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The Sunflower Boys: A Poignant Coming-of-Age Story of Queer Love and Survival in Ukraine
"That rarest a war novel that feels at once timeless and precisely of the moment…" —
Washington Post
A poignant coming-of-age story with the sensitivity and haunting power of What Belongs to You and Swimming in the Dark, about a young boy wrestling with his sexuality as war breaks out in modern Ukraine.
In many ways, twelve-year-old Artem’s life in Chernihiv, Ukraine, is normal. He spends his days helping on his grandfather’s sunflower farm, drawing in his sketchbook—a treasured gift from his father, who works in America—and swimming in the river with his little brother, Yuri. In secret, Artem has begun wrestling with romantic feelings for his best friend, Viktor. In a country where love between two boys is unthinkable, Artem has begun to worry that growing up, his life will never be normal.
Then, on a February night, Artem and Yuri are woken by explosions—the beginning of a war that will tear their life in two. The invading Russians destroy their home, killing their mother and grandfather, and leaving young Artem and Yuri to fend for themselves. Fleeing in hopes of somehow reuniting with their father, the brothers traverse the country their ancestors once fought and died for, with nothing but their backpacks and each other. Surrounded by death and destruction, Artem is certain of one thing—that whatever may come, he must keep himself and his brother alive.
A harrowing and gorgeous tale of love, identity, lost innocence, and survival set in a time of devastating war, The Sunflower Boys is a powerful, heartrending exploration of young queer love, the Ukrainian spirit, and a family’s struggle to survive.
A poignant coming-of-age story with the sensitivity and haunting power of What Belongs to You and Swimming in the Dark, about a young boy wrestling with his sexuality as war breaks out in modern Ukraine.
In many ways, twelve-year-old Artem’s life in Chernihiv, Ukraine, is normal. He spends his days helping on his grandfather’s sunflower farm, drawing in his sketchbook—a treasured gift from his father, who works in America—and swimming in the river with his little brother, Yuri. In secret, Artem has begun wrestling with romantic feelings for his best friend, Viktor. In a country where love between two boys is unthinkable, Artem has begun to worry that growing up, his life will never be normal.
Then, on a February night, Artem and Yuri are woken by explosions—the beginning of a war that will tear their life in two. The invading Russians destroy their home, killing their mother and grandfather, and leaving young Artem and Yuri to fend for themselves. Fleeing in hopes of somehow reuniting with their father, the brothers traverse the country their ancestors once fought and died for, with nothing but their backpacks and each other. Surrounded by death and destruction, Artem is certain of one thing—that whatever may come, he must keep himself and his brother alive.
A harrowing and gorgeous tale of love, identity, lost innocence, and survival set in a time of devastating war, The Sunflower Boys is a powerful, heartrending exploration of young queer love, the Ukrainian spirit, and a family’s struggle to survive.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2025
204 people are currently reading
10191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
December 16, 2025
Nothing could make last week’s obsequious spectacle in Alaska more shocking, but while President Donald Trump was waiting on the red carpet, clapping for an international killer, I was reading a book about the destruction of one humble family in Ukraine. For a moment, that clash between private sympathy and public sycophancy cast the world in a light almost too harsh to endure.
With “The Sunflower Boys,” Sam Wachman, a writer all of 25 years old, has created that rarest phenomenon: a war novel that feels at once timeless and precisely of the moment. Inspired in part by stories he heard while volunteering at a camp for Ukrainian children in Romania, Wachman’s book contains no trumpet blast of military strategy, no parchment of international politics. Instead, in these pages, we confront the horrors that Vladimir Putin unleashed as they’re experienced by a frightened 12-year-old boy named Artem. His narration is more revealing about the costs of this brutal invasion than any numbing tally of casualties could ever be.
A bloody fissure in recent history accounts for the cleft structure of “The Sunflower Boys.” Throughout the long opening section, Artem describes the simple joys and anxieties of his life in Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine that will feel surprisingly foreign and familiar to American readers. With big-sibling equanimity, Artem tolerates the demands of his 8-year-old brother, Yuri. He misses their Tato (father), who has been working in the United States for so long that he can barely remember the man, but he adores the art supplies sent from abroad. And he tries, most days, to stay on the right side of his hilariously stern seventh-grade teacher....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
With “The Sunflower Boys,” Sam Wachman, a writer all of 25 years old, has created that rarest phenomenon: a war novel that feels at once timeless and precisely of the moment. Inspired in part by stories he heard while volunteering at a camp for Ukrainian children in Romania, Wachman’s book contains no trumpet blast of military strategy, no parchment of international politics. Instead, in these pages, we confront the horrors that Vladimir Putin unleashed as they’re experienced by a frightened 12-year-old boy named Artem. His narration is more revealing about the costs of this brutal invasion than any numbing tally of casualties could ever be.
A bloody fissure in recent history accounts for the cleft structure of “The Sunflower Boys.” Throughout the long opening section, Artem describes the simple joys and anxieties of his life in Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine that will feel surprisingly foreign and familiar to American readers. With big-sibling equanimity, Artem tolerates the demands of his 8-year-old brother, Yuri. He misses their Tato (father), who has been working in the United States for so long that he can barely remember the man, but he adores the art supplies sent from abroad. And he tries, most days, to stay on the right side of his hilariously stern seventh-grade teacher....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
August 12, 2025
Thank you Harper Books for sending me a free advance copy!
THE SUNFLOWER BOYS by Sam Wachman caught my eye because the story takes place in Ukraine and follows a boy, Artem, whose world is turned upside down when Russia launches a full-scale invasion of his country. We watched the news in horror back in 2022 but time and other tragic events have pushed this war from the forefront of many of our minds. This story serves as a reminder that people are still suffering, lives destroyed and lost. While the author uses creative license with the characters, he captures the experiences of Ukrainians during this senseless war.
A coming of age novel for a few reasons . You have a child forced to grow up due to horrific circumstances and is put in survival mode. Artem is also questioning his sexuality and struggles with the feelings he has towards his best friend. A stunning debut novel that has a mix of heartbreaking and beautiful moments. I burst into tears after I finished the book as it was such an emotional read and I needed some form of release.
Highly recommend checking this one out.
THE SUNFLOWER BOYS by Sam Wachman caught my eye because the story takes place in Ukraine and follows a boy, Artem, whose world is turned upside down when Russia launches a full-scale invasion of his country. We watched the news in horror back in 2022 but time and other tragic events have pushed this war from the forefront of many of our minds. This story serves as a reminder that people are still suffering, lives destroyed and lost. While the author uses creative license with the characters, he captures the experiences of Ukrainians during this senseless war.
A coming of age novel for a few reasons . You have a child forced to grow up due to horrific circumstances and is put in survival mode. Artem is also questioning his sexuality and struggles with the feelings he has towards his best friend. A stunning debut novel that has a mix of heartbreaking and beautiful moments. I burst into tears after I finished the book as it was such an emotional read and I needed some form of release.
Highly recommend checking this one out.
December 13, 2025
There are two distinct books within this book: the first 1/3 realisticly describes two young brothers, Artem 12, and Yuri 9 who go to school in Chernihiv, Ukraine during 2021. And just like Ukraine today, a totally new book began on Feb 24, 2022 when Russia invaded.
In Part I, we see Artem realizing he likes his long-time classmate Viktor with a new sense of wanting to be near him, beyond their time as neighbors sharing meals and parents as though each were part of the other's family. Artem is great at Art while his little brother seems to be good at everything. Viktor is mediocre at school but great at being a friend that is slightly more mature that Artem.
Artem/Yuri's grandfather calls them the Sunflower Boys per their help in picking sunflower seeds when they visit his rural homestead. He is their only living grandparent. The boy's dad was a doctor in Ukraine, but barely made enough money to put food on the table, so he works in Florida, USA doing construction making substantially more pay.
The boys see their father on regular facetime type calls, but they don't fully 'know' him, since he has been gone for multiple years now. Tata (dad) comes to visit home for a short time, to rekindle their bonds better, but returns all too soon to his job in America.
I like how Ukranian words appear on almost every single page. I never needed to look any of them up, as they were used in a way that gave away their definition, or maybe even the English was quickly used as the phrase was repeated. This really helped pull me into this story.
Part II hits this book just like the real invasion of Russia did as we know today. The boy's town quickly is attacked so they all flee to their granddad's. But the war finds them there. A war atrocity/crime occurs here in the story that makes this book need to stay in the hands of readers that might be 18+ in age. Sadly, this is a very real occurrence in the war.
This event changed the book so that I knew now that ANYTHING could happen.
Everyone gets separated, but at least the Sunflower boys/brothers stay together. It is a long and cruel trek to any semblance of hot food and some safety.
This writing feels like the author lived it. The nuances of a 12 year old narrator feel like it happened yesterday, fresh in his mind. There are some adult things that Artem accomplishes, while still kicking his brother's feet under the table as a preteen might do.
I did not fully know how this book was going to end until the book actually ended. The lgbtq side of this book was interwoven at the perfect entry-level scale for 12 year old Artem that just wants to understand these feelings within himself.
There is something in Viktor's warmth that I have come to need, something in his skin and at the corners of his mouth where his lips join together. I feel it as a tug in my belly that returns every time he is near.
Be careful reader - this is NOT an adolescent lgbtq coming-out book. This is a war book about the atrocity of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. I would recommend this book for all politicians especially. Anyone with feelings/questions about Ukraine should read this - it might get tough - but this is a small slice of the many times this similar story is being lived by real people right this moment in history.
Serious trigger warnings for anyone sensitive to war:
Each set-back feels highly realistic, and not simply a plot device. There is just enough detail to make me feel like I was right there in the story, but couldn't do anything other than observe helplessly.
There were places where I needed to stop/pause reading to catch my breath. I cried when the book ended.
This in an impressive book that I'm glad I read (considering that it scared me a couple time to almost put it down for good). The last 120 pages wouldn't let me take my eyes off the pages until it concluded!
5* and onto my all-time-favorite shelf for being a book that will stick in my mind forever.
In Part I, we see Artem realizing he likes his long-time classmate Viktor with a new sense of wanting to be near him, beyond their time as neighbors sharing meals and parents as though each were part of the other's family. Artem is great at Art while his little brother seems to be good at everything. Viktor is mediocre at school but great at being a friend that is slightly more mature that Artem.
Artem/Yuri's grandfather calls them the Sunflower Boys per their help in picking sunflower seeds when they visit his rural homestead. He is their only living grandparent. The boy's dad was a doctor in Ukraine, but barely made enough money to put food on the table, so he works in Florida, USA doing construction making substantially more pay.
The boys see their father on regular facetime type calls, but they don't fully 'know' him, since he has been gone for multiple years now. Tata (dad) comes to visit home for a short time, to rekindle their bonds better, but returns all too soon to his job in America.
I like how Ukranian words appear on almost every single page. I never needed to look any of them up, as they were used in a way that gave away their definition, or maybe even the English was quickly used as the phrase was repeated. This really helped pull me into this story.
Part II hits this book just like the real invasion of Russia did as we know today. The boy's town quickly is attacked so they all flee to their granddad's. But the war finds them there. A war atrocity/crime occurs here in the story that makes this book need to stay in the hands of readers that might be 18+ in age. Sadly, this is a very real occurrence in the war.
This event changed the book so that I knew now that ANYTHING could happen.
Everyone gets separated, but at least the Sunflower boys/brothers stay together. It is a long and cruel trek to any semblance of hot food and some safety.
This writing feels like the author lived it. The nuances of a 12 year old narrator feel like it happened yesterday, fresh in his mind. There are some adult things that Artem accomplishes, while still kicking his brother's feet under the table as a preteen might do.
I did not fully know how this book was going to end until the book actually ended. The lgbtq side of this book was interwoven at the perfect entry-level scale for 12 year old Artem that just wants to understand these feelings within himself.
There is something in Viktor's warmth that I have come to need, something in his skin and at the corners of his mouth where his lips join together. I feel it as a tug in my belly that returns every time he is near.
Be careful reader - this is NOT an adolescent lgbtq coming-out book. This is a war book about the atrocity of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. I would recommend this book for all politicians especially. Anyone with feelings/questions about Ukraine should read this - it might get tough - but this is a small slice of the many times this similar story is being lived by real people right this moment in history.
Serious trigger warnings for anyone sensitive to war:
Each set-back feels highly realistic, and not simply a plot device. There is just enough detail to make me feel like I was right there in the story, but couldn't do anything other than observe helplessly.
There were places where I needed to stop/pause reading to catch my breath. I cried when the book ended.
This in an impressive book that I'm glad I read (considering that it scared me a couple time to almost put it down for good). The last 120 pages wouldn't let me take my eyes off the pages until it concluded!
5* and onto my all-time-favorite shelf for being a book that will stick in my mind forever.
August 21, 2025
An amazing debut. Stunning, horrific and beautiful. I loved it. A must read for our times.
November 14, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Harper for choosing me.
Even before I started reading this book, I knew without a doubt that it was going to shatter my soul. I was still drawn to it and I was fully invested in the story, utterly consumed by it. From beginning to end. If I could, I’d give this book an infinite number of stars. ♾️⭐
The relationship between Artem and Yuri is pure and wholesome. Yuri’s innocence is a breath of fresh air the entire journey. Watching them together, having each other’s backs and taking care of the other was beautiful. Viktor and Artem’s friendship is pure and untainted until suddenly they reach a point of no return and although they drift apart for a time eventually their friendship prevails – their brotherhood is solidified. Watching them come back to one another was magical. The relief was palpable for both boys.
Sam Wachman does an incredible job of transporting his readers to Ukraine. I spent time inside a treehouse with two young boys whose friendship was their entire world. I spent time with them under the cover of night as they watched horror movies while Titka Natasha and Dyadko Sasha slept in the other room. I walked beside Mama as she did the best she could to care for her boys. I spent quality time with Did Pasha in the Sunflower fields as he taught his grandchildren who they were as he shared his life story with them. I sat on the windowsill with Artem and Yuri and smiled along with them as they strengthened their bond. I felt the fear, the worry, the confusion and the pain as two boys had their childhood extinguished within the confines of a toy chest in mere seconds. I traveled alongside the brothers as they ran for their lives, hoping to survive the atrocity they had just been forced to witness. I felt their grief, their heartache and their eventual relief when they were re-united with Tato. He made me feel like I was running beside them, hopping on the train with them, sitting right by their side as it made its way across Ukraine to safe harbor. I witnessed the bravery it took for Artem to openly be who he is, for him to take care of Yuri, and finally to take the steps to take care of himself. There’s a moment between Titka Natasha and Artem that will stay with me forever. It seems that a mother always knows exactly what a son needs to hear at the exact right moment and I felt as if I was sitting right there with her in that moment.
My heart is in shambles, I haven’t been able to stop the tears and yet out of their tragedy comes one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever had the opportunity to read- I will be forever grateful that I was picked to read this book. It deals with the heaviest of topics – war, sexual identity, death and grief. It also shows us the other side of that – love, bravery, finding yourself, acceptance, brotherhood and friendship.
Did Pasha, Tato, Mama, Dyadko Sasha, Titka Natasha, Viktor, Yuri and Artem have all burrowed their way into my heart. I know for a fact that I will never be able to forget any of them. Their story has been etched permanently onto my soul.
Although it’s fiction, this book can be and is many people’s reality. I can go on and on about all the reasons this book is amazing, but no words that come to mind do it justice. I will say to go into it prepared to be torn to pieces again and again, and walk into it with your heart open. It will break your heart and also fill it to the brim with so much love. It overflows on every page throughout the book even when you think there’s no way love could be present in that moment, the pain I feel is completely worth it to know Artem Vovchenko.
Even before I started reading this book, I knew without a doubt that it was going to shatter my soul. I was still drawn to it and I was fully invested in the story, utterly consumed by it. From beginning to end. If I could, I’d give this book an infinite number of stars. ♾️⭐
The relationship between Artem and Yuri is pure and wholesome. Yuri’s innocence is a breath of fresh air the entire journey. Watching them together, having each other’s backs and taking care of the other was beautiful. Viktor and Artem’s friendship is pure and untainted until suddenly they reach a point of no return and although they drift apart for a time eventually their friendship prevails – their brotherhood is solidified. Watching them come back to one another was magical. The relief was palpable for both boys.
Sam Wachman does an incredible job of transporting his readers to Ukraine. I spent time inside a treehouse with two young boys whose friendship was their entire world. I spent time with them under the cover of night as they watched horror movies while Titka Natasha and Dyadko Sasha slept in the other room. I walked beside Mama as she did the best she could to care for her boys. I spent quality time with Did Pasha in the Sunflower fields as he taught his grandchildren who they were as he shared his life story with them. I sat on the windowsill with Artem and Yuri and smiled along with them as they strengthened their bond. I felt the fear, the worry, the confusion and the pain as two boys had their childhood extinguished within the confines of a toy chest in mere seconds. I traveled alongside the brothers as they ran for their lives, hoping to survive the atrocity they had just been forced to witness. I felt their grief, their heartache and their eventual relief when they were re-united with Tato. He made me feel like I was running beside them, hopping on the train with them, sitting right by their side as it made its way across Ukraine to safe harbor. I witnessed the bravery it took for Artem to openly be who he is, for him to take care of Yuri, and finally to take the steps to take care of himself. There’s a moment between Titka Natasha and Artem that will stay with me forever. It seems that a mother always knows exactly what a son needs to hear at the exact right moment and I felt as if I was sitting right there with her in that moment.
My heart is in shambles, I haven’t been able to stop the tears and yet out of their tragedy comes one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever had the opportunity to read- I will be forever grateful that I was picked to read this book. It deals with the heaviest of topics – war, sexual identity, death and grief. It also shows us the other side of that – love, bravery, finding yourself, acceptance, brotherhood and friendship.
Did Pasha, Tato, Mama, Dyadko Sasha, Titka Natasha, Viktor, Yuri and Artem have all burrowed their way into my heart. I know for a fact that I will never be able to forget any of them. Their story has been etched permanently onto my soul.
Although it’s fiction, this book can be and is many people’s reality. I can go on and on about all the reasons this book is amazing, but no words that come to mind do it justice. I will say to go into it prepared to be torn to pieces again and again, and walk into it with your heart open. It will break your heart and also fill it to the brim with so much love. It overflows on every page throughout the book even when you think there’s no way love could be present in that moment, the pain I feel is completely worth it to know Artem Vovchenko.
December 29, 2025
4 stars plus. Young Artem and his journey captured my heart and my imagination right from the first page. The storytelling was spot on, the writing beautiful, and the author's ability to keep me engaged never wavered. I don't want to give anything away, but just know that there is heartbreak along the way, as well as a variety of beautiful moments. And extra kudos to the author for bringing the war in Ukraine to such vivid life for us.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 12, 2025
This is a must read in my eyes! Holy cannoli.
September 26, 2025
This book is an amazing debut. The beginning chapters are gentle and even a little slow, like the life of the boy who tells the story, Artem. The writing is fairly simple in this part as we're getting to know the characters. Then, just as his life shifts abruptly when the Russians bomb his Ukrainian city, the book takes an abrupt and horrifying shift into a story of war, survival, and loss. The terror and desperation are visceral, and you feel like you are taking every step with Artem as he tries to find safety. Yet, in the midst of war, it's a story of the spark of first love as well as the intense, unwavering connection between two brothers. The writing becomes gritty, evocative, and profound. I wasn't sure how I'd fare with it when I was in the midst of its quiet beginning, but in the end I was blown away at the author's powerful, intense storytelling. Via this effective juxtaposition, the author conveys a very important, very human story of a horrible world event.
September 9, 2025
Wow. This book is written with so much heart. Experiencing it through the perspective of a Ukrainian youth makes the story hit even harder. It’s raw, it’s tender, and it’s unflinchingly honest.
It doesn’t shy away from the reality of war or the weight of loss, yet somehow there’s still light in the laughter, in the friendships, in brotherhood and in the small moments of hope. It feels like a reminder of resilience, and of the cost and strength of growing up in the shadow of conflict.
It doesn’t shy away from the reality of war or the weight of loss, yet somehow there’s still light in the laughter, in the friendships, in brotherhood and in the small moments of hope. It feels like a reminder of resilience, and of the cost and strength of growing up in the shadow of conflict.
April 22, 2025
*This was an ARC Goodreads Giveaway*
What an incredible story and beautifully written. It begins with life before the war and dealing with emerging adulthood and sexuality, describing a beautiful place that I wish I had or will have a chance to visit. The stories of the war and becoming a refugee were gripping, and then Artem coming to America and trying to adjust in a classroom made me think of some of my own refugee students and what they've had to navigate. I cried. Recommend to anyone and everyone.
What an incredible story and beautifully written. It begins with life before the war and dealing with emerging adulthood and sexuality, describing a beautiful place that I wish I had or will have a chance to visit. The stories of the war and becoming a refugee were gripping, and then Artem coming to America and trying to adjust in a classroom made me think of some of my own refugee students and what they've had to navigate. I cried. Recommend to anyone and everyone.
Want to read
November 10, 2025Read the Wikipedia entry for the book at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun... because it quotes some fabulous reviews and provides some great background. I will definitely have to read this novel.
January 7, 2026
Absolutely gut-wrenching and very beautiful. I feel emotionally exhausted after reading this, but in a good way. I agree with the quote on the cover - this book indeed does feel both timeless and very of this moment. A very successful debut.
October 12, 2025
Normally, mismatched marketing does not bother me, but I think that The Sunflower Boys was not marketed correctly. I’m a big fan of Swimming in the Dark and What Belongs to You so I approached The Sunflower Boys with similar expectations. Although I understand the comparisons, this book differs significantly from the other two previously mentioned works.
I think the first-person narration style makes this book read like a YA novel. That’s absolutely okay, but the novels that are referenced in the description do not read like a YA novel at all. Also, I would have preferred third-person narration for this story because first-person narration seems inauthentic at times. For example, this quote:
“And I say nothing, because I understand his reasoning, but I can’t accept his absolution.”
I am dubious that the narrator would make this statement. I think a third-person narrator could have delivered this statement in a way that would feel more logical instead of the narrator telling us that’s how he feels.
Alas, I think this story is powerful and I really appreciated some of the imagery (especially the mountain scenes). The characters are vivid and memorable. The beginning drags, but the second half was more engaging. Overall, outstanding debut.
I think the first-person narration style makes this book read like a YA novel. That’s absolutely okay, but the novels that are referenced in the description do not read like a YA novel at all. Also, I would have preferred third-person narration for this story because first-person narration seems inauthentic at times. For example, this quote:
“And I say nothing, because I understand his reasoning, but I can’t accept his absolution.”
I am dubious that the narrator would make this statement. I think a third-person narrator could have delivered this statement in a way that would feel more logical instead of the narrator telling us that’s how he feels.
Alas, I think this story is powerful and I really appreciated some of the imagery (especially the mountain scenes). The characters are vivid and memorable. The beginning drags, but the second half was more engaging. Overall, outstanding debut.
November 19, 2025
This isn't just one of the best books of the year; it's also one of the most necessary.
February 8, 2026
I’m emotionally drained after reading an incredible first book from this young author.
It’s a love story. Love of friends, family, neighbors and home. It’s about discovering those loves and understanding them and ultimately how the protagonist comes to understand himself through the process and during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
There’s a slow start to the book…and it begins in a simple almost childlike tone. Without spoiling, a sudden shift (perhaps not unsurprising), take the reader on a rollercoaster ride.
Many stories are written about war with the majority focused on adults, this shows us what it looks like to experience war as a child,the horrors, the chilling moments and how they leave an impact. Kudos to Sam Wachman for bringing this story to life.
I cried and this book has given me a better understanding of war and its tragic consequences on society, but especially on the next generation.
It’s a love story. Love of friends, family, neighbors and home. It’s about discovering those loves and understanding them and ultimately how the protagonist comes to understand himself through the process and during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
There’s a slow start to the book…and it begins in a simple almost childlike tone. Without spoiling, a sudden shift (perhaps not unsurprising), take the reader on a rollercoaster ride.
Many stories are written about war with the majority focused on adults, this shows us what it looks like to experience war as a child,the horrors, the chilling moments and how they leave an impact. Kudos to Sam Wachman for bringing this story to life.
I cried and this book has given me a better understanding of war and its tragic consequences on society, but especially on the next generation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2026
I cried maybe one dozen times.
August 31, 2025
Sam Wachman’s “The Sunflower Boys” is a moving and beautifully written story that really pulls you in with its atmosphere and characters. The early scenes of Artem’s life in Ukraine—helping on his grandfather’s farm, swimming with his little brother, quietly falling for his best friend Viktor—are full of warmth and small, tender moments. The relationship between the boys is handled with a lot of care and sensitivity, and the bond between Artem and Yuri as they try to survive after war breaks out is heartbreaking and full of love. It’s a story that balances softness and devastation in a way that really sticks with you.
The book does a great job showing what it feels like to grow up too fast—especially when childhood is cut short by something as terrifying as war. The writing is often beautiful and emotional, and it paints a clear picture of Artem’s inner world, full of confusion, hope, and quiet strength. Even in the bleakest moments, there are glimmers of love and humanity that keep you hooked.
That said, the tone is a bit uneven at times. Artem is supposed to be twelve, but the way he thinks and speaks sometimes feels much older—more like a seasoned teenager or even an adult. It’s an odd mix of YA and adult, which can take you out of the story. Despite that mismatch, the book is an enlightening read that blends young queer love, family, and survival in a way that’s both emotional and unforgettable. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper for the ARC.
The book does a great job showing what it feels like to grow up too fast—especially when childhood is cut short by something as terrifying as war. The writing is often beautiful and emotional, and it paints a clear picture of Artem’s inner world, full of confusion, hope, and quiet strength. Even in the bleakest moments, there are glimmers of love and humanity that keep you hooked.
That said, the tone is a bit uneven at times. Artem is supposed to be twelve, but the way he thinks and speaks sometimes feels much older—more like a seasoned teenager or even an adult. It’s an odd mix of YA and adult, which can take you out of the story. Despite that mismatch, the book is an enlightening read that blends young queer love, family, and survival in a way that’s both emotional and unforgettable. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper for the ARC.
December 13, 2025
Challenging to rate. The first half of the book was so beautiful and quiet and lovely, and though I loved being swept up in the prose, I did find myself thinking "I wish we had some kind of stakes pushing us forward here." The second half is very different from the first, switching almost entirely to a narrative about surviving the Russian invasion. It's well-written and harrowing, but it robs us of most of the story elements that engaged me in the first half, almost like this was a separate novel tenuously soldered onto the other one. Near the end, some of these elements return, so I was hopeful the book would stick the landing, but it putters out unsatisfyingly after having written itself into a corner. Still, an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to others.
September 16, 2025
I'm not even sure where to begin with this book.
The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman is one of the most moving books I have ever read. The way the author tells the story of two brothers and their experiences with war, family, love, and life is truly beautiful. This book was tough to get through at times because it shows so clearly what innocent people went through when the war in Ukraine began. From the first pages, you see the characters' daily lives, their kindness, and then the pain and loss that comes with war. I felt every emotion while reading.
It's important to remember that this book is not historical fiction. The events it describes are still happening in Ukraine today. People are still being mistreated, forced from their homes, and killed because of Putin's orders. This book is timely and matters right now.
I love this book and I love the characters! If you can, please read this book; it is truly a masterpiece.
The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman is one of the most moving books I have ever read. The way the author tells the story of two brothers and their experiences with war, family, love, and life is truly beautiful. This book was tough to get through at times because it shows so clearly what innocent people went through when the war in Ukraine began. From the first pages, you see the characters' daily lives, their kindness, and then the pain and loss that comes with war. I felt every emotion while reading.
It's important to remember that this book is not historical fiction. The events it describes are still happening in Ukraine today. People are still being mistreated, forced from their homes, and killed because of Putin's orders. This book is timely and matters right now.
I love this book and I love the characters! If you can, please read this book; it is truly a masterpiece.
October 6, 2025
It's a novel about war, the 2022 brutal Russian invasion of the Ukraine, and the innocent people who are impacted by its terrible devastation. The characters are so well fleshed out, and I had great empathy for the loving and caring family that serves as the focus of the story. There's Artem and Yuri, adolescent brothers, their mother, father and grandfather. They are a close and loving family, whose life becomes turbulent and dangerous as a result of this horrendous invasion of their country.
Wachman has written an outstanding story, with characters that stand out on every page with human emotions. It's a story about falling in love, losing family, and taking a perilous journey across a treacherous landscape. The author has Ukrainian ancestry and knows the language and the country. He also has heart, and has created characters that I will always remember.
Wachman has written an outstanding story, with characters that stand out on every page with human emotions. It's a story about falling in love, losing family, and taking a perilous journey across a treacherous landscape. The author has Ukrainian ancestry and knows the language and the country. He also has heart, and has created characters that I will always remember.
September 24, 2025
My heart is hurting, I cried so hard reading this and now my head is hurting too. It is about war, so it is brutal. There is loss, anger, grief, pain. And our main character is just a kid who tries to figure out his sexuality and suddenly the war starts. I loved him and his relationship with his little brother, it felt so magical. I was surprised when I learned that this is the author's debut book, cause the writing is really beautiful. I gave four stars, because sometimes I felt like something is lacking in the plot but it was still good. Lots of thanks to the author who made me sob at the midnight.
September 21, 2025
I almost DNFed this, Part One reads like a child's book. To be fair, the narrator is a 12 yr old boy, but I dug deep into my reservoir of patience (my old problem), and everything changed when the dread became manifest.
This young writer had me in the palm of his hand, the only 20 something year old that isn't a son of mine who has ever made me cry. Sob. Twice.
A page turning, moving and compelling coming of age story of identity, sexuality and responsibility in a time of war. This is an author I'm very excited to read more from.
This young writer had me in the palm of his hand, the only 20 something year old that isn't a son of mine who has ever made me cry. Sob. Twice.
A page turning, moving and compelling coming of age story of identity, sexuality and responsibility in a time of war. This is an author I'm very excited to read more from.
April 10, 2025
Thanks to the author for my copy.
December 26, 2025
"Nothing's going to happen, I say.
It could, Viktor says. "It's been happening in my tato's hometown for eight years already.
"Your tato's hometown is far away.
It wasn't far away for him."
"War cannot be understood; it must be felt."
"This is a war story, and war stories do not have morals. They do not have happy endings. Understand this: To kill is not glorious. To kill another human, you must first kill the human inside you and allow a different creature, a terrible creature, a terrible creature, to take his place. That is the only way a real war story ends with grief and destruction, with peaceful people dead and armies of the terrible still shambling about the earth, broken in ways that cannot be healed."
"Nothing can remind me of war, because it is never out of my mind. I talk about war because there is nothing else to talk about. There is no reality that is not war. It expands to fill every room, like a gas. It suffuses my dreams."
It could, Viktor says. "It's been happening in my tato's hometown for eight years already.
"Your tato's hometown is far away.
It wasn't far away for him."
"War cannot be understood; it must be felt."
"This is a war story, and war stories do not have morals. They do not have happy endings. Understand this: To kill is not glorious. To kill another human, you must first kill the human inside you and allow a different creature, a terrible creature, a terrible creature, to take his place. That is the only way a real war story ends with grief and destruction, with peaceful people dead and armies of the terrible still shambling about the earth, broken in ways that cannot be healed."
"Nothing can remind me of war, because it is never out of my mind. I talk about war because there is nothing else to talk about. There is no reality that is not war. It expands to fill every room, like a gas. It suffuses my dreams."
September 4, 2025
Peab olema hingelt poeet, et seda kirja panna.
Ja peab taluma palju pisaraid. Nii enda kui teiste omi.
Ja peab taluma palju pisaraid. Nii enda kui teiste omi.
December 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ little moments, and as much as I expected devastation it still caught me off guard
November 2, 2025
I read several reviews first, so going into this I knew that there would probably be parts of this book where I’d need to have a box of tissues nearby.
But the reviews were so good that I still wanted to read it.
Artem and Viktor are best friends. They sit together at school, ride bikes together, and often have sleepovers.
They live in the same neighborhood and their parents are good friends as well.
They both start to realize that the way they feel towards each other is more than just a close friendship.
But at 12 years old, it’s a lot to process and understand.
They are also in a part of the world that is still very homophobic.
I was expecting this to be a gay coming of age story, and to an extent it was.
But it was really more about Artem and his younger brother, Yuri just trying to survive as Russia invades Ukraine.
At just 12, Artem had to take on the care taking role as a war was breaking out and cities were being destroyed.
I think that loose comps for this book would be In Memoriam and The Song of Achilles.
While reading this, my heart truly ached for the Ukrainian people.
Although this is fiction, it felt like kind of a memoir of someone revealing what happened and how they survived.
The fact that this just happened in 2022 also made it feel more real.
We’ve all seen the Ukraine invasion in the news, but reading about it like this from someone going through it is completely different.
Parts of this were difficult to read, but reading things like this are how we as humans develop empathy.
Although he doesn’t read at all, I wish that Donald Trump would read this book.
It might make him reconsider the way he idolizes Putin.
But the reviews were so good that I still wanted to read it.
Artem and Viktor are best friends. They sit together at school, ride bikes together, and often have sleepovers.
They live in the same neighborhood and their parents are good friends as well.
They both start to realize that the way they feel towards each other is more than just a close friendship.
But at 12 years old, it’s a lot to process and understand.
They are also in a part of the world that is still very homophobic.
I was expecting this to be a gay coming of age story, and to an extent it was.
But it was really more about Artem and his younger brother, Yuri just trying to survive as Russia invades Ukraine.
At just 12, Artem had to take on the care taking role as a war was breaking out and cities were being destroyed.
I think that loose comps for this book would be In Memoriam and The Song of Achilles.
While reading this, my heart truly ached for the Ukrainian people.
Although this is fiction, it felt like kind of a memoir of someone revealing what happened and how they survived.
The fact that this just happened in 2022 also made it feel more real.
We’ve all seen the Ukraine invasion in the news, but reading about it like this from someone going through it is completely different.
Parts of this were difficult to read, but reading things like this are how we as humans develop empathy.
Although he doesn’t read at all, I wish that Donald Trump would read this book.
It might make him reconsider the way he idolizes Putin.
December 17, 2025
Someone once said that fiction is a lie that tells a truth. In the case of The Sunflower Boys that truth is about what it is like to experience the trauma of war first hand. When the novel opens, we meet Artem, 12 years old, and his younger brother, Yuri. They live with their mother in Ukraine while their father works in the US to provide a better life for them. The first 1/3 of the book feels like a normal coming of age story that incorporates Artem's awareness of his own sexuality. Wachman did an exceptional job of putting you into the headspace of a 12 year old boy. When the bombing starts, it feels completely unexpected and everything changes as the family flees for safety. The last 2/3 of the book is the story of Artem and Yuri and their struggle to survive. It's a harrowing and brutal depiction of the horrors of war and the desperation of trying to hold on to what matters most. So many of the novels I have read about war are historical - this is contemporary and scenarios like this are happening now. While the novel feels deeply personal, as a reader it reminds me of the imperative need for the US to support Ukraine.
October 12, 2025
Bekommt 4,5 Sterne von mir. Meine Vater hat sehr von dem Buch geschwärmt, also dachte ich mir: lets give it a try.
Bewegende Story und schönes Konzept mit den Kapiteln und Überschriften.
Bewegende Story und schönes Konzept mit den Kapiteln und Überschriften.
September 5, 2025
Sam Wachman taught English in Ukraine and when the war started he continued to teach English but in refugee camps in Romania. As a teacher he began compiling stories of his students both before and during the war. He began writing his book before the war, but it changed significantly once the war started.
“Don’t be sad,” he tells us. “This is not a land of war and sorrow. This is your country, sunflower boys. The dirt and the sky and everything in between. It’s your inheritance. It all belongs to you.”
Artem and Yuri are brothers who live with their mother while their father lives and works in the United States sending money home to them. The author builds the story of the brothers and Artem's best friend Viktor as carefree youth. Artem and Viktor are approaching puberty. Artem's parents have tasked him with caring for his younger brother Yuri.
Wachman builds the story slowly so the reader has a real sense of life in a small town in Ukraine in which the boys are free to explore the countryside. We read a significant portion of the book before the war starts, but we know what might happen.
This is a debut novel and I think Wachman has some skills which need further development.
It did me much to ponder over and I will remember those characters.
“Don’t be sad,” he tells us. “This is not a land of war and sorrow. This is your country, sunflower boys. The dirt and the sky and everything in between. It’s your inheritance. It all belongs to you.”
Artem and Yuri are brothers who live with their mother while their father lives and works in the United States sending money home to them. The author builds the story of the brothers and Artem's best friend Viktor as carefree youth. Artem and Viktor are approaching puberty. Artem's parents have tasked him with caring for his younger brother Yuri.
Wachman builds the story slowly so the reader has a real sense of life in a small town in Ukraine in which the boys are free to explore the countryside. We read a significant portion of the book before the war starts, but we know what might happen.
This is a debut novel and I think Wachman has some skills which need further development.
It did me much to ponder over and I will remember those characters.
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