Secrets RevealedHitler has surrendered. The Nazi flags, which once hung throughout the city, striking terror in the hearts of Polish citizens, have been torn down. It seems that Warsaw should be rejoicing in its new-found freedom. But Warsaw is not free. Instead it is occupied by the Soviet Union, held tightly in Stalin’s iron grip. Communist soldiers, in uniform, now control the city. Where once … Where once people feared the dreaded swastika, now they tremble at the sight of the hammer and sickle. It is a treacherous time. And, in the midst of all of this danger, Ela Dobinski, a girl with a secret that could change her life, is coming of age.
more
As this is the 2nd book in the series, I was hesitant at first, and thought there would be a lot of back story that I missed. I was partially right. The first book ends with the end of WWII, & this book starts with Russian occupied Poland. The main characters in the first book are now secondary characters.
The characters are very well developed, and the plot is a good one. The pacing is just right, as you follow Dovid and Eidel through their separate discoveries of who they are at the core, their courtship, and their early married life.
There were though, two things that bothered me. The first was Eidel’s Jewish identity – her full name is Eidel Weiss, and every time I read it, I heard Christopher Plummer playing guitar and singing. The second thing that bothered me was the seemingly easy way Dovid survived the war and life as a Russian soldier, all the way to their leaving Poland and living on a kibbutz. It was far too simple to leave Poland even in the late1950s.
Good book, easy to read, but I wouldn’t count on it for giving the reader an accurate picture of what life was like after WWII.
The book is like others about the struggles of the Jewish people, but also each one is about individual people and their individual stories. Therefore, I do not find them redundant. This is a good description of discovering one’s identity and also a romance in the midst of secrets and fears.
It was hard to pick any of the words BookBub had to describe this book, so I chose to leave those blank. This is the second book of a four part series, and I would suggest you read them in order. Like in And..Who Is The Real Mother?: Book One in the Eidel’s story, Kagan’s descriptions and characterizations are memorable and captivating. This book is set in Warsaw right after Hitler has surrendered, and the people are trading Nazi rule for that of the Soviet Union. The Soviets are exacting revenge on the inhabitants of the city.
This is the story of Ela and how her life changes when she tells her mother that she wants to join a convent and becoming a nun. Ela was smuggled out the Warsaw ghetto and is being raised as a Catholic. When her mother reveals her past and her Jewish heritage, Ela now has a choice to make. Does she follow her Jewish path or does she become a nun.
Dovid Levi has lived in Kiev his entire life, and his father, a doctor, has helped many refugees with medical attention when he could. When the Germans are rounding up Jews for deportation, Dr Levi takes Dovid to live with a woman whose son has died and persuades her to let Dovid take the identity of her dead son. Dovid sneaks back to the city in time to witness Babi Yar, where his parents are brutally shot down. He takes the name of the woman’s dead son, Oskar Ivanov , and joins the Red Army to exact his revenge.
Good historical fiction about WWII.
Ms Kagen’s books are all wonderful, this one no exception. She bring a light and an understanding to Europe (and Israel) of the lives of Jewish people during and following WWII. Love her books
Amazing story. This author does an amazing job of allowing us to be placed back into Europe during the Nazi reign. Very informative. I feel like I understand WWII in a way that no history book has ever shown me. Good read.
Didn’t like the ending
A story that you think about after the book is finished. A good reminder of fairly recent history, and the people who somehow lived through it.
I always enjoy books about WWII. There was so much suffering. It is scary to think how some very powerful men can ruin a nation. I had relatives that served in this war so I felt like I gained knowledge about what they went through while in England and other countries. The book gives us an honest look at what has happened to Poland after Russia took over. I am only half-way through it and have trouble putting it down. well written.
I’ve read many of Roberta Kagan’s books and found each one to be informative and realistic about the horrors of WWII and the devastation particularly on the Jewish people.
Was entertaining and interesting, but could have been more. Still recommended
If you are interested in that time period.
Great book
This was one of my first free books to read on BookBub. Although fiction, it still likely described accurately the horror of not being able to reveal your own identity.
Roberta Kagan has become one of my favorite authors. This book will draw you in and bring you along on a journey you won’t soon forget.
The Catholic mother raising a Jewish child to keep her safe, and the Jewish boy fighting for Russia and returning to Poland to fall in love with the girl was interesting. I especially like that they end up heading to Chicago to continue their lives.
Started out holding my interest – about 1/2 through I was bored.
It was short. Basically a continuation of Book one. The secret was not a secret to the readers but only to the characters. And, as the title says…secrets revealed.
Excellent!
Roberta Kagan has released another book, and like always, it’s captivating. A must-read for anyone interested in WWII and the Holocaust.