About Them Days

“This heartfelt story grabs the reader from the very start and doesn’t let go. Fans of historical fiction are in for a treat.” –The Prairies Book Review

Sofiya is the third consecutive girl born on a poor Ukrainian immigrant homestead near Gimli, Manitoba in 1903. She is bright and feisty but nothing more is expected of her than to be a domestic, and at age thirteen she is sent to be a maid to a wealthy family in Winnipeg. There, she experiences the condescension of the English towards the ‘Bohunks’, while her half-brother is interned during WW1, deemed an enemy alien.

While the Great War is raging in Europe, an undeclared war between the classes is being fought at home. This conflict comes to a head in the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 when the working classes rise up against their English masters, shut down the city and demand a better deal. The city is divided and everyone must choose a side.

Them Days takes you on Sofiya’s journey, as she discovers what it means to be an immigrant and a woman, struggling to find love and her identity – at the same time that Canada is breaking free from Mother England’s apron strings.

Milan Cuc

2022-05-21

Them Days: Deeply satisfying and inspirational read "When I'm in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like," said Jane Fonda. This book provides a vivid account of the contribution of a generation of Ukrainian immigrants to the creation of this magnificent country. Backed by painstaking historical research, the story is told through the eyes of a girl who is coming of age in the WWI era and continues over the first half of the 20th century. Her coming of age is mirrored by the development of Manitoba, her province, and of Canada, her country. The author documents how the Ukrainian community overcame the hardships it faced on the new continent, including social discrimination. Its courage in the face of adversity, hard work and communal solidarity helped create a modern Canada known for its tolerance and vibrant multiculturalism. Using the format of a novel presented through the eyes of a female character--a composite of actual persons the author knew--creates an emotional pull that makes the book a deeply satisfying read. Inspirational. Five stars.

CM Ramirez

2022-05-17

Them Days: Very enjoyable and informative about a little known history via a family’s experience I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Smooth flowing prose and a captivating narrative make it easy to read and although fiction, the detail and well researched historical background tell a history I knew little about. I felt I came to know the characters as people whom I appreciated having the opportunity to know. I appreciated the gems of wisdom about life and the poignant attitudes about family, hardship, and fate. Not just good story telling but a chance to be acquainted with a certain time and a people’s experience in turn of the 20th century Manitoba.

Publication Date

April 22, 2022

Pages

332

ISBN-10

0228878438

About Them Days

Publication Date

Pages

ISBN-10

Now Available

Canadian Book Publishing

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