This article investigates the artistic verbalization of historical memory in the historical-adventure and autobiographical prose of Volodymyr Rutkivskyi. These works give young readers an idea of events, figures and places that are spiritual and socio-cultural components of national memory. The writer covers the life of Ukrainians, historical events of the Kievan Rus («Storozhova Zastava»), the Cossack era («Syni vody», «Dzhury kozaka Shvaiky»), World War II («Poterchata»). He creates a historical-adventure narrative for young readers, describes the difficult and crucial periods of Ukrainian statehood, reveals historical facts that were concealed or misrepresented during the totalitarian regime. The main aspects of the verbalization of historical national memory are revealed in thematic Ukrainian-centric accents, the display of historical truth, national heroes-patriots, and the anti-colonial narrative. Rutkivsky's novels help to overcome post-totalitarian traumas.