Gr 9 Up—Brown chronicles the Russian army’s 2022 invasion and capture of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The
black-and-white illustrations bring the city’s devastation to life, while the story shines a light on the horrors people
experienced while trying to survive the relentless Russian attacks

This is the perfect book for a person who is unfamiliar with the war in Ukraine but who is trying to grasp what it is like for people in Ukraine who are currently enduring the ongoing war crimes. Highly accurate but also basic. It doesn't get into story, but is a straightforward account that lends itself well to a graphic illustration approach. Mariupol was ground zero for the Russia's war crimes, so focusing on just this city was a good choice. ( )

"A war diary" is the perfect format for this part of a story that's still unfolding, as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues. A two-page prologue gives background and context, a map provides a helpful visual aid, and each section is dated (day of the week, month/day/year). Quotes are from a variety of sources; the effect is similar to theater in the round, without a single main character: readers hear from presidents, soldiers, but most of all civilians. Back matter includes an afterword, source notes, and a selected bibliography. Illustrations are sketched in grayscale, with enough detail to convey a powerful effect without being overly gory; explosions are both blurry and sharp. ( )

A grim reminder of the evil Russia has perpetrated in Ukraine and the need for the United States to continue its support of the Ukrainian people and their nation.

Side note: Despite the word "diary" in the title, this is not a personal account of the invasion and siege but rather draws on eyewitness accounts from an extensive series of new reports noted in the back. ( )

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary is a young adult graphic novel about the war in Ukraine, especially focusing on the siege of Mariupol between February 2022 - May 2022.

I’ve been trying to make sure to read books I find about the war in Ukraine. It’s not something that I keep up on within the news daily (truth be told, I try to stay away from the daily news in general), but I don’t want it to be something where I find out years and years later what happened or what it was like.

At first I was a little put off by the art style. I like my graphic novel reads to be full of color and usually bright palettes. But, the pen and ink art in this novel goes amazing with the setting of urgency, the brutalities and horrors of war, and the human spirit during such cases.

This is an important read, especially to the Young Adult audience it is aimed at as it gives a lot of information that, alongside the illustrations and art, can be used as a valuable resource to tell those about the war in Ukraine in a way that is more visual and memorable. ( )