The Girl with the Silver Star
Trigger warnings: antisemitism, violence
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When Minsk is bombed during WWII, Raisa and her family realize they must evacuate. Her husband Abraham is forced to join the Army, so Raisa must go it alone with their daughters.
I was drawn to this book because it's a niche of WWII fiction not often seen on bookshelves. Many books focus on the UK, Germany, or the US, but I haven't seen one published recently that focuses on the Soviet Union. This novel is not only based on a true story, but also on the author's personal family history. I couldn't wait to read this novel after researching its origins!
Raisa's journey is just as horrifying as you'd expect for a Jewish woman in WWII. There are bombings and Nazi planes shooting at the Jewish families trying to flee on foot and by train. The refugees frequently run out of food and must leave the train to receive rations. If they don't return to the train quickly, they may be separated from their family when it leaves.
Once the family finds a safe place to settle in Uzbekistan, the book slows down as their life becomes more normal. Raisa is able to make friends and tries to ensure that her daughters have a normal life.
The story is told in two timelines -- Raisa's WWII journey and her past leading up to WWII. The reader learns about her marriage and her family before the war tore them apart. Raisa led a contented life before the war and often reminisces about her marriage and Abraham as a father. During the war, Raisa must learn to accept conditions as they come and has to deal with tragedy.
The dialogue is a bit bland, and occasionally an odd turn of phrase (e.g., the train slowed down to an abrupt stop) or grammatical error might require a second reading of a sentence to figure out its meaning. Despite this, the story leaves the reader wanting to know what happens to the characters. Many of these issues may be fixed in the final publication, as I read a galley copy.
Recommended for ardent fans of WWII fiction, especially those looking for a story that isn't set in Europe.
Rachel Zolotov is a first-generation American born into a family who immigrated from Belarus. Raisa was her great-grandmother, and Zolotov became a writer to share her story. She currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Publisher: self-published
Length: 231 pages
Release Date: November 17, 2020
The book is free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers in November.
I received an electronic galley copy of this title directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.