Guide to Jewish Literature - November/December 2025

This critically acclaimed bestseller presents the captivating story of Clara Prinz, a remarkable woman forced to leave her native Berlin in 1939. As Clara traveled alone on a voyage into the unknown, she turned to memories of her adolescence during La Belle Époque – the Beautiful Era filled with optimism and cultural transformation at the dawn of the twentieth century. Through Clara’s chance encounters with notable personalities of the period, Clara’s Secret weaves an unforgettable tapestry of personal and historic events. Clara’s Secret is ultimately a compelling story of the advancement of humankind and the survival of its decline. 

In Time for Courage, the sequel to Hunger Winter, thirteen-year-old Dirk and his family join the Dutch Resistance in Nazi-occupied Netherlands. As the Gestapo hunts Jewish children, Dirk’s family risks everything to hide them, supply ration cards, and outwit the enemy. Set in early 1945, this gripping middle-grade WWII novel delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense as ordinary people take extraordinary risks to save lives.

A “one of a kind” paperback glossary, arranged A – Z, in English. It is an excellent book for every Jewish home and synagogue, regardless of level of observance. It provides clear, concise definitions of thousands of words and phrases from the Torah, as well as information about hundreds of Rabbis, Sages, Prophets, and Tzaddikim. Suitable for teens and adults, men and women, a perfect gift for anyone wanting to learn about Torah and Judaism.

Betrothed to a wealthy American cousin in 1910, Feige’s marriage will help her family escape the escalating violence against the Jews in Russia. She reluctantly becomes “Fannie,” an obedient wife—until her husband’s cruelty pushes her to take a daring step toward freedom. Armed with her embroidery skills and a fierce will, she builds a life on her own terms, confronting betrayal, defying societal expectations, and ultimately grappling with whether to sacrifice her hard-won independence for love. Told with meticulous historical detail, the portrait of a girl who finds the courage within herself to forge a new path to womanhood. 

Fourteen-year-old Isabela flees the dangers of the Inquisition in 17^th century Portugal, with allies. A master of needlework, she soon learns that her embroidery pieces contain secret symbols to signal safety – or not – for other fleeing refugees. KIRKUS REVIEWS said it’s “A well-told story with all of the requisite narrow escapes and memorable characters.” INDYPENDENT.ORG said it’s “a great read full of intrigue.”

Sarah Vogel invented herself. Born in Auschwitz to a mother who died, and with no roots or history to fall back on, what choice did she have? “Lyrically and meticulously composed….Not a traditional Holocaust story, Botnick’s narrative examines the effects…on those who survived as well as their offspring….”—KIRKUS REVIEWS “…unusual and deeply moving….”—NEW PAGES

In September 2021, I took my 27-year-old son on journey to the lands and villages where my grandparents were born. Austria-Hungary. It was both life changing and life affirming. And most of all, it gave me the opportunity to know my son as an adult. Join us on a journey to a land that no longer exists, and to a better understanding of how that land still shapes us today. “This inspir­ing and enlight­en­ing expe­ri­ence is one that Sidran­sky pro­fi­cient­ly shares. It’s a his­to­ry famil­iar to so many Jew­ish fam­i­lies and will emo­tion­al­ly res­onate with them.” – Jewish Book Council.

Twinkle, twinkle, menorah, on this happy Hanukkah! Celebrate the many traditions of the Festival of Lights in this engaging and beautiful picture book, making it a perfect gift for little ones! To the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star” comes an instant classic for Jewish families to enjoy year after year.

Permission to Thrive is a candid and inspiring Jewish memoir about resilience after unimaginable loss. When Susan’s teenage daughter, Laura, dies suddenly from a brain tumor, her family—guided by the wisdom of their rabbi—chooses to donate Laura’s organs, transforming heartbreak into hope for another family. This deeply personal and unforgettable story reveals the strength of community, the comfort of friendship, and the Jewish values that help carry us through life’s most challenging moments. This book reveals the human capacity to grieve, survive, and eventually thrive. 

Two engineers tasked with realizing the impossible vision of a ground-launched atomic bomb, embody the resilience and courage of ordinary Americans swept up in extraordinary times. This novel captures obscure but significant history from WWII and the Cold War. Intertwined with the family history of an immigrant and patriotic Jewish family that assimilates through military service and being avid NFL fans. New insights are revealed  into the Rhine River crossing, Cold War arms race. It is also revealed for the first time what led to the communist North Koreans to sign the armistice.

From the opening vignette in which a photograph is a silent witness to history to the powerful coda “Miracles,” a novella set against the vibrant panorama of the Yiddish theater in America, the fifteen memorable narratives in The Girls of Jerusalem and Other Stories span continents and eras as they chronicle love and loss, piety and heresy, mysticism and rationality to reinterpret ancient tropes of exile, dislocation, and profound change, revealing a new understanding of Jewish history and memory. “Luminous tales of exile and loss that bequeath new life” Kirkus Reviews (starred review). A best book of the year selection.

Can you lose something you never had? In this middle-grade novel, Ruthie’s mother announces she’s pregnant, but Ruthie is still mourning her stillborn brother. With help from her dog and a new friend, she finds that you can’t avoid grief, you can find comfort in honoring those you’ve lost.

Named one of the Best Books of the year by Kirkus Reviews.  “A compelling work…poignant and eloquent.” Bittersweet coming-of-age story of Mira Adler and what she learns about life and love from her Yiddish and violin teacher, Chaver B, a mysterious immigrant from Prague who harbors a painful secret. Winner of Next Generation Indie and Independent Press Awards.  Ages 13-110. Great for book clubs.

A musical story celebrating the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. This book features fresh lyrics and a toe-tapping melody. The colorful illustrations mirror the joy of this special bond. Use the QR code printed inside the book to download the song. Prepare to make memories to last a lifetime—listening, reading and singing together!

It is May 2014, and Professor Klara Lieberman receives a letter from her estranged mother. Her long-ago-disappeared father, she learns, is buried in Warsaw. As the Polish government is giving financial reparations for land it stole from its Jewish citizens during WWII, Klara’s mother wants her to go to Poland to collect it, while Klara is determined to go find answers about her father.

When you were growing up, do remember that house that you’d walk by… where everything always looked perfect. Did you imagine what it might be like to live there? At the corner of Poppins Lane and Main St. there is a pink Victorian house that looks… you guessed it… perfect… but a look inside reveals some secrets about innocence stolen… and when the truth comes out, no one can escape it. 

This historical fiction depicts the encroaching terror of the Third Reich as it follows the young German-Jewish painter, exiled on the Côte d’Azur, alone and without identity papers, and haunted by a family history of suicides. Charlotte clings to her determination to become a serious modernist, to complete her masterpiece, “Life? Or Theater?,” then risks her life for her legacy before capture by the Nazis.

With illuminating introductory essays and a timeline highlighting the iconic figures, breakout creative masterpieces, and controversies of the Yiddish world, this landmark exhibition catalog—Yiddish: A Global Culture—brings to dramatic life the significance of one remarkable civilization and its ongoing legacy. The 344 full-color pages include an eight-page gatefold of “Yiddishland,” the exhibition’s 60-foot mural, along with stunning reproductions of artworks and rare artifacts.

From Emmy® Award-winning journalist and CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga and primetime news anchor Yonit Levi, comes a compelling middle-grade novel exploring how young people grapple with antisemitism, prejudice, and allyship, and gain the courage to speak up. “A brave and beautiful story that helps kids understand antisemitism―and stand up to it with strength, pride, and compassion.” ―Gal Gadot, actress and antisemitism activist.