With the cloud of the Holocaust still looming over them, twin sisters Bronka and Johanna Lubinski and their parents arrive in the US from a Displaced Persons Camp. In the years after World War II, they experience the difficulties of adjusting to American culture as well as the burgeoning fear of the Cold War. Years later, the discovery of a former Nazi hiding in their community brings the … Holocaust out of the shadows. As the girls get older, they start to wonder about their parents’ pasts, and they begin to demand answers. But it soon becomes clear that those memories will be more difficult and painful to uncover than they could have anticipated. Poignant and haunting, The Takeaway Men explores the impact of immigration, identity, prejudice, secrets, and lies on parents and children in mid-twentieth-century America.
more
This was a well written, well researched book about how a Jewish family searched to bring normalcy into their lives by immigrating to America to attempt to eradicate their memories of their treatment by the Nazis during WWII.
This was a well written, well researched book about how a Jewish family searched to bring normalcy into their lives by immigrating to America to attempt to eradicate their memories of their treatment by the Nazis during WWII.
This book is a different look at WWII. The readers get a look at the long term after effect of the war on a Jewish family that barely survived and mentally re-live much of it their heads. The author did excellent research on the Jewish immigrants during this time period and wrote wonderful characters to convey their reality as they tried to start new lives.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction read this book to get an intimate look at the long term effects on the survivors of the Holocaust.
I am a historical fiction junkie!! I have read many books set in WW2 and books that provide insight into the Holocaust, but I have never read a book that goes into details about the struggles of life after the Holocaust……. and that is where this story begins.
The story centers around twin sisters, Johanna and Bronka, who at age four, immigrated to the States from Poland in 1951 to Bellerose, New York with their parents. Through research and exquisite writing, Meryl Ain follows this family, giving us intricate details of how the family adjusted to the American life in this Queen’s neighborhood. Ain’s has a way of carrying you back in time. You feel like you are one of the families living in the neighborhood going about your day-to-day activities along with refugees of Chinese, Italian, Irish, and Jewish descent.
The book will spur on emotions within you as the author illustrates how even though the Holocaust was over, it had a lasting impact on survivors and even their dependents for decades.
The Takeaway Men is a story that will stay with you for a long time and have you reflecting on the blessings you have in your own life.
Narrator, Seen Annis, (does a fantastic job of telling this important story and bringing the characters to life.
What an outstanding delivery of storytelling! It’s hard to believe this is Meryl Ain’s debut novel.
Reading “The Takeaway Men” by Meryl Ain was both a new and powerful experience for me.
Like so many readers, I lean towards holocaust stories. “The Takeaway Men” is a post-holocaust story, so it’s different than most.
It was a whole new learning curve for me, reading about a family surviving the holocaust, learning of a Displaced Persons Camp and watching them consider moving to New York City before settling into Queens.
They find out that there will still be suffering! This novel is riddled with guilt! They will have to deal with prejudice and more experiences like this all over again.
I’ve learned so much about tragedy and trauma being like an insidious snake weaving it’s way through generations passing the trauma on, and even bringing that same trauma from war right along with them and is still evolving after war has ended.
It is clear that Meryl obviously did her research well! I am so impressed. I am grateful to know this about my a city my grandparents grew up in.
I loved the character JoJo, she was one of the twin daughters in the family. Each character goes through emotional changes and have their own goals. They even have their own secrets, and they have a lot,
I was reminded of the significance of family and friends with each relationship only able to grow or change through the nurturing love, faith, hope & truth-telling.
Side Note: I love the name that was given to the displaced persons camp. It’s like she needs to write a book called THAT (can’t tell you the name)
It was so profound to me I had to sit with that for a while.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair & honest review.
I would like to thank SparkPress Publishing and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.
The story takes place during World War II, during the Holocaust, when the twins Bronka and Johanna Lubinski arrive with their parents in the United States. They will have a hard time adjusting to American cultures and will be afraid of the cold war. Except that many years later a Nazi is discovered hidden in their community who will bring the Holocaust out of his shadow. As they grow older, the twins wonder about their past, their parents and want answers. Except that these memories turn out to be harder to accept than anything else.
A book read in one sitting, so much so that I was hooked on the story, so moving in certain passages, gripping, captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters.
In The Takeaway Men, Meryl Ain poignantly explores the lingering trauma of the Holocaust as the Lubinski family arrives in America from a displaced persons camp in the early 1950s. Family secrets, haunted memories, mental illness, and a changing world all have consequences as they struggle to restart their lives in the U.S. Ain’s well-researched novel perfectly captures the anguish of survivors still caught in the psychological grips of the Holocaust, and the difficulties of assimilating into a culture fearful of the Cold War. It is a story of survival, tragedy, and ultimately the strength of family ties.
This book was so well done I was so glad I read it. I decided I wanted to read after watching an interview with Meryl Ain. I had read many books about the Holocaust but had not given a lot of thought to children of Holocaust survivors. This book addresses that with a set of twins born to survivors who also become immigrants to America. The twins are super close but very different in personality and views. I cannot recommend this book enough. Education of this topic is our key to preventing anything like this atrocity again.
I will always be surprised that after all this time we still find intriguing new angles to major events in history. The author of this brilliantly titled book illustrates the aftermath of the Holocaust on an American suburb filled with survivors and their descendants. With many examples, The Takeaway Men shows that the scars, fear and impact continues to weigh heavily long after the war is over. The Jewish community tries hard to heal and move on, but there are conflicts over how to do this–stay quiet, or reveal all that happened? Of special interest is that much of the story is viewed from the POV of a set of twins whose parents have a unique, terrible secret –one that their refusal to discuss becomes increasingly puzzling as the the girls grow older and develop their own, differing opinions about their parent’s obvious struggles. The story is quite interesting, but this reader would have appreciated a longer and more satisfying coda. After the tension of the long the build up, once the secret is inevitably made public, the story begs for more about how its release changed the lives of all these characters. Hopefully, it’s because there will be a Takeaway Men #2.
I love historical fiction and this is a side of WWII I have not read. The story tells about the lives of the Lubinski family and several of their neighbors. Some people prefer to tell what happened to them during the Holocaust and others keep their stories locked inside to suffer through the nightmares. The story also shows how this affects the next generation. Whether they should be told the stories when they are young and how much they should be told.
The Takeaway Men touched my heart. I can only imagine how painful it is to share their stories. There are parts of this story that are true as in Notes from the Author and a Glossary of the meaning of the Hebrew and Yiddish words used throughout the story. I highly recommend this story even if you do not read historical fiction. Thank you @meryl_ain for writing and sharing this compassionate story, @suzyapprovedbooktours and @spark_ppc for a copy of this book and this is my honest review
The characters, the story, and the writing all helped me to see a new and thoughtful perspective of those who fled the horrors of the Holocaust, and the many ways that each person dealt with those memories as they tried to assimilate into a new world. A thoughtful, beautiful read.
At the end of her acknowledgements Meryl Ain writes “…history is today’s current events, and no matter how dire a situation seems, individuals still have the power and responsibility to make a difference.” From the first pages the reader understands that Judy had faced that challenge. But exactly what an impact she had is not revealed until the very last pages. The author sets the mood of the time by reminding us of the Rosenberg’s trial, the air raid drills, and American Bandstand. This unique story of the Americanization of the Jewish survivors could have happened in my suburban east coast neighborhood. Read it. Be inspired. Make a difference.
Bronka and Joanna Lubinski are twins. They have survived the Holocaust and are now immigrants in America. It is not as easy as it sounds. They are struggling to overcome many barriers. Then it is discovered that a former Nazi is actually living among them in their community. All the fears and the secrets of the past are now at the forefront of their lives.
This is a unique story of the aftermath and the struggle to overcome the terrors of the Holocaust and to just basically survive. This family has been through so much and it just keeps on coming. This novel captivated me. The secrets and the lies…oh boy! You need to read this to find out!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
There is much to take away with The Takeaway Men
In The Takeaway Men (Sparks Press), Meryl Ain sheds much-needed light on a topic rarely explored. What happened to the families that survived the Holocaust?
This story is about one such family—the Lubinskis.
Mostly through the eyes of twin sisters, Bronka and Johanna, and through the actions of their parents Judy and Aron, we witness this family’s struggle to acclimate to a post-WWII world. In 1951, they arrive by ship in New York Harbor from a Displaced Persons Camp outside of Munich, Germany, with few belongings, as well as family secrets that remain hidden until 1962.
Together with the four Lubinskis, we move into the cozy home of cousins Izzy and Faye in Bellerose, New York. We grow with them as the girls attend school in America and develop their individual personalities, interests, and friends. We admire their father as he dutifully works in Izzy’s bakery and embraces his faith to a deeper extent than Izzy. And we support and protect Judy as she tries to please Faye who’s curious about Judy’s lack of knowledge of Jewish traditions.
As years pass and the girls begin to learn outside of their home about the horrors of Hitler and the Holocaust, they have questions that demand answers. Will Judy and Aron reveal the truth about their past?
Throughout The Takeaway Men, Ms. Ain masterfully interweaves sub-plots that show us exactly what life was like for Jewish refugees in this country back in the 1950s. Her story forces us to reflect on our own beliefs and to confront the realities of hateful discrimination in our world today.
Though the story focuses primarily on the twin sisters, Ms. Ain intentionally provides us with an ensemble cast, weaving multiple points of view that are clear and easily followed. A favorite character of mine is Faye—strong, opinionated, wise. Through her, we see Judy grow into the loving wife and mother she was always meant to be.
Don’t be misled. The Takeaway Men is not just a story about life after the Holocaust. Growing up Polish Catholic myself, I was particularly drawn in by this Polish Jewish family and felt deep sorrow for those who experienced this hell then and for all those who are discriminated against today. It’s a story about immigration, faith, honesty, courage, and strong family ties that can and never should be broken.
As I closed the cover on this powerful novel, I was struck by how it had started and how it concluded. Just as Judy gave Aron a safety net in her attic to protect him from the Nazis, Izzy and Faye anchored the Lubinskis by opening up the attic in their home and sharing their abundance of love.
Readers will discover vivid descriptions, a fast-moving story, and richly developed characters whose dialogue is colorful and engaging. And for those unfamiliar with Yiddish or Hebrew, there’s a helpful Glossary in the back of the book.
What is that quote? “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” One of the best ways to learn history is through historical fiction like Meryl Ain’s The Takeaway Men. An important story for teens and adults alike.
Thank you Iread Book Tours for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Takeaway Men
By: Meryl Ain
REVIEW
Being Jewish in Poland during the WWII era spelled almost certain death. Many survivors chose to leave everything behind for a fresh start in the United States. Aron and Edyta, with twin daughters Bronka and Johanna, were one such couple, landing ultimately in Queens.
The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain presents a fresh perspective of life post WWII for Jewish Americans. I don’t always consider how survivors carried on after the horrors inflicted upon them, but it is a topic I want to learn about more. Aron and Edyta decide to withhold their history of horrors from their daughters, and this was a personal choice that would likely vary from one family to another. Would you tell your children about your experiences or not?
Some survivors spoke constantly about the post, some lived for revenge, and some remained silent. As the twins grow up, curiosity lends itself to questions about their parents’ past. An incident prompts some things to happen, and eventually, Aron and Edyta face a time of decision. Whatever they decide, Bronka and Johanna will be forever affected.
This story gives some insight into the daily life of Jewish Americans, and I found this informative. I cannot begin to imagine the difficulties faced daily from external forces and internal turmoil. The paranoia and secrets, worry about your children, making ends meet, and all the while remembering everything you want to, but can’t, forget.
Meryl Ain gives these characters authentic distinctive voices through multiple perspectives, and this made them more realistic and genuine. I felt such sorrow and sadness as I read this amazing story, but there were moments of light, too. Any fan of WWII historical fiction will find this book compelling for its unique look at life after war. I definitely recommend it!
I thought The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain was a great piece of historical fiction. It was full of drama, mystery, suspense, emotions, and history. Readers are introduced to the Lubinski family. Some members are fleeing their own homes in Europe and coming to live with those family members that have already previously immigrated to America. Through their eyes, we see the World War II through many viewpoints. We see how each one feels about what happened during those days. It was interesting seeing what they thought or how they felt about certain situation. I have to admit that the story was sometimes complex and hard for me follow at first. Once I caught on and got used to the writing and style of the story, I did not want to the book down. I really could not ever imagine what it was like to experience such horrors and heartache so many went through. The author does a great job bringing the characters to life and bringing out their emotions. I was often wondering if these characters were fictional or ones that actually lived.
The Takeaway Men is getting four and a half stars. I would love to read more by Meryl Ain in the future. She has proven that she is a great storyteller. I recommend it for readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially those who specifically enjoy the World War II era and beyond.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
It was really interesting to see this family adjust to their new environment and reality. It was also interesting to notice the differences in those adjustments between the parents and the young daughters.
Another interesting aspect of the story: the pacing. I didn’t re-read the synopsis before I started reading it and was expecting it to take place over a shorter period of time. Instead it started in 1942 and ended in 1962. Each chapter was titled and dated, and jumped a little farther ahead each time. Sometimes that can leave me feeling like information was glossed over, but it worked for this story. It gave me all the big important events of their lives while moving it ahead in a way that made the pages then very quickly.
I especially appreciated the glossary and author’s note at the end of the book. Getting that little bit of extra info from the author on what went into the creation of the story always add just a little bit more to my reading experience.
This is one of those historical fiction books that you can just pick up and get lost in. It’s a tough subject matter, but it’s so poignantly beautiful. And while there are many books that feature the horrors of the Holocaust as it occurred, not many take on the aspect of the aftereffects of dealing with this horror. Yet Ain takes us there and highlights the just how difficult it is to not only adjust to life after war, but to also adjust to a new country after war.
There is so much that is filled into such a short book and Ain did a wonderful job at juggling all of the different aspects of this story. There are secrets, prejudice, topics of immigration, and much more that these characters are forced to deal with. It’s an oftentimes brutal world, yet the Lubinski’s still have each other.
2020 seems to be the year of stories on the Holocaust, and The Takeaway Men will definitely stand out amongst all of these new titles for the sheer uniqueness of it. Each of the characters are unique in their own right and they’ve all gone through something that has changed them as a person. And that’s what this story is about, people and the endurance we have when we choose to live.
Echoes of the Past
This is a story of Jewish families that immigrated to the United States from Europe after WWII. The Lubinski’s Aron, Judy and their twin daughters Bronka and Jojo were one such family.
Living with a distant relative of Aron, they struggle to adjust to new sights, new people a day new language. They make friends with the other Jewish families In the neighborhood and the twins soon fit in very well as does Judy. Aron has a harder time fitting in and often has nightmares at night. Bronka tries to ask questions about the past, but her parents are not talking, like it’s a big secret.
One day at Hebrew school a teacher mentioned Hitler and how he hated the Jewish and wanted them dead. This caused Bronka and Jojo to go home and ask their mother if it was true. She told them that Hitler did hate the Jewish and wanted them dead but gave them no personal information.
Aron and Judy have a secret. Bronka senses there is more than what her mother tells her, but it will emu her later before she finds out the secret about her parents past that they are hiding.
While reading the book, I learned of Jewish customs, some Yiddish words, and the lives of all the neighbors. Some talked of life under Hitler and the camps, but most did not speak of the past.
The book speaks of everyday life, how it changes from the Jewish way. The girls watched American Bandstand and learned the twist. Aron clung to the old ways In dress and manner.
It was quite interesting to hear how the immigrants adjusted to life and how easy it was for the to assimilate into their new lives while at the same time holding on to honored customs. How most of them could put their pasts behind them and begin new lives with new jobs and new friends.
This was a good book to read about the history of this time period and about the subject of the Jewish immigrants. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Meryl Ain, SparkPress, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A poignant family story of survival and new starts, love and forgiveness.
The Lubinski family – Aron, Judy, and twin daughter JoJo and Bronka seem to be adapting well to their new home in America, but both parents are hiding secrets. Their daughters have no knowledge of the atrocities their parents endured in war-torn Poland. They know nothing of the difficult decision their parents made to leave a displaced persons camp in Germany to start a new life in New York City.
The book has an interesting, diverse cast of characters. The majority have, in some way, been impacted by the Holocaust. Some can’t stop talking about it; others prefer to keep it in the past. Aron never talks about his life in Poland and is still plagued with nightmares; often cranky and unaffectionate. Dyta is seen as a Jewish super-mom, but she is terrified her shocking secret will be revealed. JoJo is eager to fit in, while Bronka is very analytical.
I experienced feelings of compassion, frustration, and anger while reading the book. Judy (real name Edyta, nickname Dyta) seemed to bear the brunt of the backlash that came from the revelation of some of their secrets. What would happen when all their secrets would be exposed? Are they wrong in trying to shield their daughters?
I give the book four stars because of its abrupt ending. I thought the author tried to cover a lot of territory, thus glossing over some topics after throwing them in the mix. A lot was going on at that time – the threat of Communism and nuclear war, the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and former Nazis living among them. However, the book was still an excellent read and hauntingly reflects the prejudices Holocaust refugees encountered upon their immigration to the US.
I received an ARC from iReads Blog Tours. The opinions expressed here are entirely mine.
I’ve read a lot of historical fiction that covered WWII but nothing like this book. I loved that Ain actually took us through life after the war, in a new country, and told a very emotional story filled with many characters so we experienced several perspectives.
I learned so much about Jewish life and appreciated how Ain mixed in Yiddish and Hebrew words. And reading the author’s note enriched the experience even more. I feel like this short book packed in so much and I walked away knowing so much more about what it’s like to be in the shoes of those very different from me.
I would recommend this one to fans of historical fiction who would like to know more about life after war.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for this review.
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Takeaway Men” by Meryl Ain, SparkPress, August 4, 2020, for Suzy Approved Book Tours
Wow! Meryl Ain, the author of “The Takeaway Men” has written a captivating, riveting, compelling, memorable, intriguing, and intense story. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Historical Fiction. The timeline for this story is set just after World War Two, going to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. The story takes place mostly in Queens, New York, but also takes place in a Displaced Persons Camp, and Poland. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated, confused, and dysfunctional. In this story are lies, betrayals, and secrets, and also the truth.
I love the way Meryl Ain vividly describes her characters, events, and locations in this story. This is a World War Two Story and discusses the immediate aftermath and difficulties of immigration and assimilation to a different country and culture. This is also an era of the fear of Communism, and the search for traitors.
I appreciate that the author discusses the tragedy of war, discrimination, persecution, assimilation, and the importance of family, friends, communication, honesty, love, and hope.
I highly recommend this emotionally charged and thought-provoking novel to all readers that appreciate Historical Fiction.