Literary critics select the 15 best Ukrainian books of 21st century

The renowned literary YouTube channel “Shaleni Avtorky” (“Crazy Writers”) compiled a list of the best Ukrainian books of the 21st century, selected by literary critics Rostyslav Semkiv and Vira Ageeva. 

According to Semkiv, “This is not about judging from a position of authority; we simply want to recommend and share our views on the texts.” Semkiv noted that poetry is currently not being considered, as there are numerous Ukrainian poets who deserve the title of “the best.” 

Vira Ageeva’s selection criteria included several books that had received the “BBC Book of the Year.” Meanwhile, Rostyslav Semkiv drew from PEN International, specifically their lists titled “100 Best Books of Ukrainian Literature” and “100 Best Novels and Stories in Ukrainian.”

The top 15 Ukrainian books according to Vira Ageyeva and Rostyslav Semkiv

1) “Twelve Circles” by Yuri Andrukhovych (2003) 

English translation by Vitaly Chernetsky (Spuyten Duyvil, 2016)

2) “Pacyky” (“Dudes”) by Anatolii Dnistrovyi (2005, not available in English yet)

3) “Andriivskyi Descent” by Volodymyr Dibrova (2007 , not available in English yet)

4) “Voroshilovgrad” by Serhiy Zhadan (2010)

English translation by Reilly Costigan-Humes, Isaac Wheeler (Deep Vellum, 2016)

5) “The Museum of Abandoned Secrets” by Oksana Zabuzhko (2009)

English translation by Nina Murray (Amazon Crossing, 2012)

6) “Tango of Death” by Yuri Vynnychuk (2012)

English translation by Michael M. Naydan and Olha Tytarenko (Spuyten Duyvil Publishing, 2019)

7) “Ukry” by Bohdan Zholdak (2015, not available in English yet)

8) “Pomyrana” by Taras Antypovych (2016, not available in English yet)

9) “The Land of the Lost” by Kateryna Kalytko (2017, not available in English yet)

10) “The Orphanage” by Serhiy Zhadan (2017) 

English translation by Reilly Costigan-Humes, Isaac Stackhouse Wheeler (Yale University Press, 2023)

11) “Forgottenness” by Tanja Maljartschuk (2017)

English translation by Zenia Tompkins (Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2024)

12) “Daughter” by Tamara Duda (2019)

English translation by Daisy Gibbons (Mosaic Press, 2023)

13) “Amadoka” by Sofia Andrukhovych (2020) 

The English release is planned for 2026

14) “Who Are You?” by Artem Chekh (2021)

The book will be released in July 2025 by Seven Stories Press with a title “Rock Paper Grenade” in Rock, translated by Olena Jennings and Oksana Rosenblum. Film director Iryna Tsilyk adapted the book into a feature film of the same name, which premiered in 2024.  

15) “There is Land Beyond Perekop” by Anastasiia Levkova (2023, not available in English yet)

The YouTube channel “Shaleni Avtorky” was created in 2021. Literary scholars Rostyslav Semkiv and Vira Ageeva highlighted the works of leading Ukrainian and foreign women writers. The discussions continue to explore cultural-national identity and its various aspects, and the channel is now called “Shaleni Avtor(k)y.”

In 2023, the “Shaleni Avtorky” YouTube channel was a finalist for the Chytomo Award in the “Book Initiative Promoting Reading” category.

Copy editing: Terra Friedman King