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The Silent Journey
One girl. One locket. One journey across the ocean.
In 1932, deaf eleven-year-old Anika Bohdan escapes famine-depleted Ukraine with one hope: to reunite with her papa, Tato, in America. After a perilous ocean voyage, she arrives in Manhattan alone and frightened. When Tato does not show up to meet her, Anika sets out to find him. Barely speaking English, she must navigate a strange and overwhelming city, dependent on the kindness of strangers, the companionship of a stray dog, and the strength of her own will.
All she has is her treasured locket and the memory of her papa’s smile.
Failure means losing Tato forever.
This heartfelt story explores resilience, identity, and finding one’s voice against the backdrop of historical upheaval.
In 1932, deaf eleven-year-old Anika Bohdan escapes famine-depleted Ukraine with one hope: to reunite with her papa, Tato, in America. After a perilous ocean voyage, she arrives in Manhattan alone and frightened. When Tato does not show up to meet her, Anika sets out to find him. Barely speaking English, she must navigate a strange and overwhelming city, dependent on the kindness of strangers, the companionship of a stray dog, and the strength of her own will.
All she has is her treasured locket and the memory of her papa’s smile.
Failure means losing Tato forever.
This heartfelt story explores resilience, identity, and finding one’s voice against the backdrop of historical upheaval.
Unknown Binding
About the author
Havelah McLat
6 books142 followersHavelah McLat grew up on a small farm in rural Ohio with her family. As a kid, she spent hours drawing and then crafting short stories to go along with her illustrations. As she got older, her passion grew to write stories about the world, faith, and topics that matter the most to her. She has written several short fictions that have been featured in different anthologies. When she isn’t writing, she reads books, draws, and spends time with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 1, 2025
*. * · It’s the year 1932, and deaf eleven-year-old Anika Bohdan flees Ukraine, in hopes of reuniting with her papa, Tato, in America. Arriving in Manhattan after a voyage on the ocean, alone, scared, and barely able to speak English, Anika, with her luggage and her treasured locket, begins her journey in a strange and large city where she meets kind strangers eager to help, a stray dog who becomes her good friend, and the tenacity to find Tato. Because failing to find him means losing her papa forever.
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
*. * · This story was so sweet! 🥹🫶🏼
I was fortunate enough to be a beta reader for this book, and I was beyond excited to read the arc copy because I love Anika’s story. She was strong and full of hope and love for her dad. I was rooting for her the entire time she was searching for Tato, smiling when she came across kind strangers who were willing to help her with her search. And Lev the dog was the best! I absolutely loved him! 🤭 And the ending made my heart so, so happy. If you are looking for a hopeful, moving story that’s similar to The Little Princess and has a disability rep, then this book will definitely give you all the feels. 💙
❃ Thank you to the author for providing the arc! All opinions and statements are my own. This book will be available on 03/23/2026! ❃
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a loved one (on page) & loss of a parent (off page).
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
*. * · This story was so sweet! 🥹🫶🏼
I was fortunate enough to be a beta reader for this book, and I was beyond excited to read the arc copy because I love Anika’s story. She was strong and full of hope and love for her dad. I was rooting for her the entire time she was searching for Tato, smiling when she came across kind strangers who were willing to help her with her search. And Lev the dog was the best! I absolutely loved him! 🤭 And the ending made my heart so, so happy. If you are looking for a hopeful, moving story that’s similar to The Little Princess and has a disability rep, then this book will definitely give you all the feels. 💙
❃ Thank you to the author for providing the arc! All opinions and statements are my own. This book will be available on 03/23/2026! ❃
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a loved one (on page) & loss of a parent (off page).
March 25, 2026
3.5 stars, personally ⭐️ (Light) Christian Fiction/Clean Fiction - Middle Grade - Historical
About this book:
“One girl. One locket. One journey across the ocean.
In 1932, deaf eleven-year-old Anika Bohdan escapes famine-depleted Ukraine with one hope: to reunite with her papa, Tato, in America. After a perilous ocean voyage, she arrives in Manhattan alone and frightened. When Tato does not show up to meet her, Anika sets out to find him. Barely speaking English, she must navigate a strange and overwhelming city, dependent on the kindness of strangers, the companionship of a stray dog, and the strength of her own will.
All she has is her treasured locket and the memory of her papa’s smile.
Failure means losing Tato forever.
This heartfelt story explores resilience, identity, and finding one’s voice against the backdrop of historical upheaval.”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- A few prayers; ’H’s are capital when referring to God; Anika’s guardian (a grandmother-type character) believes in God, prays, and tells Anika that God doesn’t make mistakes; Anika is concerned that God may not love her as much as a hearing child or hear her prayers, but smiles when it seems like her prayer is answered; Anika remembers visiting a cathedral with her father, but there was no priest or religious ceremony; Anika pictures her mother and another loved one meeting in the “glorious realm” and being friends with another girl’s deceased parents (they are both comforted and feel peace at this thought); Mentions of God, thanking God, praying, prayers, & blessings over food; Mentions of those who have a faith in God being punished by Stalin as he is deemed their provider (including Anika’s father warning her guardian not to pray as they could suffer for it, a priest being killed for his faith, and Anika’s guardian saying that all of it is wrong and she remains strong in her faith); A few mentions of cathedrals & priests; A mention of being blessed;
*Note: Anika comments that a deceased loved one sent her a sign (an animal visiting) & thinks of it as being the person’s way to say goodbye until they saw each other again; A mention of being lucky.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shoot’ and a ‘stupid’; Almost being ran-over by a horse, Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Seeing the death of a loved one, someone in pain, grief, & going to a cemetery/grave (up to semi-detailed); Getting lost in a big city (up to semi-detailed); When grabbed by a police officer, Anika stops on his boots to get away (because she doesn’t know where he is taken her) & later runs away from another officer (due to her father’s warnings about the secret police back in Ukraine); Anika is bullied for her disability and for talking differently than other kids (she also recalls when it happened before and sobbing to her father about it; Her father told her the bullies are the one with the problem and that she is capable of anything; *Spoilers* ); Many mentions of Stalin (the ruler), his harsh laws, people being taken away to prison camps for disobeying, his secret police beating people and turning people in, & the famine (including Anika remembering being told by her father and her school that Stalin was their papa and the people of the country were his children; Anika has kept to herself that she is frightened by Stalin); Mentions of deaths, grief, illnesses, a stroke, & amnesia (including for a mother, a wife, a husband, parents, and loved ones; also grief from Anika wishing for a mother; Anika comforts a young girl who lost her parents; up to semi-detailed); Mentions of seeing someone beaten, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding; Mentions of weapons; Mentions of thieves, stealing (including to survive), & prison; Mentions of homeless adults and children & sleeping on the street; Mentions of an (implied awful) orphanage & a boy running away from there because he doesn’t feel wanted; Mentions of bullies; Mentions of an “evil dogcatcher” trying to grab a pet dog; A few mentions of smoking & pipes; A couple mentions of a father leaving his family (later implied for work); A couple mentions of lies; A mention of a drowning; A mention of vomit; A mention of a pet cat that never returned one night;
*Note: Anika lost her hearing after having the typhoid fever and thinks of herself as broken; A child is concerned that he will be sent back to an orphanage; A woman comments on wishing she had a child; A mention of Anika receiving vaccine shots for traveling to America.
Sexual Content- N/A.
-Anika Bohdan, age 11
1st person P.O.V. of Anika
232 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I’ll fully admit—the cover completely caught my eye when I first heard about this book! It’s the perfect Middle-Grade cover and fits the story very well!
As far as the inside of the book, the writing style was a little abrupt and choppy at first, but I think that was maybe because we follow Anika’s first person POV and she doesn’t catch every word spoken (understandably so). Regardless, I quickly got into this story, caring for our main character, and hoping for everything to work out for Anika! It reminded me a bit of A Little Princess (perhaps because of the young girl missing her papa?) and also the American Girl books. The deaf representation was really interesting to read and so was the historical time period. I didn’t know anything about Ukraine in this time period, so as I was reading, I would often pause and research the setting, famine, and government ruler at that time. I think this could be an interesting read for readers wanting a look at this time period of Ukrainian history, but not wanting it to be too heavy for a young reader.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
About this book:
“One girl. One locket. One journey across the ocean.
In 1932, deaf eleven-year-old Anika Bohdan escapes famine-depleted Ukraine with one hope: to reunite with her papa, Tato, in America. After a perilous ocean voyage, she arrives in Manhattan alone and frightened. When Tato does not show up to meet her, Anika sets out to find him. Barely speaking English, she must navigate a strange and overwhelming city, dependent on the kindness of strangers, the companionship of a stray dog, and the strength of her own will.
All she has is her treasured locket and the memory of her papa’s smile.
Failure means losing Tato forever.
This heartfelt story explores resilience, identity, and finding one’s voice against the backdrop of historical upheaval.”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- A few prayers; ’H’s are capital when referring to God; Anika’s guardian (a grandmother-type character) believes in God, prays, and tells Anika that God doesn’t make mistakes; Anika is concerned that God may not love her as much as a hearing child or hear her prayers, but smiles when it seems like her prayer is answered; Anika remembers visiting a cathedral with her father, but there was no priest or religious ceremony; Anika pictures her mother and another loved one meeting in the “glorious realm” and being friends with another girl’s deceased parents (they are both comforted and feel peace at this thought); Mentions of God, thanking God, praying, prayers, & blessings over food; Mentions of those who have a faith in God being punished by Stalin as he is deemed their provider (including Anika’s father warning her guardian not to pray as they could suffer for it, a priest being killed for his faith, and Anika’s guardian saying that all of it is wrong and she remains strong in her faith); A few mentions of cathedrals & priests; A mention of being blessed;
*Note: Anika comments that a deceased loved one sent her a sign (an animal visiting) & thinks of it as being the person’s way to say goodbye until they saw each other again; A mention of being lucky.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shoot’ and a ‘stupid’; Almost being ran-over by a horse, Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Seeing the death of a loved one, someone in pain, grief, & going to a cemetery/grave (up to semi-detailed); Getting lost in a big city (up to semi-detailed); When grabbed by a police officer, Anika stops on his boots to get away (because she doesn’t know where he is taken her) & later runs away from another officer (due to her father’s warnings about the secret police back in Ukraine); Anika is bullied for her disability and for talking differently than other kids (she also recalls when it happened before and sobbing to her father about it; Her father told her the bullies are the one with the problem and that she is capable of anything; *Spoilers* ); Many mentions of Stalin (the ruler), his harsh laws, people being taken away to prison camps for disobeying, his secret police beating people and turning people in, & the famine (including Anika remembering being told by her father and her school that Stalin was their papa and the people of the country were his children; Anika has kept to herself that she is frightened by Stalin); Mentions of deaths, grief, illnesses, a stroke, & amnesia (including for a mother, a wife, a husband, parents, and loved ones; also grief from Anika wishing for a mother; Anika comforts a young girl who lost her parents; up to semi-detailed); Mentions of seeing someone beaten, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding; Mentions of weapons; Mentions of thieves, stealing (including to survive), & prison; Mentions of homeless adults and children & sleeping on the street; Mentions of an (implied awful) orphanage & a boy running away from there because he doesn’t feel wanted; Mentions of bullies; Mentions of an “evil dogcatcher” trying to grab a pet dog; A few mentions of smoking & pipes; A couple mentions of a father leaving his family (later implied for work); A couple mentions of lies; A mention of a drowning; A mention of vomit; A mention of a pet cat that never returned one night;
*Note: Anika lost her hearing after having the typhoid fever and thinks of herself as broken; A child is concerned that he will be sent back to an orphanage; A woman comments on wishing she had a child; A mention of Anika receiving vaccine shots for traveling to America.
Sexual Content- N/A.
-Anika Bohdan, age 11
1st person P.O.V. of Anika
232 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I’ll fully admit—the cover completely caught my eye when I first heard about this book! It’s the perfect Middle-Grade cover and fits the story very well!
As far as the inside of the book, the writing style was a little abrupt and choppy at first, but I think that was maybe because we follow Anika’s first person POV and she doesn’t catch every word spoken (understandably so). Regardless, I quickly got into this story, caring for our main character, and hoping for everything to work out for Anika! It reminded me a bit of A Little Princess (perhaps because of the young girl missing her papa?) and also the American Girl books. The deaf representation was really interesting to read and so was the historical time period. I didn’t know anything about Ukraine in this time period, so as I was reading, I would often pause and research the setting, famine, and government ruler at that time. I think this could be an interesting read for readers wanting a look at this time period of Ukrainian history, but not wanting it to be too heavy for a young reader.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
February 26, 2026
3.7 stars (4/10 hearts). Before we start, can we just admire the cover, please? And the inside illustrations and formatting are almost as pretty. The other thing that instantly interested me in this book was that the MC was both a Ukrainian immigrant and Deaf. Although familiar with ASL and the Deaf community, I'm not very familiar with the history, so I appreciated seeing Anika's POV and especially how reading lips left her with fragments of speech instead of full sentences. The story is very fast-paced and full of characters, and although it naturally took place much more in America than Ukraine, I appreciated seeing that country during the 1930s and the slight
A Little Princess
reimagining. Overall, a solid middle-grade.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
March 4, 2026
⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. 🗝️ ... ✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ
3.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
This was a very sweet book to read! As a ASL student in my high school I was really excited to read this book! I’ve been trying to find other fiction books that have the main character(s) apart of the ASL or deaf community so when I learned about this book I was so excited to get the arc!
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
The story was very sweet and I liked the FMC although she was a little haphazardous at times 😅 and the dog was also really sweet too. If I were to give some constructive criticism for this book, there wouldn’t be much but I personally found it hard to read as a signer who is taught when writing ASL to write in lexonized format: for example in English you would write “I want to eat food” while in ASL writing you would say “eat food, me want/need”. Also I think it needed a small subplot to add a little bit more urgency to the story. Other than that I really enjoyed the book and will be recommending it to one of my younger irl friends to get them to start reading the historical fiction genre! And again thank you so much to the author for sharing this wonderful story! Highly recommend for everyone new to the historical fiction genre! 𓂃🪶
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙮 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙
⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. 🗝️ ... ✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ
3.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
This was a very sweet book to read! As a ASL student in my high school I was really excited to read this book! I’ve been trying to find other fiction books that have the main character(s) apart of the ASL or deaf community so when I learned about this book I was so excited to get the arc!
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
The story was very sweet and I liked the FMC although she was a little haphazardous at times 😅 and the dog was also really sweet too. If I were to give some constructive criticism for this book, there wouldn’t be much but I personally found it hard to read as a signer who is taught when writing ASL to write in lexonized format: for example in English you would write “I want to eat food” while in ASL writing you would say “eat food, me want/need”. Also I think it needed a small subplot to add a little bit more urgency to the story. Other than that I really enjoyed the book and will be recommending it to one of my younger irl friends to get them to start reading the historical fiction genre! And again thank you so much to the author for sharing this wonderful story! Highly recommend for everyone new to the historical fiction genre! 𓂃🪶
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙮 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙
⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. 🗝️ ... ✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ
May 12, 2026
Such a sweet story! I loved the history in it and the little girl was so precious! There were some very sad parts but I loved it so much! Definitely going to get my little sisters to read this!
April 4, 2026
This is my favorite of McLat's writings, thus far! It is just so sweet and has such a raw emotion woven beautifully into it. I've always had a fascination for stories about deaf or blind people and how they overcome. Anika's deafness is written so well you sort of forget what sounds must be going on in the city, which was really quite cleverly written. Plus, I really liked the 30s era setting as well as learning about Ukraine's history. There is so much in here that I was not aware of and now I'm curious...
Anika is a sweet girl, and Iryna is my absolute favorite. Sniff. Oh, and of course, Lev. :)
It has the best of endings, which made me tear up twice as it just yanked my heart strings so strongly.
Highly satisfying historical fiction for young readers, that can be enjoyed by all ages! (just as a good book should).
Spoiler quote**
"Everyone turned, and for the first time in months, I saw my name on his lips. "Anika!""
Anika is a sweet girl, and Iryna is my absolute favorite. Sniff. Oh, and of course, Lev. :)
It has the best of endings, which made me tear up twice as it just yanked my heart strings so strongly.
Highly satisfying historical fiction for young readers, that can be enjoyed by all ages! (just as a good book should).
Spoiler quote**
"Everyone turned, and for the first time in months, I saw my name on his lips. "Anika!""
March 2, 2026
Update 4/30/26 - can’t wait for my paperback copy to arrive tomorrow!!! 😄
Five well deserved stars! (I’d give it more if I could 🥺)
I just finished binging this, I didn’t realize what time it was (oops 😅) and I have to finish homework but this book was amazing. It was so well written, the emotion, the genuine feelings behind this just come through so clearly, and I’m so honored that I was chosen to be an arc reader for this book! 🫶🏻
Five well deserved stars! (I’d give it more if I could 🥺)
I just finished binging this, I didn’t realize what time it was (oops 😅) and I have to finish homework but this book was amazing. It was so well written, the emotion, the genuine feelings behind this just come through so clearly, and I’m so honored that I was chosen to be an arc reader for this book! 🫶🏻
April 10, 2026
“Exhilaration coursed through my veins. We were finally leaving for America.”
“The green lady is called ‘Statue of Liberty’. I learned she represents freedom and justice. They put a new light system for the flame. You’ll see her welcome you and Iryna when you come.”
First of all, I want to thank the author for giving me an eBook ARC copy!!!
Second, this is my first long-ish review so bear with me. 😅
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Language- None at all
Sexual content- None at all
Trigger warnings- mentions of grief and the loss of loved ones.
I was super excited getting into this book and I had high hopes! My hopes were definitely met and I enjoyed this book so much!! The story is so sweet!
Something that I loved and appreciated was the way the author described different scenes in such good detail but didn’t go overboard. I really like when authors do that because it helps to paint the picture in my mind and I can see and understand everything SO much better!
“The sun broke through thick clouds, casting rays over the little hump-like hills. We went through more evergreen forest, hitting bumpy trails, surrounded by pebbles and stark rocks layered with snow.”
I liked Anika a lot and her doggie (Lev) was adorable! 🥰
I will say that Anika being deaf made it a little harder to understand in the beginning because she wasn’t able to catch a full sentence. For example, instead of understanding a sentence like “You should go play outside” she could only catch “You… play… outside.” But she was deaf so it honestly just made the story more realistic. The writing was a little choppy at times but that is my only complaint.
The ending was so sweet and I was holding back the tears 🥹🥹🥹
I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend this book! The author did an AMAZING job!!
This is an honest review of the ARC.
“The green lady is called ‘Statue of Liberty’. I learned she represents freedom and justice. They put a new light system for the flame. You’ll see her welcome you and Iryna when you come.”
First of all, I want to thank the author for giving me an eBook ARC copy!!!
Second, this is my first long-ish review so bear with me. 😅
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Language- None at all
Sexual content- None at all
Trigger warnings- mentions of grief and the loss of loved ones.
I was super excited getting into this book and I had high hopes! My hopes were definitely met and I enjoyed this book so much!! The story is so sweet!
Something that I loved and appreciated was the way the author described different scenes in such good detail but didn’t go overboard. I really like when authors do that because it helps to paint the picture in my mind and I can see and understand everything SO much better!
“The sun broke through thick clouds, casting rays over the little hump-like hills. We went through more evergreen forest, hitting bumpy trails, surrounded by pebbles and stark rocks layered with snow.”
I liked Anika a lot and her doggie (Lev) was adorable! 🥰
I will say that Anika being deaf made it a little harder to understand in the beginning because she wasn’t able to catch a full sentence. For example, instead of understanding a sentence like “You should go play outside” she could only catch “You… play… outside.” But she was deaf so it honestly just made the story more realistic. The writing was a little choppy at times but that is my only complaint.
The ending was so sweet and I was holding back the tears 🥹🥹🥹
I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend this book! The author did an AMAZING job!!
This is an honest review of the ARC.
April 1, 2026
“The Silent Journey” by Havelah McLat
🫶🏼It is one of the most thrilling, touching, powerful, and compelling middle-grade stories I’ve read recently.
The Plot:
🦮We follow an eleven-year-old girl named Anika. She escapes her homeland and sets out for the USA—New York City, Manhattan—with one hope: to reunite with her dad. She is deaf, alone, and barely speaks English. If she fails, she risks losing her father forever. This is where the story truly begins to unfold.
The Writing Style:
🫶🏼I’ve read all of Havelah McLat’s published books and loved them all. This one is no exception. If I hadn’t had any distractions, I would have read it in one sitting. It’s fast-paced, full of twists, very cleverly written, and enlightening, drawing on many fascinating historical details. This touching middle-grade story is filled with both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, tense turns, and vivid scenes. The book is rich in small details that make it feel alive and atmospheric.
The Characters:
🫶🏼Havelah McLat is a master at creating memorable characters who stay with you long after you finish the book. Each one is thoughtfully crafted and well-developed. I felt a strong emotional connection to all of them, especially the main character. To me, Anika is a strong young heroine—a little girl with a big heart who, against all odds, holds on to her inner light, strength, and empathy for those around her.
🫶🏼Favorite quote: “Deaf would always be deaf.”
🤌Would I read other books by this author? Absolutely!
🌟My rating: 5.5/5
🌟P.S. I gave this book my highest rating because it is a true gem for me. This middle-grade story, with a subtle historical layer, is deeper than it may seem at first. It is powerful, meaningful, and timeless. I’m sure it will have a long life, reaching new readers who will worry about Anika and keep their fingers crossed for her to find her dad.
🙏🏼I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this wonderful novella as much as I did.
🫶🏼The book is available on Amazon.
🙏🏼Thank you for stopping by and reading this post!
📖Stay safe, take care, and happy reading! ✨
🫶🏼It is one of the most thrilling, touching, powerful, and compelling middle-grade stories I’ve read recently.
The Plot:
🦮We follow an eleven-year-old girl named Anika. She escapes her homeland and sets out for the USA—New York City, Manhattan—with one hope: to reunite with her dad. She is deaf, alone, and barely speaks English. If she fails, she risks losing her father forever. This is where the story truly begins to unfold.
The Writing Style:
🫶🏼I’ve read all of Havelah McLat’s published books and loved them all. This one is no exception. If I hadn’t had any distractions, I would have read it in one sitting. It’s fast-paced, full of twists, very cleverly written, and enlightening, drawing on many fascinating historical details. This touching middle-grade story is filled with both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, tense turns, and vivid scenes. The book is rich in small details that make it feel alive and atmospheric.
The Characters:
🫶🏼Havelah McLat is a master at creating memorable characters who stay with you long after you finish the book. Each one is thoughtfully crafted and well-developed. I felt a strong emotional connection to all of them, especially the main character. To me, Anika is a strong young heroine—a little girl with a big heart who, against all odds, holds on to her inner light, strength, and empathy for those around her.
🫶🏼Favorite quote: “Deaf would always be deaf.”
🤌Would I read other books by this author? Absolutely!
🌟My rating: 5.5/5
🌟P.S. I gave this book my highest rating because it is a true gem for me. This middle-grade story, with a subtle historical layer, is deeper than it may seem at first. It is powerful, meaningful, and timeless. I’m sure it will have a long life, reaching new readers who will worry about Anika and keep their fingers crossed for her to find her dad.
🙏🏼I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this wonderful novella as much as I did.
🫶🏼The book is available on Amazon.
🙏🏼Thank you for stopping by and reading this post!
📖Stay safe, take care, and happy reading! ✨
October 1, 2026
𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜: The Silent Journey
𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣: Havelah McLat
ℙ𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕤: 220
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖: none
𝕊𝕨𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘: none
“𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤𝕟’𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕟, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥 𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕥 𝕞𝕖. 𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕪 𝕡𝕒𝕡𝕒’𝕤 𝕧𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖.”
Have you ever read a book and the title seems to fit absolutely perfect with the story? That’s this book. The more I read, the more the title just perfectly fit the book.
This wasn’t even an emotional book but for some reason, I still wanted to cry. I wanted to cry for the little girl who missed her father. For the girl who struggled to cope and fit in with others. For the girl who longed to be able to hear.
I love how her dad encouraged her to be the best of herself, no matter what others said about her. She was different and it made her insecure, but her dad kept pushing her and encouraging her to be confident. He was so supportive and the reason she was able to live life and not be completely torn down was because of his support and love💕💕
Although Anika was basically alone and had so much going wrong, she still kept a positive attitude. She stayed strong.
“𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕓𝕠𝕪”
First impressions always seem to be the worst.
I knew I always liked this kid though. Deep down, he had a caring heart and he showed that when he helped Anika.
Him and Anika were more alike the more you got to know him. It was sweet 🤎
I love the connection between Anika and Lev. Although he is a dog, the way they became buddies made my heart so happy.
𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕠𝕕𝕠𝕣𝕒—>
If I could step into a book and hug a character, it would be her. I loved Theodora so much. She didn’t know Anika at all yet she took her in when she saw that she needed a place to stay. She helped her with her journey of finding her papa ☺️
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ♡ ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙥𝙮:) 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣!
𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣: Havelah McLat
ℙ𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕤: 220
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖: none
𝕊𝕨𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘: none
“𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤𝕟’𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕟, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥 𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕥 𝕞𝕖. 𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕪 𝕡𝕒𝕡𝕒’𝕤 𝕧𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖.”
Have you ever read a book and the title seems to fit absolutely perfect with the story? That’s this book. The more I read, the more the title just perfectly fit the book.
This wasn’t even an emotional book but for some reason, I still wanted to cry. I wanted to cry for the little girl who missed her father. For the girl who struggled to cope and fit in with others. For the girl who longed to be able to hear.
I love how her dad encouraged her to be the best of herself, no matter what others said about her. She was different and it made her insecure, but her dad kept pushing her and encouraging her to be confident. He was so supportive and the reason she was able to live life and not be completely torn down was because of his support and love💕💕
Although Anika was basically alone and had so much going wrong, she still kept a positive attitude. She stayed strong.
“𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕓𝕠𝕪”
First impressions always seem to be the worst.
I knew I always liked this kid though. Deep down, he had a caring heart and he showed that when he helped Anika.
Him and Anika were more alike the more you got to know him. It was sweet 🤎
I love the connection between Anika and Lev. Although he is a dog, the way they became buddies made my heart so happy.
𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕠𝕕𝕠𝕣𝕒—>
If I could step into a book and hug a character, it would be her. I loved Theodora so much. She didn’t know Anika at all yet she took her in when she saw that she needed a place to stay. She helped her with her journey of finding her papa ☺️
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ♡ ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙥𝙮:) 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣!
April 16, 2026
Oh my word, it is such a stunning book! The characters, the story, the themes of family and belonging…it’s absolutely beautiful.
Anika is such a sweet, hopeful girl. Her inner strength and dreams; her kindness and joy even in the hardest of times; her love for her family and her tenderness to her dog; her courage throughout her journey and the way she brings light to everyone around her…it truly is powerful. With every page I turned I got to see more and more of this kind, thoughtful girl, and I fell in love with her within the first few words.
And the other characters-where to start? Loving Tato, caring Iryna, king Theodora, generous Leon & Natasha, sweet Fern, hopeful Rolf, brave Prescott, and, of course, the delightful, sweet, silly, protective Lev. (Lev was the sweetest dog companion ever!!! I fell totally and completely in love with his goofy charm and brave love.)
The story was exciting and full of twists and turns, kind people and moments of loneliness, exciting adventures and family found in the most unexpected of places.
The themes belonging, hope, and family forged through struggles and dreams added a deeper layer of beauty into an already remarkable story!
I cannot recommend The Silent Journey enough! I hope you read it and love it as much as I did! ❤
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my rating or review.
Anika is such a sweet, hopeful girl. Her inner strength and dreams; her kindness and joy even in the hardest of times; her love for her family and her tenderness to her dog; her courage throughout her journey and the way she brings light to everyone around her…it truly is powerful. With every page I turned I got to see more and more of this kind, thoughtful girl, and I fell in love with her within the first few words.
And the other characters-where to start? Loving Tato, caring Iryna, king Theodora, generous Leon & Natasha, sweet Fern, hopeful Rolf, brave Prescott, and, of course, the delightful, sweet, silly, protective Lev. (Lev was the sweetest dog companion ever!!! I fell totally and completely in love with his goofy charm and brave love.)
The story was exciting and full of twists and turns, kind people and moments of loneliness, exciting adventures and family found in the most unexpected of places.
The themes belonging, hope, and family forged through struggles and dreams added a deeper layer of beauty into an already remarkable story!
I cannot recommend The Silent Journey enough! I hope you read it and love it as much as I did! ❤
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my rating or review.
March 5, 2026
Heartfelt. Inspiring. Triumphant.
These are the three words that I would choose to describe The Silent Journey. Heartfelt, because Anika Bohdan is such a tender hearted child that must undergo trials that no human beings should! Inspiring, because although these said trials should have broken Anika’s spirit, she persevered through them all without fail. Triumphant, because her determination and resilience lead her to finding something worth more than gold.
Although this novel is a tear jerker, it’s truly a must read!
10/10 highly recommend!
These are the three words that I would choose to describe The Silent Journey. Heartfelt, because Anika Bohdan is such a tender hearted child that must undergo trials that no human beings should! Inspiring, because although these said trials should have broken Anika’s spirit, she persevered through them all without fail. Triumphant, because her determination and resilience lead her to finding something worth more than gold.
Although this novel is a tear jerker, it’s truly a must read!
10/10 highly recommend!
March 22, 2026
the ending 🥹🥹 rtc! (in like 2 or 3 days probably)
April 7, 2026
The Silent Journey is a heartfelt historical fiction perfect for middle school readers. McLat does a wonderful job of drawing readers in while treating the protagonist, Anika—a deaf Ukrainian girl—with care and sensitivity.
One of the most compelling aspects that stood out to me was the author's use of dialogue. By occasionally omitting words to reflect how Anika read lips, this made the reading experience immersive and helped me better understand her perspective. I thought a lot about how hard it would be to learn one language for reading lips (Anika's native Ukrainian), and then going to America and having to adapt to another. It deepened her characterization and underscored her resilience.
I think this book would be a great addition to classrooms and libraries, particularly in discussions of early 1930s immigration to America and the experience of leaving behind life under Stalin's rule in Ukraine.
One of the most compelling aspects that stood out to me was the author's use of dialogue. By occasionally omitting words to reflect how Anika read lips, this made the reading experience immersive and helped me better understand her perspective. I thought a lot about how hard it would be to learn one language for reading lips (Anika's native Ukrainian), and then going to America and having to adapt to another. It deepened her characterization and underscored her resilience.
I think this book would be a great addition to classrooms and libraries, particularly in discussions of early 1930s immigration to America and the experience of leaving behind life under Stalin's rule in Ukraine.
October 12, 2026
An unfamiliar city is a lot to take in at eleven, especially when the person you came to find is nowhere in sight. The Silent Journey by Havelah McLat follows Anika, a young Deaf girl who leaves Ukraine in 1932, hoping to reunite with her father in America. Her search through Manhattan brings encounters with strangers and the companionship of a stray dog named Lev. Beneath that adventure is a wish any child could understand: finding someone familiar in a place where everything is strange.
As someone who grew up relying on lipreading, I have a personal connection to the uncertainty at the center of this premise. Catching a few words and understanding what someone means are two very different things. Anika has to navigate that uncertainty while also facing an unfamiliar language and separation from her father. Her story offers an opening for readers to consider how much a child must piece together when the people around her take communication for granted.
For me, there is a larger conversation here about what it means to meet a Deaf person halfway. Patience matters, but so does making the effort to communicate instead of leaving someone to guess. That is something I hope readers carry into their own encounters, long after Anika’s journey ends.
As someone who grew up relying on lipreading, I have a personal connection to the uncertainty at the center of this premise. Catching a few words and understanding what someone means are two very different things. Anika has to navigate that uncertainty while also facing an unfamiliar language and separation from her father. Her story offers an opening for readers to consider how much a child must piece together when the people around her take communication for granted.
For me, there is a larger conversation here about what it means to meet a Deaf person halfway. Patience matters, but so does making the effort to communicate instead of leaving someone to guess. That is something I hope readers carry into their own encounters, long after Anika’s journey ends.
February 24, 2026
This book pulled at my heart.
Reading from the point of view of a deaf eleven year old girl crossing the ocean alone to find her papa was so sweet and emotional. Anika is brave and kind, and it is impossible not to want good things for her. Watching her navigate a brand new country, barely knowing the language, relying on her own strength and the kindness of strangers really got to me.
Some of her adventures were a little scary from a mom point of view, but in a way that kept me turning pages because I needed to know she would be okay. I loved seeing the world through her eyes and how determined she was to never give up on her papa.
This is a beautiful, heartfelt story about courage, hope, and finding your voice. Such a great pick for this age group and honestly a lovely read for adults too.
Thank you to the author for the ARC ebook. These thoughts are my own.
Reading from the point of view of a deaf eleven year old girl crossing the ocean alone to find her papa was so sweet and emotional. Anika is brave and kind, and it is impossible not to want good things for her. Watching her navigate a brand new country, barely knowing the language, relying on her own strength and the kindness of strangers really got to me.
Some of her adventures were a little scary from a mom point of view, but in a way that kept me turning pages because I needed to know she would be okay. I loved seeing the world through her eyes and how determined she was to never give up on her papa.
This is a beautiful, heartfelt story about courage, hope, and finding your voice. Such a great pick for this age group and honestly a lovely read for adults too.
Thank you to the author for the ARC ebook. These thoughts are my own.
March 2, 2026
Such a sweet tender story about a deaf young girls and how she accomplishes an incredible journey to find her father. I love how the writer tells the story for the girls point of view, seeing a world through the vale of a foreign deaf child. Such an incredible story perspective. The author does an excellent job at capturing the historical setting in the story and bringing to life a distant reality of the past. I found her ability to draw the reader along in the young girls journey and frame the reality of the world she was trying to understand through the kindness of people and their generosity to help others, despite their own personal struggles. Cannot recommend this book enough.
April 4, 2026
It’s always nice to see deaf representation in books, whether they’re for kids, adults, or somewhere in between—and The Silent Journey really gets it right.
Anika is a great main character. She navigates her deafness with a lot of creativity and growing confidence, and I liked how independent and focused she is. She doesn’t back down from challenges, which made her easy to root for.
I also enjoyed the period setting. The details about Ukrainian culture and food added a lot without feeling heavy. Overall, it was a really solid, wholesome story, and I found myself genuinely hoping she’d reach her goals by the end.
Anika is a great main character. She navigates her deafness with a lot of creativity and growing confidence, and I liked how independent and focused she is. She doesn’t back down from challenges, which made her easy to root for.
I also enjoyed the period setting. The details about Ukrainian culture and food added a lot without feeling heavy. Overall, it was a really solid, wholesome story, and I found myself genuinely hoping she’d reach her goals by the end.
January 24, 2026
The Silent Journey by Havelah quietly packs an emotional punch, telling the story of a young immigrant girl, Anika, who must grow up fast in an unfamiliar world. Her story is told with heart and care, exploring the hardship, hope, and bravery it takes to start over.
February 27, 2026
I went into The Silent Journey not realizing that it was written for a middle school audience, which definitely shaped my reading experience. Once I understood that, a lot of the tone and structure made more sense.
The story itself carries a meaningful message and has heart. There are thoughtful themes woven throughout, and I can see how younger readers would connect with the characters and the emotional journey they experience. The core ideas feel important and accessible for the intended age group.
That said, I found the English to be somewhat choppy at times, and the writing didn’t always read as smoothly as I would have liked. Some transitions and phrasing pulled me out of the story, making it harder to fully immerse myself. As an adult reader, I was hoping for a bit more flow and polish in the prose.
Overall, I would give this book three stars. While it wasn’t quite the right fit for me stylistically, I think it could resonate well with middle school readers who are looking for a story with meaningful themes and an approachable voice.
The story itself carries a meaningful message and has heart. There are thoughtful themes woven throughout, and I can see how younger readers would connect with the characters and the emotional journey they experience. The core ideas feel important and accessible for the intended age group.
That said, I found the English to be somewhat choppy at times, and the writing didn’t always read as smoothly as I would have liked. Some transitions and phrasing pulled me out of the story, making it harder to fully immerse myself. As an adult reader, I was hoping for a bit more flow and polish in the prose.
Overall, I would give this book three stars. While it wasn’t quite the right fit for me stylistically, I think it could resonate well with middle school readers who are looking for a story with meaningful themes and an approachable voice.
March 27, 2026
A lovely middle grade novel about immigrating to the U. S. under less-than-ideal circumstances. I enjoyed following Anika (and Lev) as she searched for her father.
February 23, 2026
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The story of Anika is one that will really pull on the heartstrings. It is a tale of love, loss, hope, strength, determination, new friends and family.
It touches on the political, social and economical situations of the early 1930's that the book is set in. However, this is done in an age appropriate way, for children age 8+ to understand.
We learn that Anika has been deaf since the age of two as a result of illness. Throughout the book the speech is shown in fractured sentences, to show how Anika views the speech when she is lip-reading. I thought this really helped the reader to understand how confusing and often scary some situations could be for Anika.
I loved that found family aspect of the story, from Iryna stepping into the grandparent role, to the friends who became family during the journey.
A lovely book to read.
The story of Anika is one that will really pull on the heartstrings. It is a tale of love, loss, hope, strength, determination, new friends and family.
It touches on the political, social and economical situations of the early 1930's that the book is set in. However, this is done in an age appropriate way, for children age 8+ to understand.
We learn that Anika has been deaf since the age of two as a result of illness. Throughout the book the speech is shown in fractured sentences, to show how Anika views the speech when she is lip-reading. I thought this really helped the reader to understand how confusing and often scary some situations could be for Anika.
I loved that found family aspect of the story, from Iryna stepping into the grandparent role, to the friends who became family during the journey.
A lovely book to read.
April 30, 2026
Heartfelt and hopeful. This adventure keeps you hooked from beginning to end. I loved the protagonist, a deaf Ukrainian girl. This was handled delicately and with sensitivity. A great Middle grade read.
March 14, 2026
Overall, this was such a sweet, heartwarming middle-grade read!! I love historical fiction and this one did not disappoint! The story follows 11-year-old Anika, who is deaf and flees Ukraine to find her father, her Tato, in Manhattan, New York. The author's writing style is lovely, and while I do think a few parts and transitions could've been smoothened out a bit, it really does draw you into the story, and I found some of the descriptions (especially in the beginning) lovely.
For some reason, I utterly adored that and actually recorded some more quotes in my journal. 😅 And Lev, the dog, is such a brilliant animal companion and is such a good friend to Anika!
Overall, this is a wonderful middle-grade book! It is a bit simpler, compared to other historical fiction books I've read, and I did sometimes wish it was longer, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I'd highly recommend it to any middle-grader who is looking to get into historical fiction, especially for fans of Not Lucille by Mike Steele.
Official, Longer Blog Review TK.
A flock of blackbirds caught my attention, souring in the azure sky. I wanted to be like them. To fly free and find my Tato. To be together again.
For some reason, I utterly adored that and actually recorded some more quotes in my journal. 😅 And Lev, the dog, is such a brilliant animal companion and is such a good friend to Anika!
Overall, this is a wonderful middle-grade book! It is a bit simpler, compared to other historical fiction books I've read, and I did sometimes wish it was longer, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I'd highly recommend it to any middle-grader who is looking to get into historical fiction, especially for fans of Not Lucille by Mike Steele.
Official, Longer Blog Review TK.
March 21, 2026
I’m an ARC reader for Havelah McLat’s The Silent Journey, and as I read it, I wished my daughter was still the historical fiction loving tween. This would have been right up her alley. Anika was a lovely character with courage and resilience beyond her years. She is empathetic and kind; a character everyone would root for as she searches for her Tato in New York City. She never finds herself defeated as she struggles to find her way as a deaf newcomer tween, and along the way, she collects a dog and the love of all the strangers she meets. It’s a true found family story, and an uplifting read for tweens.
March 5, 2026
This story is very touching. I especially enjoyed geting to hear what is like to be deaf. I like that the author included the father's encouragement to not let herself be bulied. I love how she is determine to find her tato despite her fears. Adding a loyal companion to the story especialy with her disability was a great idea. This story resembles my theme of overcoming limitations. It makes me smile to listen to other books with disabled characters as The MC. Thank You for the ARC.
March 23, 2026
This is a story about a deaf girl who makes her way to America. She goes through many troubles before she finds her HEA. She endures losses and makes her way to the other side in the end. The writing is a little bit choppy but it doesn’t take away from the plot. You may find yourself wanting to explore the FMC’s original country history, it is sad and fascinating.
April 1, 2026
This is such a wonderful middle grade novel. It truly is reminiscent of the book (or movie) A Little Princess. And, it does a wonderful job of showing history from the perspective of immigrants coming to America.
Havelah also does a wonderful job with the deaf representation in her main character. It is displayed so well in an understandable way througho both the dialogue and storyline.
There is so much packed into this short book! If you read it with your middle grade child, make sure to use the discussion questions included!
Havelah also does a wonderful job with the deaf representation in her main character. It is displayed so well in an understandable way througho both the dialogue and storyline.
There is so much packed into this short book! If you read it with your middle grade child, make sure to use the discussion questions included!
July 16, 2026
Sweet, heartfelt story, but a lot to process. Historical, but also a bit of a fairy-tale w/ all the calamities and coincidences. Nice characters, but just a bit more editing might produce a smoother read.
September 7, 2026
The Silent Journey is the story of eleven-year-old Anika, a deaf girl who travels from Ukraine to America with her guardian, Iryna, to reunite with her father, Danylo Bohdan. Her journey is one filled with obstacles, surprises, grief, happiness, and above all, an earnest longing to be reunited with a loved one. After losing Iryna in Manhattan, Anika finds herself alone in a bustling city, but she refuses to give up hope. Armed with a fierce determination to find her dad, she accepted the help of a kind woman, Theodora, and found a stray dog, which became her pet dog Lev. Will her hope be enough to lead her to a reunion with her dad or will she lose her father without ever finding him?
Opinion:
The Silent Journey is a captivating story that I enjoyed. Havelah McLat writes in a unique yet beautiful way, creatively weaving the experiences of a deaf girl into an engaging storyline. The story focuses not only on Anika's physical journey but also on her thoughts, struggles, longing, feelings of inadequacy, fears, and doubts. This made it more than just a story; it was an emotional one.
I think the characters are well developed. Anika is a smart and optimistic young girl who navigates being deaf while searching for her father alone. She longs to belong, wants friends, and misses her best friend, Mila, who left her while she and her guardian were still in Ukraine. She struggles to be seen and heard and wishes she could be like other children who can hear without having to rely on lip-reading. Despite her difficult experiences as a deaf girl, she continues to push forward.
Iryna is another character I particularly like. She is calm, firm, steady, and devoted to Anika. She loves and cares for her and remains unwavering in her faith in God despite the government's vehement opposition to it. She is like the mother Anika never had. Theodora is a kind woman Anika meets in Manhattan. She is loving and caring, helping Anika and taking good care of her and Lev before Anika continues her search for her father.
The use of several Ukrainian words throughout the story portray its cultural theme, yet these words are easy to understand from the context. I also found the author's note touching. The author stated that although she was inspired by a real person in the creation of the character Anika, she also put a bit of herself into the character. However, the fun facts at the end amazed me even more. The fun facts stated that the story had real historical events like the government that ruled in Ukraine at the time, the 1930s, is the same mentioned in the story which was set in the same time period. Reading them made me realize just how much of the story was rooted in reality. It felt like history beautifully blended with fiction.
One aspect I did not particularly enjoy was the frequent movement back into Anika's memories. Although these moments provide insight into her past and emotions, I felt that the transitions could have been smoother. Overall, however, The Silent Journey is an emotional and engaging story about hope, love, and the determination to find someone you deeply care about. I recommend it to young readers who enjoy historical fiction and emotional journeys.
Opinion:
The Silent Journey is a captivating story that I enjoyed. Havelah McLat writes in a unique yet beautiful way, creatively weaving the experiences of a deaf girl into an engaging storyline. The story focuses not only on Anika's physical journey but also on her thoughts, struggles, longing, feelings of inadequacy, fears, and doubts. This made it more than just a story; it was an emotional one.
I think the characters are well developed. Anika is a smart and optimistic young girl who navigates being deaf while searching for her father alone. She longs to belong, wants friends, and misses her best friend, Mila, who left her while she and her guardian were still in Ukraine. She struggles to be seen and heard and wishes she could be like other children who can hear without having to rely on lip-reading. Despite her difficult experiences as a deaf girl, she continues to push forward.
Iryna is another character I particularly like. She is calm, firm, steady, and devoted to Anika. She loves and cares for her and remains unwavering in her faith in God despite the government's vehement opposition to it. She is like the mother Anika never had. Theodora is a kind woman Anika meets in Manhattan. She is loving and caring, helping Anika and taking good care of her and Lev before Anika continues her search for her father.
The use of several Ukrainian words throughout the story portray its cultural theme, yet these words are easy to understand from the context. I also found the author's note touching. The author stated that although she was inspired by a real person in the creation of the character Anika, she also put a bit of herself into the character. However, the fun facts at the end amazed me even more. The fun facts stated that the story had real historical events like the government that ruled in Ukraine at the time, the 1930s, is the same mentioned in the story which was set in the same time period. Reading them made me realize just how much of the story was rooted in reality. It felt like history beautifully blended with fiction.
One aspect I did not particularly enjoy was the frequent movement back into Anika's memories. Although these moments provide insight into her past and emotions, I felt that the transitions could have been smoother. Overall, however, The Silent Journey is an emotional and engaging story about hope, love, and the determination to find someone you deeply care about. I recommend it to young readers who enjoy historical fiction and emotional journeys.
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