The Umbrella Maker's Son
A Novel of WWII
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"This powerful, heart-wrenching novel follows a young Polish Jew through his incredible journey to escape the Nazis. Reuven's story typifies that of millions of others experiencing the horrors and deprivations suffered by Jews in WWII and those who tried to help them. And yet, it is also an ultimately uplifting and inspiring tale of one man's coming of age in horrific times."--Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
For fans of Heather Morris and Lisa Barr, a powerful and unforgettable novel of survival against all odds and the remarkable power of love, in which a Jewish teenager in World War II Poland fights to save his life and find the young woman who holds his heart.
Born to a secure, middle-class Polish Jewish family, seventeen-year-old Reuven works alongside his father, an artisan businessman whose shop creates the finest handmade umbrellas in Poland. But the family's peaceful life shatters when the Nazis invade their homeland, igniting World War II. With terrifying brutality, the Nazis confiscate their business, evict them from their home, and strip away their rights, threatening the lives of the city's Jewish population, including Reuven and Zelda, the girl he loves.
Shortly after the Nazi occupation, Zelda and her family disappear, and Reuven and his father are forced into backbreaking physical labor that nearly kills them. For the young man and his family, the only chance to survive is escape--and some of them will die trying.
Fleeing a Nazi ambush through the surrounding forest, shot and wounded, Reuven is found by a local farmer who has never met a Jew--and agrees to help because he needs the boy to work the farm with him. The farmer's wife, however, is not as kind. Her betrayal forces a desperate Reuven to escape. He embarks on a perilous journey through the Polish countryside, determined to reach the Kraków ghetto where he hopes to reunite with Zelda, whose life has also been forever changed by the horrors of occupation and war.
A love story and a story of family, The Umbrella Maker's Son is a riveting, heartfelt, and beautiful tale of survival and unexpected hope in the face of terror and violence. A chronicle of triumph, it joins the ranks of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and other memorable works of modern Holocaust literature.
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Reviews
"This powerful, heart-wrenching novel follows a young Polish Jew through his incredible journey to escape the Nazis. Reuven's story typifies that of millions of others experiencing the horrors and deprivations suffered by Jews in WWII and those who tried to help them. And yet, it is also an ultimately uplifting and inspiring tale of one man's coming of age in horrific times." -- Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
"[A] compelling and heartbreaking debut novel. At once well told and ineffably sad. Read it but keep your tissues handy." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"This is a strikingly intense and superbly produced novel . . . . This is one of the most absolutely memorable books I've ever read. Strongly recommended." -- Historical Novel Society
"Fans of Heather Morris and Lisa Barr will be captivated by Lending's story of resilience and romance, a must-have for historical fiction sections." -- Library Journal
"Lending eschews the sentimentality common to much recent Holocaust fiction, instead bringing the horrors of the period to visceral life." -- Publishers Weekly
"Lending gives his story a real authenticity with his attention to detail, transporting readers to the heart of Krakow to capture the essence of a community torn apart by war. This is a work that stands out not only for its historical accuracy, but its deeply personal exploration of family dynamics amidst chaos." -- Brooklyn Digest
"The Umbrella Maker's Son is an outstanding work of fiction portraying hope, love, resilience and survival against the most formidable of odds that partially incorporates the author's own family history." -- BookTrib
"The Umbrella Maker's Son is a must-read for fans of historical fiction. It is a heart-rendering reminder of the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion that will stay with you."? -- MSN.com
"Intense, well-written novel . . .This is one of the best WWII novels I have read this year, and I've read a lot. It's a love story and a war horror story at the same time. This is one you will not want to put done. Have tissues handy, you will need them. This is one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time." -- RedCarpetCrash
"The Umbrella Maker's Son underscores the resilience of a Jewish teen to survive amid the horrors of the Nazi occupation." -- Novels Alive (5-Star Review)
"The Umbrella Maker's Son is an important addition to modern Holocaust literature. An Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-Winning producer, writer, and cinematographer, Lending brings his incredible talents--a sharp eye, research skills, and the ability to put a human face on historical events--to the story of one young man trying to save himself, his family, and the woman he loves from the horrific German onslaught." -- Woman Around Town
"This novel presents a harrowing tale of mind numbing loss, incredible feats of survival, and unrelenting determination in the face of insurmountable odds. It is a new reminder of the Holocaust, well worth the time." -- The Paris Insider
"The Umbrella Maker's Son by Tod Lending is a beautifully well-written novel. This debut novel has me so deeply engaged that I was holding onto it for life. The characters, Reuven and Zelda were magnificently realistic . . . . This is a definite read if you love history and want a powerful story of family, love, and loss." -- The AR Critique
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