The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
🌿 The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan — Book Review (⭐ 5/5)
👉 If I could give this book 10 stars, I would.
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING:
If you want to experience the Martel family’s incredible journey without knowing key details, turn back now. Below, I share everything — from the harrowing escapes to the emotional ending.
🚚 A Story That Stays With You: Survival, Faith, and the Power of Family
The Last Green Valley tells the unforgettable true story of the Martel family’s desperate flight from Soviet Ukraine during WWII. It’s historical fiction that feels as urgent as a thriller, packed with courage, heartbreak, and hope.
What struck me most was how vividly this book made me feel the Martels’ struggle — every page pulses with their will to live and their battle to preserve their family.
🏡 The Martels: A Family of Remarkable Strength
👉 Adeline Martel — A warm, selfless woman whose unwavering faith carries her through unimaginable losses. She protects her children at all costs and believes in God’s guidance, even when her hope falters.
👉 Emil Martel — A quiet, determined father who loses his faith after enduring years of persecution. His moral crisis, when ordered by a Nazi officer to kill, haunts him — until he finds spiritual redemption in the unlikeliest of places.
👉 Walt and Will Martel — Walt, thoughtful and serious, bears scars from witnessing so much violence so young. Will, spirited and brave, faces each new trial with humor and resilience.
👉 Lydia and Malia Losing — Adeline’s mother and sister. Lydia, broken by Stalin’s cruelty, represents the sorrow of so many women left behind. Malia, despite a childhood injury, shines with kindness and surprising wisdom.
👉 Johann, Karoline, and Rese Martel — Johann, shattered by Siberian imprisonment. Karoline, bitter but capable of remorse. Rese, whose vibrant spirit fades after a tragic accident and addiction.
👉 Corporal Gheorghe, Esther, Marie, and others — From the kind stranger who helps Emil rediscover faith, to friends whose lives are shaped by small acts of courage — every character adds depth to this epic.
✈️ From Ukraine to Montana: A Journey of Near-Miraculous Survival
In 1944, the Martels flee west with the Nazis — not because they support Hitler, but to escape Stalin’s deadly grip.
✅ They dodge bombs, lose everything, and face starvation.
✅ Rese’s tragic accident and stillbirth devastate the family.
✅ Emil is captured and sent to a brutal Soviet labor camp, where he claws his way back to freedom.
✅ Adeline, with two young boys, crosses war-torn Europe, fending off violence and despair.
Ultimately, they make it to Montana, where they build a new life — one that honors the suffering and survival that brought them there.
💔 A Personal Note: Bill Martel’s Recent Passing
Reading this book felt all the more poignant when I learned that William “Bill” Martel (Will in the novel) passed away just a month ago, on June 12, 2025.
Bill, born in Ukraine in 1939, lived the incredible journey that The Last Green Valley captures so powerfully. After escaping war-torn Europe, he built a life in Montana — founding Martel Construction, raising a family, and becoming a beloved figure in his community.
His obituary described him perfectly: “On budget and ahead of schedule.” Bill was thankful every day for the miracles God bestowed upon his family. May he rest in peace, reunited with his loved ones.
🌟 Final Verdict: A Must-Read Masterpiece
The Last Green Valley is essential reading. Mark Sullivan’s storytelling is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. This book will make you cry, cheer, and reflect on the incredible power of faith, family, and resilience.
👉 You will feel this story long after you turn the last page.
📌 Grab Your Copy:
👉 The Last Green Valley on Amazon
📚 If You Liked This, You Might Also Love:
👉 Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan — another unforgettable WWII survival story
👉 We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter — a powerful novel about a family’s Holocaust survival
👉 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah — the fierce resistance of two sisters in Nazi-occupied France
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