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Zoya's Gift: Building a Bridge to a Global Family | A Memoir
Still recovering from the heartbreak of infertility, memoirist Gail McCormick and her husband volunteer to host two Children of Chernobyl for a summer reprieve from radiation exposure. Fate pairs the Seattle couple with eight-year-old Ukrainian twin sisters from Belarus—and rekindles Gail’s childhood dream to build a bridge of peace between the US and the former Soviet Union.Over four summers of mayhem and magic with the twins, a deep relationship takes root. When the girls age out of the program that brought them to Seattle, Gail confronts her Cold War fears and travels with her husband to reunite with them in Ukraine and Belarus. On this soul-making trip to a land of unspeakable loss, she celebrates life in the homes of an accordion-playing Chernobyl hero and a barefooted babushka who distills her own vodka, and—behind the remnants of the Iron Curtain—finds her place as an honorary mother and babushka in a four-generation family of former Soviets. Poignant and culturally rich, her narrative transports readers to storied cities, villages, and dachas from Kyiv to Minsk.Written with reverence, insight, humor, and hope, Zoya’s Gift illuminates the complexities, joys, and importance of reaching across political, class, and cultural divides.
- GenresMemoir
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 15, 2024
Giving birth is not the only way to become a mother, as Gail McCormick proves in this engaging memoir. Still grieving her third miscarriage, she and her husband Mike were offered a chance to care for children from Chernobyl in their Seattle home over the summer. The children’s families were victims of fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Enter eight-year-old twins Vika and Maria. Despite deep language and cultural differences, the McCormicks form a relationship with the girls that continues well into their adulthood with numerous trips between Seattle and Ukraine and Belarus. At the same time, they learn a great deal about how other people live, how to live to more simply and how to value love over fear. This is a beautifully written memoir about an important subject, especially in these days of war between Ukraine and Russia. While shining a light on truths that cannot be spoken where Vika and Maria live, McCormick also offers an encouraging Plan B for couples who struggle with infertility.
October 28, 2024
I couldn't put this book down. It gripped me from the first page. Gail's infertility becomes a catalyst to rebuild a childhood dream of helping to bring peace and understanding to the world. The children she and her husband assist through an international program become almost family, and over the years the links grow stronger, allowing Gail and her husband Mike some unique experiences. I loved her writing style which drew me in, and made me want to know more. I applaud her honesty, and willingness to allow us into her deepest feelings. I like books that make me think, and reevaluate my ideas, and this book did that. Thanks, Gail. This book will stay with me for a long time.
December 24, 2024
This is a compelling, moving story that somehow manages to turn world peace from an impossible, pie-in-the-sky ideal into an achievable and worthwhile goal we can each help to bring about through small, meaningful acts. Filled with people you instantly care about, beautiful descriptions of incredible locations, and heartwarming moments of deep connection, it transcends boundaries in the best ways--between us and them, near and far, joy and sorrow, love and loss, self and other. This story takes you on a unique and uplifting journey that reveals that what the world most needs to heal is what we each most need as well. I'm so glad I found this book.
December 19, 2025
A generous gift. I can’t even imagine what it was like for Gail and her husband to take in twin girls from Belarus when they didn’t speak the same language. Yet, they didn’t let that stop them from trying to help this family. Intense moments arose from language barriers as the twins, speaking Russian, tried to navigate unfamiliar customs in a new country. But Gail faced these head-on and used her caring nature to show these girls the love they deserve. It was wonderful to read such an inspirational book, and the story doesn’t end when the girls return home after the program that initially connected them ends.
August 30, 2024
Zoya’s Gift is a memoir that traces Gail McCormick's journey of building a global family over the past few decades. Centred around the ideas of mothering in other ways and bridging links across cultures, this is a story that enabled Gail to become an ‘honorary’ mother.
At the outset, we learn of the infertility struggles that Gail suffered alongside her husband, Mike, which left them without children of their own. As the couple look beyond this difficult phase of their life, they discover the Children of Chernobyl project - a charity that enables Belarusian children to temporarily escape the effects of post-Chernobyl radiation by spending summers in the USA. Gail welcomes two lively twins, Maria and Vika, into her home in Seattle. There is an immediate bond between the girls and their hosts, and the relationship strengthens as they visit over the course of several years - offering Gail a poignant insight into what parenting may have been like. In turn, Gail and Mike later travel to Ukraine and Belarus - encountering the twins again as young women, meeting their extended family and witnessing their post-Soviet lives firsthand.
The relationship between Gail and the twins, along with the girls’ birth family, is a thing of unexpected joy - arising out of the destruction of both Gail’s dreams of having a child and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Their connection is undoubtedly a close and loving one, with both sides reaching out to welcome the other across the years, miles and generations. Whilst it’s evident how much her support benefited the twins, it’s also clearly a bond that anchored Gail and helped her overcome the grief of not being a biological mother. And it allowed Gail (who grew up amidst Cold War paranoia) an insight into post-Soviet culture that most Americans would never see - especially such a closed-off place as Belarus.
This is a memoir that provides a wonderful inspiration on alternative ways that non-mothers can potentially direct their mothering energy (if they’d like to) in a positive way - and also shows us that ‘family’ can encompass a much broader world of possibilities.
At the outset, we learn of the infertility struggles that Gail suffered alongside her husband, Mike, which left them without children of their own. As the couple look beyond this difficult phase of their life, they discover the Children of Chernobyl project - a charity that enables Belarusian children to temporarily escape the effects of post-Chernobyl radiation by spending summers in the USA. Gail welcomes two lively twins, Maria and Vika, into her home in Seattle. There is an immediate bond between the girls and their hosts, and the relationship strengthens as they visit over the course of several years - offering Gail a poignant insight into what parenting may have been like. In turn, Gail and Mike later travel to Ukraine and Belarus - encountering the twins again as young women, meeting their extended family and witnessing their post-Soviet lives firsthand.
The relationship between Gail and the twins, along with the girls’ birth family, is a thing of unexpected joy - arising out of the destruction of both Gail’s dreams of having a child and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Their connection is undoubtedly a close and loving one, with both sides reaching out to welcome the other across the years, miles and generations. Whilst it’s evident how much her support benefited the twins, it’s also clearly a bond that anchored Gail and helped her overcome the grief of not being a biological mother. And it allowed Gail (who grew up amidst Cold War paranoia) an insight into post-Soviet culture that most Americans would never see - especially such a closed-off place as Belarus.
This is a memoir that provides a wonderful inspiration on alternative ways that non-mothers can potentially direct their mothering energy (if they’d like to) in a positive way - and also shows us that ‘family’ can encompass a much broader world of possibilities.
February 19, 2025
Zoya's Gift is a rare and remarkable memoir. Much more than an account of life beyond infertility, it traces a unique humanitarian journey laced through with surprising parallels and contrasts, and driven by diverse and impactive themes.
The powerful prologue seizes the reader's attention when a tremor of unease ripples the otherwise cosy narrative – how is a romantic evening in Seattle linked to a nuclear disaster on the other side of the world? This is the first of many intriguing juxtapositions, setting the context for the chapters to come.
The seeds of the author's story are sown on a Michigan farm in the 1950s. As a child she's plagued by the threat of the Cold War, yet oblivious to the haze of chemical toxicity that will shape the course of her adult life.
Decades later, mourning a lost dream of motherhood and battling with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, her spirits are rapidly spiralling downward until she and her husband find themselves in loco parentis to Ukrainian twins.
Over four unforgettable summers, the impish Vika and Maria capture the hearts of their surrogate parents. As a fledgling family, they overcome challenges with warmth and humour, and a deep, enduring bond is forged. Along with her joy and fulfilment, the author faces soul-searching moments when she reflects on political injustice, reframing her personal values in the light of her maternal role.
In the years that follow, the shadows of the past continue to haunt her but when she summons the courage to visit the girls in their homeland she discovers that the love of a family can transcend global divides.
The memoir is crafted with skill and integrity. Emotive issues are recounted with measured composure, whilst lyrical descriptions bring oases of calm amidst carefree escapades and youthful joie de vivre. The strands are deftly woven into a story of heartache, hope and healing, and the result is a richly absorbing read.
The powerful prologue seizes the reader's attention when a tremor of unease ripples the otherwise cosy narrative – how is a romantic evening in Seattle linked to a nuclear disaster on the other side of the world? This is the first of many intriguing juxtapositions, setting the context for the chapters to come.
The seeds of the author's story are sown on a Michigan farm in the 1950s. As a child she's plagued by the threat of the Cold War, yet oblivious to the haze of chemical toxicity that will shape the course of her adult life.
Decades later, mourning a lost dream of motherhood and battling with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, her spirits are rapidly spiralling downward until she and her husband find themselves in loco parentis to Ukrainian twins.
Over four unforgettable summers, the impish Vika and Maria capture the hearts of their surrogate parents. As a fledgling family, they overcome challenges with warmth and humour, and a deep, enduring bond is forged. Along with her joy and fulfilment, the author faces soul-searching moments when she reflects on political injustice, reframing her personal values in the light of her maternal role.
In the years that follow, the shadows of the past continue to haunt her but when she summons the courage to visit the girls in their homeland she discovers that the love of a family can transcend global divides.
The memoir is crafted with skill and integrity. Emotive issues are recounted with measured composure, whilst lyrical descriptions bring oases of calm amidst carefree escapades and youthful joie de vivre. The strands are deftly woven into a story of heartache, hope and healing, and the result is a richly absorbing read.
May 2, 2025
A wonderful memoir.
At first, I thought this was going to be a combination of my favourite genres: Medical memoir, and travel memoir. It sort of was...... but not so much of one of these..... and more of the other. Anyway, I so enjoyed it, it's a wonderful memoir. Beautifully written, so emotional, also with many lighter moments.
Gail and her husband Mike wanted a family, but it just didn't happen for them. They ended up having 8-year-old twins from Belarus come to stay with them for the summer.
It was heartwarming to read of them getting to know the girls, being able to communicate more and more, and doing fun activities with them.
Would they see the girls again? They seemed to stay with them in America for a relatively short while.....yet here she was writing a memoir about it...... so they must connect again surely? That's what I was thinking as I read, but I just couldn't know what was ahead.
I really enjoyed this memoir, it often made me smile. So glad Gail kept a journal and had captured these wonderful memories with the girls. It's such a lovely story, and sometimes made me fill up. Full of warmth and love.
I started this one evening, after finishing another book; just thought I'd have a quick dip in......and found myself reading it until 1.30am. Then again the day after I read until 1.25am. I really couldn't put it down, and had to keep seeing how her story would unfold. And it's such a beautiful one. Reading all this made me humbled, and enriched.
At first, I thought this was going to be a combination of my favourite genres: Medical memoir, and travel memoir. It sort of was...... but not so much of one of these..... and more of the other. Anyway, I so enjoyed it, it's a wonderful memoir. Beautifully written, so emotional, also with many lighter moments.
Gail and her husband Mike wanted a family, but it just didn't happen for them. They ended up having 8-year-old twins from Belarus come to stay with them for the summer.
It was heartwarming to read of them getting to know the girls, being able to communicate more and more, and doing fun activities with them.
Would they see the girls again? They seemed to stay with them in America for a relatively short while.....yet here she was writing a memoir about it...... so they must connect again surely? That's what I was thinking as I read, but I just couldn't know what was ahead.
I really enjoyed this memoir, it often made me smile. So glad Gail kept a journal and had captured these wonderful memories with the girls. It's such a lovely story, and sometimes made me fill up. Full of warmth and love.
I started this one evening, after finishing another book; just thought I'd have a quick dip in......and found myself reading it until 1.30am. Then again the day after I read until 1.25am. I really couldn't put it down, and had to keep seeing how her story would unfold. And it's such a beautiful one. Reading all this made me humbled, and enriched.
June 11, 2026
Zoya's Gift: Building a Bridge to a Global Family is a touching and inspiring memoir that explores the transformative power of human connection across cultural, political, and geographic boundaries.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the deeply personal journey at its center. What begins as an effort to help children affected by the legacy of Chernobyl evolves into a profound relationship that reshapes the author's understanding of family, belonging, and community.
The memoir is particularly compelling in its portrayal of cross-cultural friendship. Through her experiences with the twin sisters and their extended family, Gail McCormick offers readers an intimate glimpse into lives and traditions that may feel unfamiliar yet are grounded in universal values of love, resilience, and generosity.
Another standout aspect of the book is its rich sense of place. The descriptions of Ukraine, Belarus, and the people who inhabit those communities add authenticity and depth to the narrative, allowing readers to experience both the beauty and complexity of the region through a personal lens.
The memoir also thoughtfully examines themes of healing and purpose. Gail’s journey from the pain of infertility toward creating meaningful family connections demonstrates how unexpected relationships can profoundly alter the course of a life.
Overall, Zoya’s Gift is a heartfelt and uplifting memoir about compassion, cultural understanding, and the enduring bonds that can form when people reach beyond borders and embrace one another with openness and kindness.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the deeply personal journey at its center. What begins as an effort to help children affected by the legacy of Chernobyl evolves into a profound relationship that reshapes the author's understanding of family, belonging, and community.
The memoir is particularly compelling in its portrayal of cross-cultural friendship. Through her experiences with the twin sisters and their extended family, Gail McCormick offers readers an intimate glimpse into lives and traditions that may feel unfamiliar yet are grounded in universal values of love, resilience, and generosity.
Another standout aspect of the book is its rich sense of place. The descriptions of Ukraine, Belarus, and the people who inhabit those communities add authenticity and depth to the narrative, allowing readers to experience both the beauty and complexity of the region through a personal lens.
The memoir also thoughtfully examines themes of healing and purpose. Gail’s journey from the pain of infertility toward creating meaningful family connections demonstrates how unexpected relationships can profoundly alter the course of a life.
Overall, Zoya’s Gift is a heartfelt and uplifting memoir about compassion, cultural understanding, and the enduring bonds that can form when people reach beyond borders and embrace one another with openness and kindness.
June 15, 2026
Zoya’s Gift: Building a Bridge to a Global Family is a deeply moving and culturally resonant memoir that explores connection, healing, and the transformative power of human relationships across borders. Gail McCormick crafts a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, weaving personal loss with global perspective in a way that feels authentic and emotionally grounded.
What makes this memoir particularly compelling is its balance between vulnerability and discovery. The emotional weight of infertility and personal longing is met with unexpected purpose through the hosting of the twin girls, creating a story that evolves naturally into something much larger than its starting point. The progression from temporary connection to enduring familial bond is handled with clarity and sincerity.
The cultural immersion throughout the memoir adds significant depth. From the landscapes of Kyiv and Minsk to the lived experiences within multigenerational households, the narrative captures not only place but spirit. These moments are not presented as distant observations, but as lived, meaningful exchanges that reinforce the book’s central theme of bridging divides.
At its core, Zoya’s Gift is about connection across cultures, histories, and personal boundaries. It highlights how empathy and openness can reshape perspectives and create lasting bonds in unexpected ways. The result is a thoughtful, heartfelt memoir that resonates on both a personal and universal level.
What makes this memoir particularly compelling is its balance between vulnerability and discovery. The emotional weight of infertility and personal longing is met with unexpected purpose through the hosting of the twin girls, creating a story that evolves naturally into something much larger than its starting point. The progression from temporary connection to enduring familial bond is handled with clarity and sincerity.
The cultural immersion throughout the memoir adds significant depth. From the landscapes of Kyiv and Minsk to the lived experiences within multigenerational households, the narrative captures not only place but spirit. These moments are not presented as distant observations, but as lived, meaningful exchanges that reinforce the book’s central theme of bridging divides.
At its core, Zoya’s Gift is about connection across cultures, histories, and personal boundaries. It highlights how empathy and openness can reshape perspectives and create lasting bonds in unexpected ways. The result is a thoughtful, heartfelt memoir that resonates on both a personal and universal level.
March 23, 2026
Zoya's Gift: Building a Bridge to a Global Family by Gail McCormick is a deeply moving, beautifully written memoir that captures the transformative power of love, cultural connection, and human compassion. This is a story that transcends borders, offering readers an intimate look at how unexpected relationships can reshape lives in the most profound ways.
What makes this memoir truly exceptional is its emotional depth and cultural richness. McCormick’s journey from the heartbreak of infertility to becoming a central figure in a global family unfolds with sincerity, warmth, and authenticity. Her experiences hosting the Ukrainian twins and later traveling across Eastern Europe bring vivid life to the narrative, immersing readers in the traditions, landscapes, and resilient spirit of the people she encounters.
The storytelling is both poignant and uplifting, blending moments of joy, humor, and reflection with powerful themes of healing, belonging, and unity. McCormick’s voice is compassionate and insightful, making it easy for readers to connect with her journey and the meaningful relationships she builds along the way.
Zoya’s Gift is a remarkable and inspiring memoir one that reminds us of the beauty of reaching across cultural divides and the lasting impact of opening our hearts to others. A truly unforgettable and enriching read.
What makes this memoir truly exceptional is its emotional depth and cultural richness. McCormick’s journey from the heartbreak of infertility to becoming a central figure in a global family unfolds with sincerity, warmth, and authenticity. Her experiences hosting the Ukrainian twins and later traveling across Eastern Europe bring vivid life to the narrative, immersing readers in the traditions, landscapes, and resilient spirit of the people she encounters.
The storytelling is both poignant and uplifting, blending moments of joy, humor, and reflection with powerful themes of healing, belonging, and unity. McCormick’s voice is compassionate and insightful, making it easy for readers to connect with her journey and the meaningful relationships she builds along the way.
Zoya’s Gift is a remarkable and inspiring memoir one that reminds us of the beauty of reaching across cultural divides and the lasting impact of opening our hearts to others. A truly unforgettable and enriching read.
June 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zoya's Gift is a heartfelt and inspiring memoir about family, healing, and the extraordinary connections that can form across cultures and borders. Gail McCormick takes readers on a deeply personal journey that begins with the pain of infertility and unfolds into an unexpected story of love, friendship, and belonging through her relationship with two young girls affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
What makes this memoir especially compelling is its ability to balance intimate personal reflection with rich cultural exploration. McCormick brings Ukraine and Belarus vividly to life, introducing readers to unforgettable people and experiences while demonstrating the power of human connection to transcend political, cultural, and geographic divides.
The narrative is filled with humor, warmth, and emotional depth, making it both moving and uplifting. Readers who enjoy memoirs centered on family, personal growth, humanitarian work, and cross-cultural relationships will find much to appreciate here.
At its core, Zoya's Gift is a beautiful reminder that family can be created in unexpected ways and that compassion has the power to build bridges where differences once seemed insurmountable. A touching and memorable read that stays with you long after the final page.
Zoya's Gift is a heartfelt and inspiring memoir about family, healing, and the extraordinary connections that can form across cultures and borders. Gail McCormick takes readers on a deeply personal journey that begins with the pain of infertility and unfolds into an unexpected story of love, friendship, and belonging through her relationship with two young girls affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
What makes this memoir especially compelling is its ability to balance intimate personal reflection with rich cultural exploration. McCormick brings Ukraine and Belarus vividly to life, introducing readers to unforgettable people and experiences while demonstrating the power of human connection to transcend political, cultural, and geographic divides.
The narrative is filled with humor, warmth, and emotional depth, making it both moving and uplifting. Readers who enjoy memoirs centered on family, personal growth, humanitarian work, and cross-cultural relationships will find much to appreciate here.
At its core, Zoya's Gift is a beautiful reminder that family can be created in unexpected ways and that compassion has the power to build bridges where differences once seemed insurmountable. A touching and memorable read that stays with you long after the final page.
December 21, 2024
Gail McCormick has written a beautiful memoir of love, loss and enduring friendship across the great cultural divide formed by the East/West conflict. As someone who also grew up in the shadow of the Cold war, I could easily identify with both her excitement and fear when, grief stricken by their own childlessness, she and her husband took on the role of becoming extended family to eight-year-old twins from Belarus. Gail writes with eloquent honesty about her feelings of joy and bewilderment as she and her Mike navigate the cross-cultural challenges of hosting the twins and later visiting them in their own country. However, there are also other layers to this book. Gail suffers from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and her body's vulnerability to the range of toxic chemicals in our midst add to the complications of dealing with her new international family. This is both a compelling and lyrical memoir that made me reflect on the assumptions we make and the values we believe to be important. Very highly recommended!
January 30, 2025
Magic Happens When You Build Bridges Across Cultures
When Gail and Mike set aside their heartbreak and host two little girls from Belarus as part of the Children of Chernobyl scheme, their lives change forever.
Maria and Vika travel to the USA for summer visits. Still, as the bonds deepen, Gail wishes to reciprocate the twins’ courage by travelling to their country and immersing herself in their culture. But as a child of the Cold War era, raised in fear of the Soviet Union, she can’t summon the courage to go. But when her Ukrainian friends offer to travel to Belarus with her, it’s an opportunity Gail can’t pass up.
As Gail and Mike cross the cultural bridge to Maria and Vika’s homeland, they finally meet Zoya, the girls’ mother. Zoya’s gift was to open her mind and heart to allow her daughters to participate in the Children of Chernobyl scheme and travel to the West.
A beautifully written memoir about building bridges across cultures, embracing love and creating a forever family in the most unexpected way.
I received a free copy of this book.
When Gail and Mike set aside their heartbreak and host two little girls from Belarus as part of the Children of Chernobyl scheme, their lives change forever.
Maria and Vika travel to the USA for summer visits. Still, as the bonds deepen, Gail wishes to reciprocate the twins’ courage by travelling to their country and immersing herself in their culture. But as a child of the Cold War era, raised in fear of the Soviet Union, she can’t summon the courage to go. But when her Ukrainian friends offer to travel to Belarus with her, it’s an opportunity Gail can’t pass up.
As Gail and Mike cross the cultural bridge to Maria and Vika’s homeland, they finally meet Zoya, the girls’ mother. Zoya’s gift was to open her mind and heart to allow her daughters to participate in the Children of Chernobyl scheme and travel to the West.
A beautifully written memoir about building bridges across cultures, embracing love and creating a forever family in the most unexpected way.
I received a free copy of this book.
September 26, 2025
It's a very good story, but what makes it great is Gail McCormick’s writing, which is straightforward, not too embellished, but with enough flair to keep a low burn dazzle. Even the title is brilliant, a play on a physical gift and a spiritual gift - but no spoilers here. I am often annoyed at invented dialogue in memoirs. But McCormick’s dialogue rang true; I never once doubted its authenticity, even though she has a disclaimer that she was just capturing the spirit rather than verbatim dialogue. That is skill! The complexity also adds to the story: the author, revealing her struggle with multiple chemical sensitivity, makes travel daunting. And McCormick is also upfront about her sometimes fear of travel, which you don't often read in a travel memoir (which this is not). I found it very relatable when she did not want to take the elevator. Zoya’s gift is a heart-rendering and heart-wrenching tale, a deep and polished work that appeals on many levels.
January 30, 2024
Enchanting—that is the only way to describe the eight-year-old twins at the heart of Gail McCormick’s memoir. When they creep off the plane that has flown them from the Chernobyl fallout zone to Seattle for a summer of fresh air, Gail’s life changes forever. It’s just a summer, the first of several, but these two little girls land hard on your heart as they did on Gail’s. And then, the book is so much more than the girls. It’s also a true story of love and loss and restoration. I learned things in every chapter without even realizing it was happening, things that linger in my thoughts. There are ups and downs in this story, joy and sorrow. The author handles them all with a deft touch that illuminates, summons realistic ideas, and inspires hope for a stricken part of the world—and therefore hope for us too.
September 27, 2024
I was deeply moved by Zoya's Gift by Gail McCormick. The memoir begins with the author’s devastating struggles with infertility, capturing the emotions of longing, hope, and loss. The story then takes an unexpected turn as she discovers her forever family in Belarus. Gail’s enchanting writing paints vivid imagery, immersing readers in the landscapes and moments that shaped her journey to motherhood.
This beautifully crafted memoir lingers in my mind, and I recommend it to everyone interested in family stories. Zoya’s Gift serves as a guide for healing and strength. By reaching out to those seen as "the enemy," she confronts her fears and creates a global family spanning four generations. Her poignant prose elicits both tears and laughter as we witness her heartbreak and deep love for her twin daughters and their Ukrainian/Belarusian family.
This beautifully crafted memoir lingers in my mind, and I recommend it to everyone interested in family stories. Zoya’s Gift serves as a guide for healing and strength. By reaching out to those seen as "the enemy," she confronts her fears and creates a global family spanning four generations. Her poignant prose elicits both tears and laughter as we witness her heartbreak and deep love for her twin daughters and their Ukrainian/Belarusian family.
June 10, 2025
Gail McCormick gives a warm and revealing narrative in this heartfelt, derply personal true story. The McCormicks opened their home to pre-teen twins from Eastern Europe for a number of summers through the Children of Chernobyl program.
Children who lived near the nuclear disaster site were sent to American families to help reduce radiation exposure for at least these short summer visits. Visits to the US would help lessen the effects of radiation on physical growth, boost nutrition, and provide basic medical care. From these visits a lasting and caring relationship developed among both families.
Gail generously brings us all into the story and the reader gains a perspective and humanity so valuable given current chaotic conditions in Ukraine, Belarus and surrounding Eastern European communities.
Our book club read this in March '25 and were all positively impressed and moved.
Children who lived near the nuclear disaster site were sent to American families to help reduce radiation exposure for at least these short summer visits. Visits to the US would help lessen the effects of radiation on physical growth, boost nutrition, and provide basic medical care. From these visits a lasting and caring relationship developed among both families.
Gail generously brings us all into the story and the reader gains a perspective and humanity so valuable given current chaotic conditions in Ukraine, Belarus and surrounding Eastern European communities.
Our book club read this in March '25 and were all positively impressed and moved.
November 5, 2024
I love the way the author expresses herself.
I have so many highlights, but this is my favourite: “Suddenly, I was a participant in something greater than me. For a mysterious moment, my heart opened, and I felt connected to humanity.”
McCormick touches on all relationship dynamics, from motherhood, partnerships, friends, offspring, siblings and most importantly, oneself, with deep insight.
As she uncovers her own feelings on motherhood, we are shown a much broader outlook on all of humanity.
Under the disturbing topic of Chernobyl, the author takes us on a journey of discovery, highlighting the depth of appreciation for life which she discovers through her kinship with her honorary family from the view of a highly self-aware Westerner.
I thoroughly enjoyed Zoya’s Gift.
I have so many highlights, but this is my favourite: “Suddenly, I was a participant in something greater than me. For a mysterious moment, my heart opened, and I felt connected to humanity.”
McCormick touches on all relationship dynamics, from motherhood, partnerships, friends, offspring, siblings and most importantly, oneself, with deep insight.
As she uncovers her own feelings on motherhood, we are shown a much broader outlook on all of humanity.
Under the disturbing topic of Chernobyl, the author takes us on a journey of discovery, highlighting the depth of appreciation for life which she discovers through her kinship with her honorary family from the view of a highly self-aware Westerner.
I thoroughly enjoyed Zoya’s Gift.
January 2, 2026
Zoya’s Gift by Gail McCormick weaves an unlikely connection between two young girls from Belarus who were affected by the radiation of the Chernobyl disaster and an older, childless woman whose struggles with infertility left her heart raw and aching. What unfolds is not a mere host family situation, but a gradual healing that deeply bonds two families together across the divide of countries and politics. This memoir is filled with both the down-to-earth challenges of caring for headstrong kids who speak a different language and the awareness of transcendent moments of kinship and belonging. This is one of those rare books whose meaning ripples out beyond its individual story, blending into a song of global unity.
December 21, 2024
Zoya’s Gift illustrates in living color the way building bridges with another culture is accomplished: one sensitive, caring step at a time. Together with these cross-cultural underpinnings, throughout the book McCormick weaves seamlessly together further timely themes: infertility, multiple chemical sensitivity, and environmental.
This book is both autobiographical and educational. Highly recommended.
Rita Bresnahan, Ph.D. author of Walking One Another Home: Moments of Grace and
Possibility in the Midst of Alzheimer's
This book is both autobiographical and educational. Highly recommended.
Rita Bresnahan, Ph.D. author of Walking One Another Home: Moments of Grace and
Possibility in the Midst of Alzheimer's
September 8, 2025
This beautifully well-written story covering so many critical topics is the kind best started early as it’s so hard to put down. Now that I’ve read it, the title brings tears to my eyes as it’s such a lovely tribute to a special person. Impactful topics include: coping with miscarriage and infertility, reaching out and finding your family, world peace, America opening her heart to those in need following Chernobyl and its devastating health consequences, MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) in the US and its implications for those debilitated by it and more in an exciting, fast-paced story. Gail writes from the heart and I encourage everyone to read this book.
April 15, 2024
A disaster like the Chernobyl incident is hard to forget, and yet, in the West, life goes on for most of us. This heart-warming memoir reminds us of the families still affected by it today. Via a unique summer exchange program, with two young girls, the author begins the journey of a lifetime. Spanning many years, a beautiful relationship is built between two families and two countries. As they learn each other's language and come to appreciate the vast cultural differences, we see the bonding power of love in this beautiful, well-written story.
June 29, 2025
In a world where we are being constantly shown the true pain of cultural divisiveness, I found Zoya's Gift to be a refreshing reminder of the beauty found when choosing to prioritize human connection. A family born from tragedies on two different continents, the resulting bridge that was created is one that has stood the test of time. McCormick wears her heart on her sleeve and weaves a beautiful book of love, loss, the pain of war, and unbreakable enduring bonds. I'm very glad I read this book.
March 30, 2024
I have just finished Zoya's gift written by Gail McCormick. What an excellent book! The story chronicles a unique family and the bonds that span two continents, three cultures and four generations. It also critiques the essential differences between western consumerist culture and that of war-torn eastern Europe. Well-written with just enough detail to whet the reader's interest, it is a fast-paced read that is hard to put down.
Well done, Gail! Unforgettable!!
Well done, Gail! Unforgettable!!
September 20, 2024
This sensitively written memoir travels from Seattle in the USA to Ukraine and Belarus, capturing each setting in delicate prose. Although Zoya’s Gift describes the author’s travels, at home and abroad, it is much more than a travelogue – it is an exploration of motherhood and found family, unwrapping a woman’s personal journey, layer by layer, as she finds connection through a series of beautiful friendships.
December 23, 2025
This wonderful memoir encompasses a number of thought provoking subjects. The author tells her heartwarming story of the creation of an extended family after hosting twin girls, survivors of the Chernobyl disaster over several summer holidays. We learn so much about the differences in culture and lifestyles and some of the heartbreaking difficulties of life in Belarus and Ukraine. This venture took many twists and turns which made for an unputdownable read !!!!
July 3, 2024
Zoya's Gift is a memoir of joy and hope which comes out of deep personal heartbreak. It is about building a unique kind of family across cultures and continents through organic and loving bonds. McCormick is a beautiful writer describing scenes from the Pacific Northwest to Minsk, Belarus as she lets us into her life. This is a wonderful and inspiring read!
June 13, 2025
A tender journey of a global family coming - and staying - together.
I loved every single page. The author is an engaging storyteller, and she does have a gripping, deeply heartfelt story to tell.
I am hoping for a sequel!
I loved every single page. The author is an engaging storyteller, and she does have a gripping, deeply heartfelt story to tell.
I am hoping for a sequel!
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