deep and who knows how all this experience will evolve and root in every Ukrainian, despite the geographical location.” Oksana hopes that the English translation of Silent Night, My Astronaut brings some of that reality to new audiences, giving people the chance to think more deeply about conflict and the effects it has on ordinary lives. She says: “The most fulfilling response might be to discuss seriously the Russian war in Ukraine and how it destroys children’s lives, as well as think how parents and kids can actively support Ukraine today (spreading the word, bringing the books into the local library and classroom library, making donations, welcoming kids from Ukraine…). “Also, it is important to think that Great Britain was in the war and to talk how it influenced the generations. I believe it will create a strong connection, or bridges, between kids in UK and kids in Ukraine.”


As well as raising awareness, the book is also raising funds to help children through the Voices for Children charity. A percentage of proceeds from sales will be donated to the charity and Oksana will be taking part in readings and workshops with children. “This is a charity organisation that focuses on psychological, educational and recreational support to children in Ukraine who suffer from war,” says Oksana. “A lot of my colleagues in Ukraine cooperate with it as well. It is highly-regarded and a strong- missioned organisation. Their website is https://voices.org.ua/en/ so you can see how many wonderful things they are doing trying to meet the daily needs of Ukrainian kids.” Having originally written the book in 2022, very little was changed before publication as Oksana was keen to keep the rawness of the moment alive. She says that translating the story brought a slightly different feel to the story, revealing: “I wrote


a story in a handwritten way in my notepad. It was a kind of an emotional diary for myself, but with the voice of the child. Then I retyped the story almost without changes. And after that I translated it into English.


“Both Ukrainian and English versions are rather authentic and represent my raw experience. I did not do a lot to ‘polish’ the story. However, of course, when reading the story in English with children I feel as if it creates more distance than the experience of reading the story in Ukrainian. The original language still sounds very emotional to me and still takes me back to February and March 2022.” From living through history and a contemporary account of the start of the war, Oksana is now looking further back into Ukraine’s history for inspiration. She reveals that she is working on a new book, saying: “My future children’s book has the title Unforgotten Fairy Tale, it is about collectivisation (1928-1933) in Ukraine, portraying the cruelty of the USSR. It was a time when people were robbed of their farmland and small businesses. “For example, my great-grandpa from one side of the family owned a flour mill. It was huge for that time. The great- grandparents from the other side of the family owned a huge piece of land, where they grew crops. They were robbed of everything, some of them were called the enemy of people and their lives were destroyed literally. It is difficult to find the right way to tell such uneasy history for children aged around eight, but I am managing it.


“I am also working on manuscripts about a Ukrainian girl learning to read in English, while being away from her native country, and a few silly picture books to help my Ukrainian readers have some good laughs.” PEN&INC


Autumn-Winter 2024


PEN&INC. 19


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