Tulips and Ashes: Lament, Resilience, and Hope in Ukraine

by Iryna Kapitonova, Julia Ilkova (illustrator)

Embark on a raw and moving journey through a year in war-torn Ukraine with Iryna Kapitonova. Iryna invites you to join her in grappling with the pain of loss, uncertainty, and the terrible degradations of evil. As she chronicles her daily life in her beloved homeland of Ukraine, she also invites you to look for hope, to find reasons to celebrate, and to believe that a better day is coming. Witness the depths of loss, uncertainty, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through the pages of her daily chronicle discover hope blooming amidst chaos and the unwavering strength that can be found in moments of despair. Join her in exploring the profound interplay between faith, loss, and the enduring pursuit of hope in the face of adversity. As Iryna leads you through the first year of the 2022 war, you will find yourself alternately weeping and rejoicing, ever aware that war continues on. Join Iryna in bearing witness to the horrible and awesome potential of the human spirit.

390 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Michael Picconatto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ira's book is amazing. She writes in a very personal manner, allowing the reader to have a true look into her family's journey through the first year of the war on Ukraine after Russia invaded in February, 2022.

Ira is also a person of deep faith - who is not afraid to wrestle deeply through feelings of confusion, lament, anger, and trust. Her use of he Psalms and other passages of scripture gives her the space to not pretend her way through the emotional complexity she is experiencing.

[Justin Siemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of genuine, raw, and hope-filled emotions as the author experiences the war in Ukraine. This book has been a honor to read as we wait and pray for the horrible war in Ukraine to end.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important and moving book. Even though she is writing through and about such tragic events, she wrotes with hope always oriented to God who is still in control and still good. I was not able to finish this because it was a loan.