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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Based on his real-life experiences with a patient, Aliya, The Girl From Ukraine is a moving story about a young woman's journey of self-discovery by Jaime Grunfled, LMHC. The book follows a young Tatar woman from Crimea whose life turned upside down when Russian forces invaded her homeland in 2014. Just 15 back then, Aliya Karimov witnessed the atrocities of the Russians first-hand, using indoctrination of the Crimean populace in their schools and everyday lives. Despite her mother's objections, she left the country and arrived in Poland to work as a concierge at a hotel in Zamość, where she met psychoanalyst Dr. Nicholas Von Ryan. A year later, Aliya meets him at his New York office. During the sessions, Aliya opens up to him about her trauma, fears, guilt, and prevailing melancholia that hinder her from moving on.
Aliya, The Girl From Ukraine is a powerful story about human resilience and the will to live life to its fullest. Author Jaime Grunfeld, LMHC, was inspired by his sessions with an actual patient and uses it to tell a beautifully heartbreaking story of a Ukranian refugee seeking political asylum in the United States. The narrative focuses on Dr. Von Ryan and Aliya's sessions, where Aliya reveals her story bit by bit, and it showcases the impact of war and its larger ramifications on families and young people who are robbed of their best years. It is almost cathartic to read about Aliya's breakthrough as she comes to terms with her own trauma and her tumultuous relationship with her mother. Aliya, The Girl From Ukraine is an emotionally rich story that offers a poignant perspective on the human experience. Highly recommended.
