Harper
The Sunflower Boys
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A poignant coming-of-age story with the sensitivity and haunting power of What Belongs to You and Swimming in the Dark, about a young boy wrestling with his sexuality as war breaks out in modern Ukraine.
In many ways, twelve-year-old Artem's life in Chernihiv, Ukraine, is normal. He spends his days helping on his grandfather's sunflower farm, drawing in his sketchbook--a treasured gift from his father, who works in America--and swimming in the river with his little brother, Yuri. In secret, Artem has begun wrestling with romantic feelings for his best friend, Viktor. In a country where love between two boys is unthinkable, Artem has begun to worry that growing up, his life will never be normal.
Then, on a February night, Artem and Yuri are woken by explosions--the beginning of a war that will tear their life in two. The invading Russians destroy their home, killing their mother and grandfather, and leaving young Artem and Yuri to fend for themselves. Fleeing in hopes of somehow reuniting with their father, the brothers traverse the country their ancestors once fought and died for, with nothing but their backpacks and each other. Surrounded by death and destruction, Artem is certain of one thing--that whatever may come, he must keep himself and his brother alive.
A harrowing and gorgeous tale of love, identity, lost innocence, and survival set in a time of devastating war, The Sunflower Boys is a powerful, heartrending exploration of young queer love, the Ukrainian spirit, and a family's struggle to survive.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780063418226
EAN:
9780063418226
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
352
Authors:
Sam Wachman
Publisher:
Harper
Published Date: 2025-12-08
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ARC REVIEWWelp. I'm gonna need a minute. What a devistatingly beautiful read!Twelve year old Artem lives in Chernihiv, Ukraine with his mother and little brother, Yuri. Just as we're getting a real taste for his life with his best friend (and secret crush) Viktor, Chernihiv is bombed by Russia and Artem must protect his brother as they travel across their war-torn country alone.Heartfelt, tragic, full of grief and showcasing an enduring brotherly love, this book had me sobbing with the knowledge that, while fiction, the realities of the devistation in Ukraine is all too real.Don't expect a happy ending wrapped in a neat little bow. War isn't like that. And coming out on the other side for anyone, especially young children, is messy and traumatic. But this book does show us that love endures even as families break and reform.Sam Wachman depicts it all with aching beauty and still manages to embue us with hope. This one a must-read. I'll carrying Artem and Yuri in my heart for a long time.I received this ARC from publisher @harperbooks. The opinions are my own.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a deeply moving coming of age story and I absolutely loved Artem. As he navigates his own sexuality and copes with war in his country, his story is filled with lust and hope. This book terrified me at times and made me tear up with pride at others. A mix of survival, sadness, love, and pushing on when nothing seems certain and safe. The storytelling is so beautiful the way it flows and I felt like I was right there while it all happened. An absolute must read!
