Before They're Gone

A stolen child. A desperate search. The quiet heroes determined to save him.

An unforgettable debut novel of love, loss, and the fierce hope that survives even in exile.

When Russian bombs begin to fall on Mariupol, Mariya's only thought is to keep her children safe. But when nine-year-old Sasha vanishes amid the chaos, her world collapses. With her daughter, Anastasya, growing dangerously ill, Mariya faces an impossible choice: stay and search for Sasha in a city under siege-or get Anastasya the lifesaving care she needs and trust others to find her son.

From the relative safety of a Polish border town, Mariya continues her desperate search for Sasha through underground networks of Ukrainian and Russian civic activists working to recover the thousands of children abducted from Ukraine. Meanwhile, in a so-called "youth rehabilitation camp" in Crimea, Sasha clings to memories of his mother and sister as he navigates a world of forced obedience, silenced identities, and sudden disappearances. His only hope lies with Peter-a young Russian man risking everything to defy his government from within.

Told in alternating voices, Before They're Gone is a powerful, character-driven novel about family, courage, and the quiet heroism of those who refuse to let war erase what matters most. Inspired by actual events, this gripping story explores the devastating toll the ongoing war is having on Ukrainian children and the resilience of those determined to bring them home.