Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Absorbing, haunting story of surviving historic tragedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE LOST YEAR tells the story of how 13-year-old Matthew, living in New Jersey in 2020, learns about his family history going back to the early 1930s. Matthew, his mom, and his great-grandma, whom he calls GG, are sheltering in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to keep Matthew from spending too much time on his gaming console, his mom makes him help GG sort through boxes of her belongings. But it's clear from the start that the boxes hold painful memories that GG doesn't want to revisit. Skipping back and forth between Matthew and his ancestors Helen and Mila, who were about Matthew's age in 1932, GG's incredible story of survival unfolds, and her most painful truth finally comes to light.
Is It Any Good?
This is an absorbing, haunting, and moving story about tragic events that many readers may not have known about. But The Lost Year handles the sadness, grief, and tragedy gracefully. Author Katherine Marsh doesn't shy away from the strong feelings, but she doesn't dwell on them for too long, either.
The three tween narrators and the large cast of characters, from 1930s Kyiv and Brooklyn to 2020s New Jersey, are all believable and easy to root for. It also provides a lot of food for thought, not just about the tragedy itself but about other important issues like journalism, family, stories, survival, and more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the real-life tragedies in The Lost Year. Did you know anything about this historical events? How did it make you feel? What can you do to feel better?
What do Helen and Matthew learn about journalism? Why is it important? Why are reliable sources important?
Do you remember when we had to stay home all the time because of the Covid-19 pandemic? How did you cope? Do Matthew's feelings and the ways he handles them seem realistic to you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : January 17, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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