Eight years old in 1943, Lida is forced to grow up quickly. She lost her father to the Soviets, and her mother was shot by the Nazis for hiding a Jewish family. Lida blames herself for giving information to a Nazi woman, which resulted in the death of her grandmother and allowed the Germans capture her and Larissa. Lida is the oldest surviving member of her family and takes responsibility for protecting her sister. The cruelty and degradation that Lida endures in Nazi captivity would break a stronger adult, but Lida knows she must survive for Larissa’s sake. Lida treasures her Ukrainian heritage and does not understand why both the Nazis and the Soviets deny the existence of Ukraine.

Lida’s bravery shows in her strength of mind, her physical courage, her fierce determination, and her perseverance. Lida’s deep love for her family, evident in her happy childhood memories, fuels Lida’s hopes and dreams. Although the cruelties she experiences in captivity cause the loss of Lida’s childhood innocence, throughout her ordeals, Lida never loses her humanity, moral center, or sense of self. While Lida focuses on keeping herself useful so that she can find Larissa, Lida selflessly helps her fellow prisoners. She stands up for others, like Marika, and risks death to sabotage Nazi

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