is a tragic story, it is poignantly relevant in understanding the history of Ukraine. A powerful picture book about that honors the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. Don't miss the author's note at the back!

"Mama made me a new shirt for my journey. . .
'Red is for love, and black for sadness.'
But this time Mama added some new colored threads.
'Blue is for healing. Green for renewal.
And gold -- for hope that one day, the wheat fields will again touch the sky.'"

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tells of Russia's takeover of Ukraine in 1932 and the resulting famine and oppression.

Author's note tells how 6 of her grandparents siblings did not survive the famine and how Russia gave her great-grandmother 50 rubles as compensation for her husbands unlawful execution. Tells of her researching Holodomor the famine-genocide of 1932-33 and the Great Terror of 1937 where so many were arrested and executed for political or religious reasons. 3.9 million Ukrainians died from hunger between 1931 and 1934.

Another note elaborates on Ukrainian embroidery and the vsshyvanka, an embroidered shirt worn during a major event in a person's life.

Timely story that can give historical context to Ukraine's fight, maybe 4.5.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having Ukrainian heritage, this one was a book I had seen and wanted to make sure I read both for the conversations about cultural dress but also remembering and sharing a horrific time, the Holodomor.

Zlata family moves from comfort to distress when dad is taken and the beautifully threaded shirt is taken too. Then the crops are taken and people are starving, unable to care and feed and house themselves due to communist takeover and the Soviet's ambivalence to the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

It's soft but shows the horror of the famine-genocide because the toll was human and cultural.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely an historical fiction picture book that can be used as a story and for older children and adults as an introduction to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and the enduring famine-genocide of 1932-1933- called the Holodomor. This title is based on the author’s family’ personal experience.
The illustrations are very colorful and the endpapers are designed with Ukrainian embroidery motifs and within the text is the meaning of the colors.
The author’s notes give a good description of the history of this incident and of Ukrainian embroidery.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely audiobook, and a very nice accompaniment to the book, which has beautiful illustrations. The story of Zlata's country being destroyed by communism is heartbreaking, and an important part of history that many school-age children may not know. Understanding the deep history of the Ukrainian traditions, and hearing how they were forced to stop, will help students gain new understanding and empathy.

I think the narration would be perfect on its own, or as a companion for the book for readers who benefit from hearing and seeing the printed words.

[Audrey | WellReadandUndead(ish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bittersweet tale of a family living through Holomodor, the orchestrated Ukrainian famine during the rise of the Soviet Union. The story makes this tragic history more accessible to children while also sharing some of the Ukrainian traditions that people previously guarded in that era. It also helps frame my own experience living in Ukraine for a brief time, seeing how resilient they are and explaining their “hopeful pessimism” (i.e. Things are hard, but they can always get worse so appreciate what you still have.)

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently began to learn more about Holodomor from a close friend of mine. Maslo's work Threads: Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt provides better context for the famine/genocide of the 1930s for younger readers. Though it ends in a bittersweet manner, I appreciate Maslo bringing forth this heartbreaking/devastating historical event to a broader audience.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I read a digital advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher
This story brings to light the cruel starvation of Ukrainians by the Soviets in order to overtakethe land and use it to feed the Russians (not unlike the situation in 2022)

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and heart-filled picture book based on historical fact and the author's family's experiences. I love the artwork... its so genuine and evocative with paintings created from traditional media.