LeRoy City Read

   “The Last Green Valley” by Mark Sullivan was discussed at the City Read.  To start the discussion, we had two visual aids, a bowl of boiled potato peelings and a plate of suet (animal fat).  A reminder of what the refugees of WWll had to eat to survive.   The Martel family who was fleeing Ukraine and had to make a decision, wait for the Soviets and risk being sent to Siberia or follow the murderous Nazi? After being caught between warring factions and suffering horrific trials they begin their trek west.   The Martel’s story is one of extra ordinary power of faith, love and the family’s will to survive and find their last green valley.    Attendees discussed their family history of WWll, all agreed many soldiers returning never talked about what they saw or what they did. Several readers had to put the book down, many scenes were very descriptive and hard to digest, but were necessary to tell the story.     Are we as strong as the Martel family or today’s Ukraine refugees?  We hope so but won’t really know until we are challenged.