One of Them

One of Them by Kitty Zeldis

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“One of Them” by Kitty Zeldis is an elucidating historical novel that follows two young women navigating identity, belonging, and silent rebellion at Vassar College in 1946. If you enjoy layered character studies wrapped in historical settings—stories that quietly explore the cost of fitting in versus standing out—this book will speak to you in a very personal way. It’s a catchy story about secrets, about the masks we wear to survive, and about the deep loneliness that can come from pretending to be someone you’re not.  Purchase here.

The main character, Anne Bishop, appears to be the typical well-bred Vassar sophomore. She’s part of a privileged, all-American (and quite snobby) group of girls who sip tea in velvet parlors and gossip about who’s suspicious, who’s “not quite right,” and who doesn’t belong. But here’s the twist: Anne’s not actually Anne. Her real name is Miriam. And she’s Jewish—something no one around her knows. She’s hidden that part of herself to blend in, to avoid the whispers, the exclusion, and the subtle but constant stream of anti-Semitic remarks that pass as casual conversation in her circle.

I think readers will feel the tension right away—Anne isn’t just playing along; she’s surviving. At times, it’s hard to watch her go along with the group, to stay silent when they say cruel things, but you also understand why she does it. She’s grieving the loss of her father, she’s deeply lonely, and this group—flawed as they are—gives her some sense of place. Then Delia Goldhush enters the picture, and everything begins to shift.

Delia is a force. She’s sharp, unapologetically Jewish, fashionable, and carries herself with the kind of quiet strength that comes from knowing exactly who she is. She doesn’t try to be accepted, which makes her even more fascinating to Anne. Their connection starts slowly—awkward glances in the library, a quiet dinner table conversation—but it feels powerful, charged, and meaningful. You can feel Anne’s heart tugging in one direction while her fear and loyalty to her image tug her in another. For readers, that emotional conflict is gripping.

The writing itself is soft but intelligent. Zeldis doesn’t use big drama to keep you turning pages. Instead, she leans into emotional honesty—those uncomfortable silences, the little betrayals, and the way someone’s smile can carry just enough edge to cut. Her style is clean and contemplative, allowing you to truly put yourself in Anne’s shoes. Additionally, the structure, which alternates between Anne’s present and Delia’s eerie past in wartime Paris, adds layers and crucial depth without becoming confusing.

What stood out most to me is how Zeldis explores how identity can be both a shield and a prison. Anne hides who she is to gain entry into a world that will never fully accept her. Delia refuses to hide and pays the price in isolation. Their paths collide beautifully—and painfully. I won’t spoil how things unfold, but there’s heartbreak, reflection, and a quiet sense of growth that lingers long after the last page.

If you’re a reader who enjoys emotional depth, moral complexity, and historical fiction that still feels relevant, “One of Them” by Kitty Zeldis is a book worth spending time with. I’m really glad I read it—and I think you will be too.

The Umbrella Maker's Son

The Umbrella Maker’s Son by Tod Lending

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

The Umbrella Maker’s Son is a painful story about Reuven, a Polish Jew, and his family. Reuven worked in his father’s umbrella shop. He was very much in love with Zelda. Life seemed good until one day it all changed. Poland was invaded by the Nazis, and it did not take long for them to take over Krakow where Reuven and his family lived. Zelda and her family left Krakow to stay with relatives. Each day, everything got worse. The Nazis took over the umbrella shop and demanded that Reuven and his father do manual labor by helping to rebuild the railroad tracks. Reuven, at times, looked at his father’s reactions to the Nazis as weakness. As time passed, he changed his mind and knew it was really strength. Purchase Here.

Reuven’s father committed a crime, and he knew his family must leave before the Nazis find out what he did. Their dangerous journey begins as they try to flee.

Reuven ends up working for a farmer. The farmer is happy to have him helping with the farm; however, for the farmer’s wife it is a different story.  Reuven must make another decision.

What is really amazing is Reuven’s determination to find Zelda.

Will Reuven find Zelda? Will they all survive?

I loved this author’s writing style. His descriptive writing is magical and filled with so much clarity and detail when describing someone or something. It is obvious the author did a great deal of research to write this book.

This story will fill you with many emotions. We have all read many true stories about the attack of the Nazis and how the Polish Jews suffered. Even though this story is fiction, the terrible atrocities about what happened to the Jews during WWII are portrayed in a superb manner.  If I had to sum up this story about Reuven’s family in one word, it would come down to “resilience”. The Umbrella Maker’s Son is not only a story about the terrible things that happened to the Polish Jews, but it is also a love story.

This book is filled with memorable characters who each play an important role. One other thing…be sure to have some tissues by your side as you read this book because many parts of the book will bring tears to your eyes.

The Umbrella Maker’s Son is a fascinating and memorable read!

 

Third Place: Return to Pamplona

Return to Pamplona: A Lover’s Quest in Post-War Spain by Peter J. Meehan

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Peter J. Meehan delivers an eventful love story that lingers over decades. The spark is lit in Spain on a backdrop of political unrest, when two students of different worlds fall in love. Return to Pamplona: A Lover’s Quest in Post-War Spain opens the window to Spain in the late 1940s, shortly after the end of the Spanish Civil War. The book is an intriguing blend of adult fiction, historical drama, and thriller, promising a truly captivating read.  Purchase Here.

The author invites us to step into a different world and discover its societal mechanisms through the eyes and experiences of a visitor. Richard Samuels, an English geology student visits Spain to study the Spanish Pyrenees. During his stay, he meets a spirited medical student, Terese Burguera, who quickly captures his heart and imagination.

While Richard is merely a visitor, dazzled by the country’s beauty, Terese is deeply immersed in the under layers of society. As a Basque, she grips on to her cultural heritage, undeterred by the risks and hardships it brings under the current regime. When others stay silent, she boldly speaks up and gives voice to those oppressed and overlooked. Her allure is further magnified by her family connections; her uncle, a renowned smuggler, vanished under mysterious circumstances.

In contrast, Richard seems to understand little of her struggles. Instead, he is preoccupied with his personal history and future. When he can no longer postpone his departure, he invites Terese to join him in France, unaware that she has no passport and cannot legally cross the border. She keeps this to herself. Terese finally decides to try to cross on one of the secret trade routes used by her uncle. But along the way, she vanishes without a trace.

After this new reality sets in, Richard slowly returns to his life and tries to move on. However, after more than two decades a discovery prompts him to return to Pamplona in search of answers. This time he arrives as an accomplished geology professor with the pretext of a school trip. Amidst numerous encounters with authorities who watch his every move, he tries to uncover what happened to Terese.

Some experiences, although fleeting, are so strong that they leave a mark that stands the test of time. Peter J. Meehan splits the focus between a personal narrative and a societal fresco to paint a compelling image of how individual lives intertwine with broader cultural currents. Return to Pamplona: A Lover’s Quest in Post-War Spain is an effortless read that draws you in emotionally and takes you to unexpected places.

Third Place: Historical (Fiction and Non-Fiction)
Third Place: On the Run by William Shaw

On the Run by William Shaw

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

Beyond the hills and the meadows of the coastal seaport of Sligo, Ireland, sits the fishing village of Mullaghmore, where William Shaw’s narrative, “On the Run,” begins. Set in the 80s, the touching and ultimately hopeful text follows members of a peasant family whose lives take a cruel turn following political turmoil in their country as they search for belonging, identity, and justice in the face of dire circumstances.  Purchase here.

After the assassination of Lord Mountbatten, a beloved British Royal, at his holiday home in Sligo in 1979 by suspected IRA officials, suspicion and tension grew, heightening the Northern Ireland conflict that had lasted for decades. Three years later, the residents of Mullagmore still bore the brunt of this attack, and the Connolly family was not spared. Terrence, a Sligo farmer, is wrongfully arrested, and his wife, Bridget, overcome with despair and worry, sends his son, Tim, to America to live with his aunt, hoping to shelter him from being part of the IRA group and possible death. She also hopes to secure a job to sustain herself and the farm and spare her time to visit her husband.
The three are confronted with cruel realities on their own. With two of her most beloved people gone, Bridget felt an emptiness envelop her upon her return home. Terrence, on the other hand, was soaked in despair and desolation behind the prison walls with the loss of his simple and predictable life, and frequent abuse from prison guards. In America, Tim was in a woeful joyless place, being the object of attack by bullies in his new school. Separated, yet united at heart, the three face their situations with unyielding resilience. Terrence joins an escape team that conducts a prison break, while Bridget joins a women’s group protesting against the abuses at the filthy H-Block Prison where her husband is detained. Tim, on the other hand, discovers a hidden God-given gift and joins the 1983 national AAU Championship hoping to win in honor of his brave parents.

A page-turner, “On the Run” delivers much more than it promises and affirms the value of family. Shaw’s genius lies in the book’s alternating perspectives, vividly drawn characters who exhibit unique strengths, and its lush descriptions of diverse terrains. Across, powerful feelings are divulged, elucidating emotions of pain, joy, frustration, hopelessness, and determination. Tim, one of the main protagonists in the story, is a vulnerable and disillusioned character, desperate to fit in among his peers, a tall order on his part. Through him, the author deftly draws out complex social themes such as racism, bullying, navigating relationships, and finding identity. Weaving a tapestry based on actual historical events takes the skillful pen of a writer and this author does not disappoint. The book’s pacing is steady, and the dialogue is expositional, and this adds to the reading experience.

“On the Run” by William Shaw is a tale of an unshakeable bond between three family members and will captivate historical fiction aficionados and any reader who enjoys fictional stories that carry along impressive takeaways and offer more than escapist entertainment.

Second Place: Young Adult
Second Place: Historical (Fiction and Non-Fiction)
The Joy Divisions

The Joy Divisions by Scott Dimovitz

Reviewed by Lisa Brown Gilbert
An intense portrayal of personal evolution in contemporary life, Scott Dimovitz’s The Joy Divisions, offers an immersive literary jaunt back to a time and place where drugs, angst, history, art, music, literature, blue collar woes, and consciousness cult idealism, intersect through surprising events, in 1990’s Allentown, Pennsylvania, creatively explored through the eyes, minds, and interactions of its varied characters.  Purchase Here.

This insightful historical narrative is a work replete with the many facets of life, which focuses on the many aspects of the human condition. In fact, this book brings so much to the table in terms of demonstrating an intellectual expertise in a variety of cultural elements as well as history prevalent during the 1990s. Furthermore, this narrative maintains the attention with smoothly flowing narrative, vivid detailing and seamless storytelling, including an additional bent for the humorous at times. The story instantly draws you in with gritty, complex characters and situations, which dutifully pique the curiosity as to the story’s overall path. Particularly interesting is Ed Pullman the central figure. Ed is an art school dropout, who returns to his hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania, circa 1990s, he is coping with a great deal of angst; he lost his girlfriend, his mother, and his drive for life which in turn causes his overall faith in life to steadily wane. Ed, often caught up in his own emotions and thoughts, wants to connect with others but struggles.

Moreover, as other characters come into focus within the story, each helms their unique back story and cultural perspective, which leads to many intellectually posed, multifaceted moments of analysis and insight, including philosophy, art, consciousness, religion, and alternative music references, as well as many literary references.

Also, author Dimovitz does very well in illustrating the perspective of the working-class culture native to the locale of Allentown Pennsylvania in the 1990’s with brief historical accounts drawing out the economic and political template which affected the characters’ lives.

Overall, The Joy Divisions by author Scott Dimovitz, made for an intellectually stimulating read. I enjoyed the edifying nature of the story which kept me enmeshed and immersed in a world I knew nothing about but wanted to know more of. Additionally, what I found to be riveting about this book was the sharply detailed descriptions of the setting steeped in colorful specifics. It was as though I was a denizen walking down the street. As well, I enjoyed the unique characterizations; The cult leader with a plan to save the world, the beautiful transvestite and the model who bucked the standard of beauty. Altogether this was a great read that I would recommend to those seeking a uniquely posed historical fiction read that truly stimulates the intellect.

First Place: Historical / Third Place: Adult Fiction
Mercy

Mercy by J.M Torrenz

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

An artistic creation that tells a captivating story by fusing history and art, “Mercy” is a stunning text in the historical fiction genre penned by J.M. Torrenz. The year is 1799, in Petropavlovsk, in the East of Russia at a time of Tsarist autocracy with the nobility holding the divine right to rule Russia. Fyodor Drossopov, an eleven-year-old boy, and the son of a Siberian farmer, lived out his childhood days playing battle games and mimicking pre-battle rallying speeches with his friends. His best friend, Mishi, and other children were a constant source of joy for Fyodor who was slowly approaching his name day. On this day, he receives varied gifts from other children and his parents. His grandfather, Andrei, a former ship captain who ended his sea faring activities after a fateful and mysterious voyage, however, has something else in store for him.  Purchase Here.

Andrei’s present constitutes taking the young boy on an ocean voyage across the Pacific. They set off and while there, he experiences a whole new world and develops a new perception of life. The journey culminates in tragedy that Fyodor never foresaw, and the weight of this loss carries an emotional impact on him even after he gets home. Years later, he marries his childhood friend, Anna, and together, they adopt two boys, Rafael and Adrian, each with unique character traits. All around Fyodor, the world is changing as new scientific inventions are embraced, cultural shifts such as the New Soviet Man ideology and news of war that reach him in his remote village. The book draws to a close as he is reflecting in his old age his outlook on life and how loving his granddaughter Palmita has changed his mindset on this, drawing him to a place of humility.

A winner in its own right, “Mercy” is bound to captivate all historical fiction enthusiasts. Even at 429 pages, this book has an epic feel to it, telling a multigenerational, character-driven story. Perhaps what makes this affecting tale so engrossing, is the buildup of the plot which is powerful, akin to a small campfire that gradually escalates into a blaze that threatens to consume the forest. The author peppers his story with historical events, such as giving us a peek into the Napoleonic wars and the Russo-Circassian War. He doesn’t stop there; as shown in several of the scenarios, he incorporates significant portions of Greek and Roman mythology to further enhance the reading experience. Ultimately, this is a mesmerizing read whose well-hewn characters will linger long after the reading is done.

Then Like the Blind Man

Then Like the Blind Man by Freddie Owens

Book reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb

Debut author, Freddie Owens, swings for the fences and hits a home run with his excellent coming-of-age story set primarily in Kentucky, Then Like the Blind Man. When Orbie’s father dies, his life changes forever. His mother, Ruby, finds herself attracted to the smooth-talking, poetic atheist Victor Denalsky, who had been Orbie’s father’s foreman at a steel mill in Detroit. After Orbie’s father dies, Victor courts Orbie’s mother, and eventually marries her. Not wanting to nor desiring to take care of a nine-year-old boy with an attitude, like Orbie, who can’t stand his stepfather, anyway, Ruby and Victor decide to drop Orbie off at Ruby’s parents’ house in Kentucky, with the promise that they’ll come back to get him once they’ve settled in Florida, where Victor supposedly has a job lined up. Orbie’s mother and Victor take with them Orbie’s younger sister, Missy.  Purchase Here.

The novel is told in the first person by Orbie, who, though young, is very insightful for his age. As I read, I was often reminded of another famous novel told from the POV of a child, Scout, To Kill a Mockingbird. The themes are different, but Orbie’s and Scout’s perspectives on African Americans in the 1950′s are significant to understanding both books. Orbie has some bad experiences with some of the black people he comes in contact with early on in the novel, so he calls them the “n,” word at various points in the story.

Through the course of Then Like the Blind Man, Orbie eventually realizes that his grandparents are great people who love him. They may not have attained a high level of school education, but they are wise about farm life and human nature.

They don’t like it that their daughter, Ruby, has developed a prejudice for blacks, nor that she’s passed it on to Orbie. That’s one of the many nice touches I liked about Freddie Owen’s debut novel, that in it, it’s not Orbie’s grandparents who live in Kentucky that exhibit a prejudiced point of view, but it’s learned from experiences Orbie and his family have living in Detroit, in the north. Of course, in reality, unfortunately you can find prejudice in every state to this day; but, the author didn’t go the stereotypical route of having his northern characters expressing an enlightened POV, and his southern ones being all racists.
Owens, a published poet, has infused Then Like the Blind Man with a poetic sensibility that makes his story and characters come to life for the reader. Through Owens, and Orbie’s story, we feel the emotions of being dumped off somewhere he doesn’t want to live, at his grandparents’ house; but, we come to see them as positive, nurturing influences on Orbie’s life. Though Orbie despises the alcoholic Victor, and how his mother has made wrong decisions (to his POV, anyway), Victor is not portrayed as being completely bad. He does show an interest in Orbie at times, like when Orbie expresses his fascination with a scar Victor has on his neck that he got in WWII.

Orbie comes to think that Victor acts nicely towards him only further to ingratiate himself with Ruby, Orbie’s mother. Ruby is the type of woman who thinks she can change the man she loves, to rehabilitate him, and she always holds out a spark of hope for Victor. This is an aspect about her that kind of frustrated me as a reader, and made me want to tell her–if she was real and in front of me–to stop deluding herself and wake up and realize what a jerk Victor is most of the time. But, thinking of a man who has faults as being some sort of “project,” or someone who can be “rehabilitated,” is a trait that some women have, so Ruby’s having this trait brought even more realism to the story.

Besides there being various themes and messages in Then Like the Blind Man, Orbie’s boyhood exuberance, how he relates to his grandparents, his changing point of view about much of what he’d taken for granted; and his adventures are what really makes the novel captivating. Freddie Owens fills the pages of his novel with other very memorable characters, like the humpbacked elderly lady, Bird; Moses Mashbone; Mrs. Profit; and Nealy Harlan. If you’re a fan of novels like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird, Freddie Owens’s Then Like the Blind Man is s Must Read!

 

The Moon That Fell from Heaven

The Moon That Fell from Heaven by N.L. Holmes

Book Reviewed by Lily Andrews

In “The Moon That Fell from Heaven” by N. L. Holmes, an emperor’s daughter is caught up in traumatizing anguish and despair, as she uncovers incomprehensible secrets at the helm of mockery by loved ones, due to her childlessness.  Purchase Here.

An unfathomable sense of misery has been growing in Queen Ehli-nikkalu’s heart, out of the resonant contempt and scorn that she has constantly received from her husband who is also her father’s vassal, King Niqmaddu. He rarely graces their matrimonial bed, yet accuses her of not bearing him any children. It is believed that a queen who doesn’t bear an heir is a liability and sadly for her, the loathing that has been coming with that assertion has severely eaten into her poise for years.

A familiar tone relaying a ton of sardonic utterances fills the air, the day unbeknownst to Ehli-nikkalu, life takes a new turn. She notices a small clay tablet drop from Niqmaddu’s sash, and onto his cushioned seat. Its inscriptions are chilling to listen to, as her secretary later interprets them from Akkadian, the formal diplomatic language that unites every kingdom. From it, she learns that her father’s kingdom back in Hattusha is in imminent danger of being taken away forcefully by his son-in-law, King Niqmaddu. An immediate alert needs to get to Hattusha, but little does Ehli-nikkalu know that this venture will not only open up a can of woes for herself, but for her loyalties also.

A stab of pity will engulf a reader as sad realities get unveiled regarding adorable characters such as Amaya, who is mourning her father’s demise after witnessing his horrendous murder. Deceptive individuals send the protagonist tiptoeing, and readers will want to see her judgment turn out right, regarding the people she chooses to abide with, such as Teshamanu and Rab-ilu. Readers will also find themselves emotionally bound to the gripping tale of a twist of fate, that she has little control over.

N. L. Holmes spreads out every new chapter with new developments and tantalizing details, that ably push the reading experience to the utmost edge and tension. Ehli-nikkalu and other major characters in this book are real, and the author does a great job of taking a reader back in history to Syria in 1213 BCE. Her new book, “The Moon That Fell from Heaven” is without a doubt a masterpiece that showcases the proficiency of women in defending civilizations and cultures, when given a chance. Holmes will once again gain a victory in your heart, with her heart-stopping creativity, and ideation, which has once again seen a difficult-to-let-go historical thriller produced.

Bird in a Snare

Bird in a Snare by N.L. Holmes

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Bird in a Snare is the foundation stone of The Lord Hani Mysteries, a historical series that plays out in Ancient Egypt. N. L. Holmes masterfully resurrects from the sands of time a tale of a humble diplomat and a proud family man, who finds himself adrift in the whirlwind of changing times. Purchase Here.

This is a story about the life and adventures of Hani, a diplomat serving under the rule of Akhenaten. As a new horizon slowly creeps upon the land, Hani is sent to the distant realm of Syria to uncover a murder with grave political repercussions. During his mission to solve one murder, he encounters only more death, political corruption, and a fragile net of relationships between leaders. But before coming to any conclusions, he must return to his home, mid-investigation. The sun has set. And soon a new sun will shine over the kingdom. The successor who rose to the throne seems to depart from the comfort of the old ways, into a new territory; a new direction that does not seem to meet with Hani’s set life course. But, nevertheless one must adapt and above all, survive.

Bird in a Snare is well documented and offers a historically convincing depiction of what once was. N. L. Holmes world building skills melt together fiction and historical facts, in her reimagined set of events. She addresses Ancient Egypt from a macro level – mainly through state and religion – and the micro level of everyday life. But what is more, she unites these two spheres through the main character, Hani. Although the story revolves around a central figure, he is constantly surrounded by a colorful bouquet of characters, be that pharaohs, his scribe Maya, or members of his family. This psychological attention to character development is what truly animates the pages of the book.

Under the penname of N.L. Holmes, an archeologist and university professor by trade, brings her in-depth knowledge to the realm of historical fiction. The abundant knowledge of the author seeps into the text in a natural way and brings color to historical details. For all those who love to dive into historical fiction, keep an eye on Bird in a Snare and other writings by N.L. Holmes.

Enough to Make the Angels Weep

Enough to Make the Angels Weep by Ernesto Patino

Reviewed by Daniel Ryan Johnson

Enough to Make the Angels Weep is an intriguing and well-researched mystery novel. The novel features P.I. Joe Coopersmith as he investigates the murder of his client’s grandmother four years prior. However, as his investigation progresses, it becomes clear that this murder is a small piece in a much larger mystery involving the Mexican-American War, a group of Irish-born soldiers known as the Batallón de San Patricio, and a missing diary. Purchase here.

The primary mystery that will keep you turning the pages is not identifying the killer but rather the motivations behind the killing, which can be traced back over a century and a half. Ernesto Patino uses his narrative to shed light on a period of North American history that few people in the U.S. know much about but which is far more well chronicled in Mexico.

Enough to Make the Angels Weep is not a thrill a minute whodunit. However, that certainly doesn’t mean that it is not engaging. The promise of the contents of a missing diary from an Irish-born soldier who defected from the U.S. army to side with Mexico during the war keep you turning the pages. Then, once said diary is finally uncovered, you will be hard-pressed to put the book down.

You can tell from the way he writes that Patino has a history in law enforcement and as a private investigator. The character of Coopersmith is authentic, and the description of the investigation feels natural.

The book touches on current political topics, namely the reevaluation of national “heroes.” It reminds us that not only do good people do bad things but bad people can have significant accomplishments as well. However, it is important to look at the world with a critical eye willing to view the truth without blinking.

Enough to Make the Angels Weep is a well-written, thoughtful piece of historical fiction. It is a quick read and will leave you wanting to research more about the Mexican-American War and the role of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion. The uncovered diary serves as a story within the story and is a beautifully written look at love and war.