Bullies and Borscht

By M P Fedunkiw

In 1934, just after Mary Bendiak finishes Grade 3, her father dies. After the funeral, her mother Hanya, a Ukrainian immigrant, moves the family from Windsor to Toronto where Mary and her younger sisters must deal with poverty, making new friends, and being bullied by kids who call the Bendiak sisters 'dirty honkys' as they walk to school.

Growing up, each sister must face her own challenges. At fifteen, Mary leaves school to support the family after her mother becomes ill. And later, Mary is forced to choose between her family and the man she loves. Teenaged Julia is ashamed about being Ukrainian and rebels. And Lily, the youngest, endures an unimaginable assault at the hands of a lodger. As a series of tragedies strike, will the sisters come together to save their mother and themselves?

Inspired by true events, Bullies and Borscht is a historical young adult novel following the adventures, sorrows, and triumphs of growing up Ukrainian in Toronto during the Great Depression and World War II. Rich with historical and cultural details, this coming-of-age story is perfect for fans of Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch and Ruta Sepetys.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1038369487
• ISBN13: 9781038369482
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: FriesenPress
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary