The Long Vacation

The Long Vacation by Alex Panasenko is his gripping account of World War II as seen through the eyes of a young boy. The story begins in October 1941 when 8-year-old Alex enters elementary school in Kharkov, Ukraine. Soon after, Hitler's invading army reaches the city. Alex witnesses the battle for the city and the ensuing starvation and execution of civilian hostages under German occupation. To save his family, Alex's father goes to work for the Germans as an agricultural research scientist. Wh