{"product_id":"the-little-ukrainian-by-dick-enz-9781543956962","title":"The Little Ukrainian","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Ukraine during World War II, a father sends his young son to live with his brother and his wife. Shortly thereafter, the father joins the partisans in the East, while his brother, wife, and the boy proceed West with the retreating Germans. Along the way, the boy is forced to fend for himself as his aunt and uncle pursue various jobs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey eventually arrive in Berlin, where they work helping a flower and vegetable grower amidst frequent bombings and much suspense. After about a year, the Russians enter Berlin, and the war ends. The aunt, uncle, and boy prepare to return to their homeland—but the boy does not want to go. On their journey East, he escapes, returning to the flower grower, who is reluctant to have the boy back for fear of Russian retaliation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter several days without the appearance of Russians, life returns to normal. Soon, the boy is enrolled in a German school and excels. After a few years, the flower grower receives a letter, supposedly from the boy's father, asking for the boy's return. The flower grower and the boy decide to ignore the letter. Another letter appears and is treated similarly. A month later, two men arrive to inquire about the boy, who is fortunately at school—this scenario repeats several times. Fed up, the flower grower and his wife contact the authorities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne day, a woman and a man meet the boy, identifying themselves as being from the district government. To prevent Russian kidnapping, he must accompany the woman immediately, without saying goodbye to anyone. Within a couple of weeks, the boy is smuggled out of Berlin on an American Army train. After two weeks in a displaced persons' refugee camp in Hanau, West Germany, the boy is taken to the International Refugee Organisation (IRO) Children's Village in Bad Aibling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis case worker explains that he cannot live in the children's village forever. The boy expresses his desire to go to the United States, but the case worker states her job is to return him to his parents. For any other plans, consent from his father is required—something the boy doubts he'll receive. He asks a girl who knows Polish to write a letter seeking permission to emigrate to the United States. To the boy's surprise, his father grants permission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the necessary vetting, the boy is sent to an American family in Wisconsin and begins life in the United States. He graduates high school in the Wisconsin Dells, studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and participates in the marching bands of both schools. Despite these achievements, he still feels like a foreigner. His dream is to become a full-fledged American.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOnce he has been in the United States for five years, he applies for naturalisation. Four months later, he becomes an American citizen. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in physics from UW, he earns a master’s degree in physics from North Carolina State University. Serving in the Air Force, he marries and receives orders to report to the Defence Atomic Support Agency—the successor to the Manhattan Project—at the Pentagon. After fathering a son and daughter, he retires from his job as an Air Force subcontractor and moves to Florida, where he now enjoys watching his grandchildren grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Little Ukrainian\u003c\/em\u003e is a poignant tale of resilience, identity, and the quest for belonging amidst displacement and the aftermath of war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46846471569644,"sku":"9781543956962","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/19562393482737.jpg?v=1758910458","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/the-little-ukrainian-by-dick-enz-9781543956962","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}