The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine

Thirteen-year-old Matthew is stuck at home during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. He plays his favorite video game, Zelda, and ignores his mom when she repeatedly tells him to turn the game off. Finally he tells her he has already finished his schoolwork. His school went online a month ago, and Matthew hasn’t been able to leave the house or see his friends. Mom has been worried about keeping his 100-year-old great-grandmother, GG, or Nadiya, from getting sick ever since she took her out of the nursing home to live with them. Mom comes in and takes Matthew’s controller, insisting he spend some time outside. Matthew argues with her, but she demands that he stay outside while GG naps and she grocery shops.

Mom takes a break from her magazine editing job, puts on her mask and gloves, and leaves. Matthew trudges outside, wishing he could go to Dad’s house. However, Dad is stuck in Paris. He works in journalism and hasn’t been able to come home since the borders closed. Matthew digs around in the garage, finds his and Dad’s baseball mitts, and remembers hanging out in Prospect Park together. Then, he finds Dad’s old Bow of Light and starts pretending to be in Zelda.