A fascinating story of the displaced persons’ experience in Canada and a touching memoir. In Standing with Underdogs, Raya, David’s aunt, tells how perseverance and endurance helped save his grandparents and their children in a time of war and displacement. While relating his own story, David shows how those attributes, along with human decency and love of family, have been guiding principles in his life.
Elizabeth Irvine, Ottawa
An excellent book sharing an inspiring journey.
Gary Waterfield, Perth, Ontario
It was very easy to absorb and digest, which says something about your writing style — open and honest storytelling, with lightness and humour. I appreciated you sharing some of your very personal stories, especially about your relationships with your family members, and their character/behaviour/temperaments. I think so many people will enjoy this book.
Laura Wardlaw, Ottawa
“Described as a “universal story”, Standing with Underdogs is certainly one I can relate to as a child of Latvian immigrants who likely arrived at the same Halifax pier as David’s relatives. The family values (hard work, neatness, honesty, and a love of songs, books, food—always food) are utterly familiar, as are the tensions (the leather strap for misbehaving and fathers who both liberated and tormented their children). These similarities are not surprising. After all, there is much that Latvians and Ukranians share in terms of culture and geography. And history with Russia, of course…
Whatever your roots, I encourage you to read this book to find resonances and points of intersection. I expect you will find many, and that you will be surprised. It is after all, our common ground that gives us a place to begin the conversations that are so needed at this point in our global history.
Dr. Rena Upitis, Founding Director, Wintergreen Studios
Professor Emerita, Queen’s University
“An inspirational saga of Ukrainian migrant history recovered by David as it begins to repeat itself; but also reminding us of what plucky, driven people can achieve, not least David in his Green political and writing career.”
Nicholas Armour, London, England
A beautifully crafted story that is above all a gathering of family memories and events, but one that transcends the personal to engage the reader in a journey that speaks to a broader experience. The story of one family’s journey through war and exodus, migration and settling, integration and identity building is reflective of similar journeys undertaken by so many of us who are “transplants”. I was immediately drawn into the stories recounted by David’s aunt Raya: childhood memories of fleeing war with her parents and brother, creating a new life in a new country with little or no resources, and growing up with two cultures, language and identities. Told in first person and filled with detail that brought them alive, it was easy to imagine all of the changing circumstances, people and events of those challenging times.
David Chernushenko’s memories as a second generation “new Canadian” are both familiar and informative, set in helpful historical, social and political context. Funny, heartwarming, poignant and thoughtful, the excerpts he brings to life from his childhood, teenage and young adult life mirror the bridge building work of a family uprooted and yet deeply involved in adopting the new reality of their lives. Ending with his own awakening of being part of this bridge, he reflectively ties into his family story, the impact of coming full circle, to another war in the country from which his father, aunt and grandparents fled for safety.
I recommend this book to anyone who knows themselves to have more than one “home” and who lives with more questions than answers about what it means to straddle those worlds. David has written a great story, but also provided a wonderful jumping off point for personal reflection.
Bronwyn Rees, Aylmer, Quebec