The Armenian genocide is a little known, tragic part of history that is important to be shared.  Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch tells the tale of a family who is torn apart by the horror of genocide.  Nobody’s Child is a companion to The Hunger expanding on the story of the grandmother’s experience in Turkey.

The story begins with a family travelling together, seeking employment.  When Marta and Mariam are orphaned by the massacre they travel with their friend Kevork, who has also experienced great loss, to find the girls remaining family.  Their grandmother and aunt care for them but resources are tight and the children avail themselves of the opportunity for education by staying in a nearby orphanage where it is thought that children will be safe.

Unfortunately, they are not as safe as they had hoped.  Marta, dressed as a boy, and Kevork are taken to the desert and forced to travel in circles watching Armenians die of starvation, thirst and abuse while they survived on raisons and limited rations.  They end up separated while Mariam avoids the desert but is taken from the orphanage to be sold.  The three independently strive to be reunited.

Like Skrypuch’s other historical, young adult fiction, she tells stories that need to be told.  Information about the Armenian genocide is limited and the author has done a great deal of research to weave a story that is important for everyone to read.  Although her target audience is young adults, the young and old will enjoy her storytelling as they learn the terrible experiences of the past.

This novel is headed out the the Franklin Street Little Free Library and is ready to be borrowed and enjoyed!  Thanks again, Marsha, for your generous donation!