Traitor

By Amanda McCrina

Book Overview

Amanda McCrina's Traitor is a tightly woven YA thrill ride exploring political conflict, deep-seated prejudice, and the terror of living in a world where betrayal is a matter of life or death.

"Alive with detail and vivid with insight, Traitor is an effortlessly immersive account of a shocking and little-known moment in the turbulent history of Poland and Ukraine--and ironically, a piercing and bittersweet story of unflinching loyalty. I think Tolya has left my heart a little damaged forever." --Elizabeth Wein, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Code Name Verity and The Enigma Game

Poland, 1944. After the Soviet liberation of Lw?w from Germany, the city remains a battleground between resistance fighters and insurgent armies, its loyalties torn between Poland and Ukraine.

Seventeen-year-old Tolya Korolenko is half Ukrainian, half Polish, and he joined the Soviet Red Army to keep himself alive and fed. When he not-quite-accidentally shoots his unit's political officer in the street, he's rescued by a squad of Ukrainian freedom fighters. They might have saved him, but Tolya doesn't trust them. He especially doesn't trust Solovey, the squad's war-scarred young leader, who has plenty of secrets of his own.

Then a betrayal sends them both on the run. And in a city where loyalty comes second to self-preservation, a traitor can be an enemy or a savior--or sometimes both.

This title has common core connections.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374313520
• ISBN13: 9780374313524
• Release Date: August 2020
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.3" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 12 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 7 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Poland and Ukraine During world war ll

This story takes place in the Ukraine and Poland. Both countries are battle worn as are the people, after trying to survive invasions by both Russia and Germany. As if that is not enough..within the two countries.. the Resistance Fighters and The Insurgent Armies are still having battles within both countries with each other. We are introduced to two young boys, Tolya, and Solovey, both 17, and fighting to just stay alive. As the story unfolds it takes you from current situations in their lives, backwards to when they were younger and how it all started ...by the sides they have taken, the vengeance's they carry trying to right the wrong, for the lives of their parents they have both lost. Both their lives come together as Tolya is rescued by Solovey's Freedom Fighters, after he is on the run for killing a political officer in his unit. Solovey and his fighters need the superior marksmanship of Tolya to kill an enemy of Solovey, who also carries his own demons and secrets of the war. It is a very well written story, and heartbreaking to read how both boys are still so young, have seen and experienced so much personal loss, and both constantly on the run, because of the deep routed culture prejudices that both the Polish and Ukrainian people have against each other. They live in terror daily.. of being caught, tortured, and executed. Who's both loyalty can be seen as an enemy to some.. or as a savior...or even both. Their deception is the only way to survive and keep them alive !! I liked the story, as it was so very different from all the other war stories, it was touching..to the point of being sad and sorry for what these young souls have lived through and experienced..At first I was alittle confused when they brought in Solovey's character...but as you read on, it melds the story together, and makes perfect sense. It all comes together that they needed each other, but still had deep doubts about trusting one another to the very end. With out a doubt it was interesting on a different level..and I was absolutely glad I read it.. though I wished the ending could have been alittle more precise...it leaves you wondering, and I couldn't help feeling so heartbroken for Tolya, who steals a piece of your heart, as both boys do truthfully.