Delivery:

On our website, you pay only for the book(s), while shipping services are paid separately (according to Nova Poshta rates). Pre-orders will be shipped in autumn 2026.

About the Book:

Keeper of the Walls is a story about those who are rarely called heroes, even though they are the ones who hold the walls of their homes, families, and country every day. It is a profound and honest story about the transformation of a woman learning to be a mother, a wife, and an unwavering pillar of support in times of immense challenge. From discovering motherhood to enduring the trials of a full-scale war, the protagonist journeys toward claiming her own strength. This book is about how to preserve your inner universe amid chaos, stay unbroken, and become a source of light for your family and country.

Similar Books and Movies: Books:

• Dotsia by Tamara Horikh Zernia — for its strong female character unfolding against the backdrop of war, active volunteering, and absolute unbreakable spirit.

• Ask Miječka by Yevhenia Kuznetsova — for its deep dive into family bonds, sisterly support, and the search for inner peace in a turbulent world.

• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (for its general mood of resilience) — a story about women finding their path and holding their ground while staying true to themselves and saving their loved ones.

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Movies:

• Life Is Beautiful (1997) — boundless love and the desire to protect a child help create the illusion of light even in the most terrifying circumstances.

• Woman at War (2018) — the story of an uncompromising and strong woman who single-handedly fights for her beliefs while seamlessly balancing it with motherhood.

• Joy (2015) — a film about resilience, overcoming life crises, and a woman who takes responsibility and becomes an unshakable foundation for her family against all odds.

• Jojo Rabbit (2019) — for its combination of pain, light, and hope.

Keeper of the Walls is a touching story about women who didn't end up in the combat zone, but hold their own frontline every day. While husbands and children defend the country, they learn to be strong, make tough decisions, support others, and find the strength to keep going. This book is about love, family, female endurance, and a hope that never fades, even in the darkest times.

You will love this book if you:

• love strong female characters without theatrical pathos;

• appreciate books that offer hope even when tackling difficult themes;

• are interested in family stories about love, support, and devotion;

• want to understand how war changes the lives of ordinary people not through battle scenes, but through human destinies;

• prefer emotional yet deeply realistic dialogues;

• love books that make you appreciate simple joys more: home, family, morning coffee, and the chance to hug your loved ones;

• are looking for a novel that simultaneously makes you cry, smile, and believe in people;

• love contemporary Ukrainian prose about character strength and humanity.

About the Author: Olena Karpenko is a writer, private company director, industrial real estate specialist, English language instructor, and a student at the METHOD WRITING SCHOOL. Holding degrees in pedagogy and law, she combines structural precision with creativity.

She writes socio-psychological fiction with elements of creative nonfiction. She is a finalist in the Vasyl Palamarchuk Memorial Wartime Short Fiction Contest (Bilka Publishing House) in two categories simultaneously, as well as a nominee for the "Reading the Young City. Flame" contest. She is a co-author of the fiction collection Lines of Unity (by EdCamp Ukraine).

At the core of Olena’s writing is humanity, which persists even in inhumane circumstances. She explores themes of choice, responsibility, the price of freedom, motherhood, volunteering, and female strength. Through personal experience, Olena portrays war without gloss — through the eyes of a woman, a military spouse, and a mother whose daughter made the courageous decision to join the armed forces.

Olena’s goal is to capture the voices of those experiencing war, reflect on losses, and build empathy and preserve memory through literature.

She sincerely believes in Ukraine's victory and the power of the written word, which can keep a person from falling into the abyss. Olena knows what it is like to seek light in the darkest times, yet she continues to write, record history, and confidently follow her inner compass.