Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine

by Michael Cherkas

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin waged a brutal war against the Soviet peasantry leading to the Holodomor, the terror-famine that killed at least 4 million Ukrainians during the fall and winter of 1932-33. Red Harvest is based on the tragic events that took place in Soviet Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1933. Stalin and the ruling Communist Party began their program of forced large-scale collectivization of individual farms and farmers, including the seizure of livestock, farm implements, crops, seed stock, and other property. Red Harvest is the fictional story, based on true stories as related to the Ukranian-Canadian author, of Mykola Kovalenko, a Ukrainian immigrant to Canada, who was the only member of his family to have survived the famine. Through his memories, we witness the horrors of what happened to his family and fellow villagers in the “breadbasket of Europe” as they struggled—not only to make sense of the war that was being waged against them—but, ultimately, to survive.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Comics, Ukraine, Historical, Russia, Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became aware of the Ukrainian famine during college in the 1980s when Robert Conquest's The Harvest of Sorrow: Soviet Collectivization and the Terror-Famine was a text in one of my classes. We were delving into whether this man-made disaster was due to inept Soviet administration or a deliberate genocidal campaign. It's a question that I see is still being debated to this day, but I side with the Ukrainians and believe that Stalin and his fellow Soviets were out to kill as many Ukrainians as possible to secure Ukrainian land and resources for Russia, and Putin's current war is just another expression of the long-held Russian desire to possess Ukraine at any cost.

This moving dramatization gives an immediacy to the horror and suffering by following a single family through the ordeal.

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the late 1920s until the mid 1930s Soviet president and dictator Joseph Stalin waged an absolutely horrifying attack (an uncivil war) against the Soviet and in particular against the Ukrainian peasantry, and during the Holodomor, during Stalin's deliberately orchestrated famine during the fall and winter of 1932-1933, millions Ukrainians were deliberately starved to death by Joseph Stalin and because of specific and directly targeted Soviet policies.

Now Ukrainian-Canadian author and cartoonist Michael Cherkas' 2023 young adult graphic novel Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine is fictional (and with me considering Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine to be suitable for readers from about the age of fourteen or so onwards, albeit with the caveat and warning that many deaths from starvation, that brutal executions, murders, acts of cannibalism, people being forced to consume their pets, bugs, twigs and the like repeatedly but also absolutely necessarily appear textually as well as illustratively) with Cherkas' words and his comic-book black and white images stunningly and also with very much movement and emotionality recounting the hugely painful (often repressed) Holodomor memories and the recurring trauma induced nightmares of Mykola Kovalenko, of a Ukrainian immigrant to Canada and until the very last pages of Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine also believed to be the only member of his family to have survived the Holodomor (and which happily ends up not being true since Mykola meets his deceased sister Nadya's daughter Khrystina during a family trip from Canada to Ukraine to publicly but also to privately commemorate the famine and pay homage to Stalin's millions of innocent victims).

However Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine is also as per Michael Cherkas' excellent and enlightening introduction for Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine based on true stories related to him (eyewitness accounts of Holodomor survivors in Canada). And therefore, what Cherkas writes and draws in Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine is indeed very much historically accurate and authentic, is not fantasy, is not make-believe but represents the brutal reality of the Holodomor and of Joseph Stalin's genocidal attack on Ukraine as a country and the Ukrainians as a people, that through and with Mykola's depicted memories, we as readers and also as viewers (since Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine is of course a graphic novel) witness the horror and the pain of what happened to the Kovalenkos and Mykola's fellow villagers in the the so-called breadbasket of Europe (which Ukraine was known as due to their fertile soil) as they struggled to survive Stalin's (and Soviet) horror, bigotry, paranoia and deliberately planned and created genocide through starvation (and that what happened in one Ukrainian village, what happened in the Zelenyi Hai of Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine with its common Ukrainian name sadly and bien sûr occurred in thousands and thousands of Ukrainian villages from 1932 to 1933 during the Holodomor).

Using loose and generally unpretentious lines of text and illustrations which very nicely mirror and reflect each other descriptively delightfully but of course also emotionally and heartbreakingly, Michael Cherkas with and throughout Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine draws and describes vivid characters who radiate lots and lots of personality, and his scenes of rural Ukrainian life, traditions, food, and culture are well-researched and composed with much textual and pictorial affection (and not to mention that the expansive glossary for Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine is the icing on the cake for me). A story that totally encompasses the scope of the Holodomor and shows it as a genocide instigated and created by Joseph Stalin, an emotionally gripping account that shows both humanity and inhumanity, and yes, that my rating for Red Harvest: A Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine and for Cherkas' text and image combination is solidly five stars and very highly recommended.

[Zedsdead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Ukrainian-Canadian author's account of the Holodomor, the completely avoidable terror-famine of the early 1930s in Soviet Ukraine, as seen through the eyes of a fictional but representative farmer family. All farms were confiscated by the state in an ill-considered attempt to industrialize agriculture; the farming populace was exiled, executed, raped, and starved. True to form, the Stalin regime solved the famine crisis by declaring that it did not exist.

As grim as the depicted events are, there's a sweetness to the story. Over half the book is devoted to letting us get to know the family of protagonists, so that we understand the magnitude of what is lost. It's tragic but charming, and the ending that takes the family's story full circle is tender and happy. This is a surprisingly upbeat horrific-true-story.

[xenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genocide isn't always a sudden imposition of violence. Genocide can happen slowly, disintegrating the bonds of human relations over time, like the wasting of the body in hunger. The word slips into your mind only when it's over, when your spirit has become a ghost.

[Tatiana Zhandarmova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. Reading this, I couldn’t help but compare it to Igort’s notebooks. And, well, spoiler alert - it’s not the same. Cherkas’ Red Harvest focuses on the experience of a specific family within the Holodomor. From the beginning of the book, my heart ached and raged as the husband of the main character transforms into a ruthless enforcer of the kolkhoz. We see a family destroyed and the onset of starvation upon a single town.

While the characters and location may be specific, the experience is not. This novel gives a close & personal insight into some of the stories of Holodomor victims. It’s also artistically striking. The art style is very similar to Igort’s in his Notebooks; there’s a reason these artists chose messy and dark pen scribbles to portray these stories. I can’t imagine any other art style that may fit this dark time in history.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

An exceedingly (and appropriately) grim look at Soviet-induced famine in the Ukraine just prior to WWII. Not for the faint of heart - nor for those who desire a bit of story and character with their funeral dirge. It's just one bad thing after another with interchangeable tragic characters (and artwork that does no favors for telling anyone apart).

I guess I learned something, but a straight history would have been more impactful than this slog. Still well worth reading, of course, for the uninitiated, particularly as Russian aggression against Ukraine continues to this day.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be an excellent book when completed. Right now, it's about 30 pages shy of completion, and the last half is penciled in and awaits final inking. The artwork is stark and brooding and takes the injustices of collective farms and Russian treatment of Ukraine in the late 1920s/early 1930s and shoves it in your face and down your throat. I look forward to grabbing a copy when it's published.

Sincere thanks to Edelweiss, the author Michael Cherkas, and NBM Graphic Novels for the digital ARC.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly written and drawn. Starts with a brief note and glossary which are very helpful, and I appreciate the book opening with them instead of ending. I can struggle, especially with black and white graphic novels, to follow the characters, but Cherkas handled this very well. Not an easy story but so necessary. We must continue to tell these stories as personal stories or they will become statistics, vague generalities that happened elsewhere to other people in another time.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sad graphic novel retelling of a time in history that was forbidden to tell for decades. Very important reading.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed Red Harvest because I want to better understand the Holodomor, and I did feel like I got that and then some out of this stunning graphic novel.

The author and artist addresses in an introduction that the reason he chose the rough but detailed sketch style of the art is because it felt most appropriate for the story, and I completely agree with that. It isn't a typical preference for me, but I think it's beautifully done here and suits the story to perfection.

The introduction adds some welcome context overall, and it leads to an in-depth glossary that explains cultural and political terms and significantly relevant historical figures, as well as some Ukrainian words that are used throughout. This makes the read much smoother and means the story can avoid taking the time to explain things and keep up with the story.

The story is done in a dual timeline. There is a "present" day timeline in the year 2008, where the protagonist is an old man living on a farm in rural Ontario, Canada with his daughter, son in law, and grandson. These portions of the story rang incredibly true for me. My family is not Ukrainian, but they did come to Canada as refugees from Eastern Europe in the fifties, like the protagonist, and lived on a farm in rural Ontario. I grew up a short walk from them and was very close with them. I was often there before and after school, took the school bus to and from their house, and so on. While things that are unique to the Ukrainian experience, especially from a survivor of the Holodomor, are not things I specifically relate to beyond basic human empathy, there were many things in this 00s setting that reminded me of my childhood and my family. I think this probably added to my emotional connection with this book.

The historical timeline is obviously the predominant one. Set between 1927 and 1935, the story follows the protagonist and his family as we see the political situation unfold. We bear witness to the deliberate abuse and starvation inflicted upon Ukrainians by Soviet Russia. Some of the characters are skeptical from the start, others have complete faith in Soviet Russia and communism that is eroded by the treatment they endure, and others are only children who endure the horrific hand they are dealt. It is heartbreaking to read. While the ending has some positive notes, they remain bittersweet in the broader context, which is about the most anyone could hope for from such a story.

This is a beautiful historical fiction graphic novel that is well worth the read for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Holodomor through fiction. It is devastating, but necessarily so. I only wish it had been longer.

[Alexis]

Read for graphic novel club. This book tells the story about a Ukrainian village in the 1930s, and how the people endured collectivization, and Soviet rule. This caused a great famine known as Holomodor. I had never heard about this as a child, despite living in places with large Ukrainian populations. Apparently no one talked about it.

The illustrations in this book are great and it's a good way to learn about Holomodor.

[Wendy Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent depiction of the famine in the 1930s. I wasn't sure at first about the black and white cartoon style, but in the end I agree it was a great style choice.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows a family that is torn apart by the Holodomor. As a fictional story based on the genocide, the character choices certainly made sense. You really see how the family looks out for each other. This connects the reader to the characters and makes the devastation throughout the story all the more real and emotionally powerful. The scribbly art style is intentional and sets an emotional vibe for what's happening, but I had to reread the beginning to get a good sense of who is who since the art style is so wavy. I wasn't expecting a happy ending, but I appreciated the bit of hope and reckoning offered at the end.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harrowing exploration into the famine induced upon the Ukrainian population by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin that would lead to at least four million dead within a year. The term holodomor is a Ukrainian word for killing by starvation, which is an apt description for the terror-famine launched by the Soviet leadership upon their fiefs, and even until this day the famine is remembered by Ukrainians all around the world in observation to the devastation reaped upon them. The story here is told from the perspective of Mykola Kovalenko, an elderly Ukrainian refugee who settled in Canada and is appalled when his grandson complains about finishing his meals. Kovalenko details his life starting from the late 1920s until the time when the famine struck in 1932. The narrative touches on exactly what Stalin was planning and how it lead to the rapid starvation of millions of Ukrainians in such a short span of time. But famine wasn't the only threat as the Red Army clamped down hard on dissidents and sent them to labor camps where they would be worked to death.

The story as laid out here does an excellent job dictating the history whilst also retaining a strong ground-level perspective on the events. Cherkas bounces between Kovalenko's perspective and that of a descriptive narration explaining what exactly Stalin was trying to achieve. It's a genuinely infuriating tale of how malice and greed can be exacted upon a population with such monumental precision, and how even top-down stupidity can lead to disastrous conditions. It's an engaging read from start to finish, but will also leave you with a growing pit in your stomach as the book leans in hard into the effects of mass starvation.

Cherkas uses a sketchy style of artwork that looks almost rushed, but it's very effective and expressionistic overall. There's a simplicity to the scratchy lines that doesn't make the pages look overly busy, even if the hatching looks a little haphazardly applied. There's a sparseness that Cherkas leans into handily that makes the setting seem appropriately bleak and morose.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astute readers will recognize the themes that compelled George Orwell to write 1984. At the same time, this also gives strong insight into why the Ukrainians are fighting so hard to avoid Russian occupation. This story has plenty of heart underlying the bleak themes of mass starvation and desperation. It is not hard to find the parallels from Stalin's rule to Putin's.

Kolya is the only surviving member of his large Ukrainian family - all died in one way or other to Stalin's collectivization plans. Now elderly and living in Canada, he recounts the past horrors that haunt him: growing up in a prosperous faming village that was completely wiped out after 'voluntary' seizures of the farms and all their food taken to be sold and generate wealth for the soviet government (leaving them without enough to eat for themselves).

We see Kolya mostly as a young boy. His sister marries an idealistic man who supports the Bolsheviks, even at the expense of his Ukrainian homeland. When sister Nadya returns with her husband, they are there to enforce the 'voluntary' transfer of all farmlands to the Russian government, with anyone disagreeing to do so branded as traitors to the people and as greedy capitalists. As quotas steadily increase to beyond what people can produce, they are either sent into 'exile' (enforced labor camps in harsh climates where most died), shot, or starved to death. Most figures are in the millions of deaths - creating a strengthened Russia and a Ukraine so weakened, it could not stand up to Russian role.

The author touches on everything from corrupt officials, misguided idealism, the games of words to justify the mass murders, and the farms, religious leaders, and villagers caught in the middle. Each of Kolya's relatives die in different ways as direct consequences of Stalin's directives, leading poignancy to the story. It's a very good understanding of what is at stake right now in Ukraine.

The artwork is the classic "Dick Tracy" style - characters are easy to tell apart and the story not hard to follow at all. Most heartbreaking is to see all the traditional Ukrainian clothing throughout.

My advance reader copy was not quite finished, with sparse initial linework at the end. All the same, we know how the story does end, unfortunately, and certainly more people around the world should know better of the stakes right now in Ukraine. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally review books where I did not get to view the full thing, but here I was just a chapter or two shy of the end. And having been to Ukraine multiple times it's only my duty to flag this up as a vital read. This tells of the disastrous plans of Stalin to thrust Bolshevism on the Ukraine breadbasket, putting people in charge of collective farms that knew nothing about farming, and causing the starvation, deliberately or otherwise, of millions. Seed grain was robbed from people that were 'not Soviet enough', meaning nothing could replace the crops also taken for the 'common' 'good'.

An aged quiz book I looked at recently asked which country had the largest farms, and if its answer was correct then the USSR had larger farms than any Texas ranch or Australian establishment. And pretty soon they were a desert, yielding nothing. This is a fictional version, as we watch an elderly gent, in Canada, reflect with the help of an heirloom family photo, but that takes nothing away from the importance of knowing about this. I don't think Putin has added any spice to this – this narrative of criminally inept and murderous policies is rich enough, especially as we see it play out, and divide a family and village alike. Told solely in well-hatched black ink on white, the style does not make all the men stand out as well as it might, but shows a memory for our old survivor that could never continue to have any colour. Potentially, when finally complete, a strong four stars.

[Allan Olley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of one family's experience in the Ukraine famine in 1932 during the Soviet drive to collectivize agriculture. It is told as a flashbacks by the sole survivor who is now an old man in 2006 Canada preparing to return to Ukraine for the 1st time since 1950. It begins with the last good year before the famine and shows various developments as friends and family members end up on various sides in various conflicts as events unfold. There is less a plot than a grim unfolding of disaster in various vignettes.

This is an evocative and moving and also at times harrowing. The story is an amalgamation of various accounts and ideas and not the tale of any one survivor or real community. Some of the developments are a bit cliche: the eldest daughter in the family marries a local man with aspirations in for the Soviet cause and government and they return to the village to head the local collectivization efforts. However well worn these sorts of developments are well executed and portray the tensions one may discern in Soviet history, I think, with some human depth. The rough heavily lined sketch art style conveys the grim mood and seriousness of the proceedings.

I am no expert on the history of the famine or the lifestyle and language of the Ukrainian farmers depicted here, but the events seemed plausible and the characters convincingly drawn. The printed copy I own is well made and free of obvious defect or misprints.

[Eric Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between 1932 and 1933, millions of Ukrainians died as a result of famine. The Holodomor Genocide causes was a direct result of Stalin’s Soviet Union’s collectivization of small private farms. //Red Harvest// is the story of one family’s struggles during these chaotic times in the heart of the Ukrainian Breadbasket. Mykola’s nightmares haunt him. But as he plans to return to Ukraine to remember such a tragic episode in history, Mykola finds a family picture from his childhood, triggering the memories that make up his story of survival.

Red Harvest by author and artist Micheal Cherkas is a historical graphic novel about the Holodomor Genocide. As a Ukrainian growing up in Ontario, Canada, Cherkas was interested in the area’s history, including the darker episodes. He tells his story through the memories of a child growing up during that time. Working with only black and white, Cherkas portrays the tragedy and helplessness felt by millions of people at that time. The Holodomor Genocide is little known by many outside the Ukrainian community. With the recent war of Russia once again trying to force its dominance on the area, this is a crucial reminder of not letting history repeat itself.

this review was originally published at https://losangelesbookreview.com/revi...

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject matter of this book is tragic, and something I have been rather ignorant of. Michael Cherkas presents one Ukrainian family's story of how the creation of collective farms in the early 1930s destroyed their family and their community in the Holodomor.

The author doesn't delve into all of the causes of the famine, such as possible effects of the weather. Several prominent main causes were shown. The exiling of farmers reluctant to be forced into the collectives led to a loss of agricultural knowledge. Issues of incompetence and corruption with outside Soviet officials with no agricultural knowledge were also shown. It seemed like this was a situation were fealty to the party line superseded any technical skill in administration large farms. The grain quotas for exports were mentioned tangentially, and that struck me as having similarities to the Irish Potato Famine a century before. In both cases, the famine lands were exporting food, but with the population being political underclasses, they were viewed as very disposable by the power structure.

The author explained his art choice of things appearing like hasty draft sketches. I didn't like the art personally, but appreciated the reasoning behind that approach.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Cherkas mentions in the beginning about finding the right illustrative approach to tell the story in images, I think he did a fine job. The tone of the story is so deeply connected to how he decided to approach it and I think it emerged as a compliment and element of how the story was told.

Based on fact, it's shared as a historical fiction graphic novel depicting the Holodomor over the course of more than a generation as a saccharine moment at the end brings the book full circle in a bittersweet way. To understand the struggles, the danger, the famine is one thing but to also humanize the willful destruction is another. Provided in the story is a family to follow and highlighting the atrocious behavior of the political regime and cooperation of a military to destroy lives including the vivid panels about what women did to feed their family.

A necessary read to continue to share more about what was hidden for so long.

"Translated from Ukranian, the term Holodomor ('killing by starvation' or 'death by hunger') refers to the starvation of millions of Ukrainians in 1932-33 as a direct result of the policies of the Communist Party and the Soviet state which targeted the Ukrainian peasantry. The Holodomore is commemorated each year on the fourth Saturday of November."

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the Holodomor, the Ukrainian famine from the early 30s - a term I was unfamiliar with before reading this book - and its effects on a single family. It begins with an older man returning to the Ukraine after nearly 80s having escaped the horrors of that time and reliving the experience.

We see his family's prosperity brought to ruin by the Socialist agenda of the Soviet era. Many do not realize it, but the famine was largely artificial. There was plenty of food being produced, but it was all being shipped away and sold in foreign markets, while those who produced it were starved, exiled, and shot for trivial reasons. It shows the horror of total government control, the incompetence of bureaucrats with no responsibility to the people they are supposed to serve, and the evil of political rhetoric overriding humanity and common sense.

I have been a fan of Michael Cherkas since picking up an issue of his indie comic The Silent Invasion and he has always been able to fill his pages with a humanity that underlies the tragedy of their surroundings. I loved this book, the art is top notch, and it is an excellent introduction to a terrible time in human history.

[Danny Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wanted to read a story of the Holodomor told from the point of view of the farmers, not because I enjoy reading about suffering but because I wanted some understanding of what it was like for human beings to come up against the blunt instrument of Bolshevism. This story did not disappoint.

The drawing is beautiful. Lots of light and shadow. Simple lines. Cherkas mentions in the introduction that he wanted the art style to look like something that was smuggled out of the Soviet Union - samizdat-style. I think he succeeded.

When I was younger and much more naive I thought things like the Ukranian famine were confined wholly to the past. Not until the world events of the past decade have I realized just how fragile democracy is. It requires constant vigilance and maintenance. It's all too easy to slide into fascism or other forms of totalitarian government based on promises given to us by ignorant strongmen "leaders" who hate us while courting our support, loyalty, money, and property. Once they have what they need from us, we are disposable.

[Jake M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compact, personalized depiction of the Holodomor in the graphic novel format. The horrific effects of famine throughout a tiny village are explored through the memories of a man thought to be the only survivor in his family. Red Harvest is an important effort to increase awareness about the Ukrainian national experience over the last century. That said, this title should only serve as an introduction to this expansive topic. The writing includes some forced exposition which detaches the reader from the intimate misery at hand, and the visualizations lack variation, making it difficult to distinguish characters. Red Harvest is a solid pick for budding historians in the middle school and high school age brackets.

[Bonnie Brzozowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

What people endured during this famine is just horrific and the loss of life staggering. This graphic novel is really well-drawn and tells a captivating, harrowing, fictionalized story of one family's experience. The author used rough pencil and pen sketches that suited the content really well. The story is a good example of the lengths people in power will sometimes go (and have gone!) to control, cover up, and manipulate situations that are impacting the poorest of us and/or those with the least power. It also made me think more about what folks currently in Ukraine are likely experiencing, and the ways history repeats itself over and over. This book broke my heart, but I'm glad I read it.

[Audrey Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both an informative and heart-wrenching read. This graphic novel is technically historical fiction, but it depicts the very true horrific reality of the famine in 1930s Soviet Ukraine.

The rough, sketchy art style at times made it difficult to decipher exactly what was happening in a scene, but it definitely fits the tone and subject matter of the story. And though the art is simple, so much emotion is present on the faces of the characters.

I liked that this book takes the time to flesh out the characters and let the reader get to know them, making the events of the narrative feel more intimate and personal. And though the story is filled with tragedy, it ends on a hopeful note.

A great read.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️

I start by stating I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am very appreciative I did.

This story/history is one that I was not very familiar with before reading this novel. The author did a great job of educating the reader on the history through approachable and emotional ties to the humanity of the people who lived through this tumultuous time. I love the art style and the way it felt so genuine to the story. It feels like your grandfather is drawing as he explains your family’s history to make sure you get the full comprehension of the events.

Please read the content warnings.

[Ags · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational and sad; both short/sometimes-rushed and dense.

I had some trouble keeping the characters straight. It was sometimes difficult to see what was going on due to the sketchy and sometimes dark, convoluted art style.

I really appreciated Nadya's development, and the depiction of her trying to turn around and do good for the village despite the sexual and domestic abuse she faced. Her story was a good example of a woman being complicit when her powerful husband is doing harm, and then being trapped/limited but still attempting to work for social change.

[Uuttu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sarjakuva kertoo Venäjän aiheuttamasta nälänhädästä Ukrainassa.

Tämä oli ihan ok, mutta olisi voinut olla paljon parempikin. Tarina etenee selkeästi, mutta henkilöitä on liikaa, että heistä onnistuisi pitämään kirjaa. Tässä ei myöskään ole lopulta hirveästi tietoa: en ole holodomoriin tutustunut kuin muutaman lehtijutun kautta, mutta tämä ei tuntunut kuitenkaan tarjoavan mitään uutta.

Jos nälänhädästä ei ole koskaan kuullut, tästä sarjakuvasta saa perustiedot aiheesta, mutta se voi olla myös haastava tapa saada lisätietoa.

[K De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Cherkas' graphic novel "Red Harvest: A novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine" is a accurate depiction of Josef Stalin's deliberate use of famine as a weapon to commit genocide of a entire culture. The creator follows the family of a prosperous farmer before the Holodomor event. This is an excellent introduction into why Ukraine is fighting for its life against the illegal war by Putin's Russia. The story and artwork are excellent. Well worth reading about how history affects current events in the world.

[Sara Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many others I had not heard of the terror famine in 1930s Soviet Ukraine before reading this book. As a graphic novel, it made for a quick read while being informative. It's sad to hear what so many people had to suffer through, and I am grateful for the ones that survived. We never know how strong we are until we are forced to live through something as horrible as this. I am now even more thankful for all that I have, thank you.