Born in 1903 on a homestead in Manitoba, Sofiya is the third-born daughter of a poor Ukrainian immigrant family. Expected to work, at thirteen-years-old, Sofiya is sent to work as a maid for a wealthy English family in Winnipeg, where she experiences firsthand how prejudiced Canadian society really is.

While the first world war raged in Europe, a different type of war was being waged between the social classes in Canada. Ukrainian-Canadian men are arrested without charges and thrown into labor camps across the country. After the war, unemployment was high, and many workers were unable to make ends meet. Food and housing were near impossible to afford, and among the hardest hit were working-class immigrants. The continuous buildup of anger and resentment led to the largest strike in Canadian history.

As Sofiya navigates through this new and complicated world and its harsh political climate, she must figure out what her views are. Most importantly, she must find meaning in her own identity as an immigrant and as a woman of the twentieth century.

Them Days is a historical fiction novel by Canadian author Glenn P. Booth set in the early 1900s in Winnipeg, Canada. This well-researched novel depicts the harsh life of immigrants and the discrimination and prejudice they face in their day-to-day lives. The story follows the life of Ukrainian immigrant Sofiya, a young girl who´s bright, spirited, and enthusiastic about experiencing life to the fullest, which for her may sometimes include a harsh and difficult path. With her strong and positive character, she faces these obstacles in stride, and as the story progresses, the reader will witness her development as a person.

This coming-of-age story is narrated through the main character’s perspective. It is incredibly interesting and provides an accurate description of early twentieth-century Canada and its social situation. The narrative is captivating and makes a topic that may otherwise sound dull seem incredibly fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, the story flows beautifully, and the characters are very captivating. I suggest any historical fiction fan pick it up for an informative yet entertaining read.

Pages: 334 | ASIN : B09YNSK548