Greg Dawson Books

Set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, this poignant narrative follows young Ukrainian Jewish sisters Zhanna and Frina, talented piano prodigies who use their musical gifts to survive. As they navigate the dangers of their time, the sisters cleverly evade their pursuers while hiding in plain sight. Presented as a middle grade nonfiction novel-in-verse, this story combines historical depth with emotional resonance, offering a unique perspective on resilience and creativity during a dark chapter in history, crafted by award-winning author Susan Hood and Greg Dawson.

When people think of the Holocaust, they think of Auschwitz and Dachau. Not of Russia or the Ukraine, and certainly not a town called Kharkov. But in reality, the first war crime trial against the Nazis was in this tiny Ukrainian town, which is fitting, because it is where the Holocaust actually began. Judgment Before Nuremberg is also the story of Dawson’s personal journey to this place, to the scene of the crime, and the discovery of the trial which began the tortuous process of avenging the murder of his grandparents, great-grandparents and tens of thousands of fellow Ukrainians consumed at the dawn of the Shoah, a moment and crime now largely cloaked in darkness.