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The Rachel Trilogy #1
Rachel's Secret
Rachel, a Jew, and Sergei, a Christian, find their worlds torn apart by violence in pre-revolutionary Russia...
Rachel is a Jew living in Kishinev, Russia. At fourteen, Rachel knows that she wants more from life than the traditional role of wife and mother. She has dreams of being a writer. But everything is put on hold when a young Christian man is murdered and Rachel is forced to keep the murderer’s identity a secret. Tensions mount as the Christians’ distrust of the Jews is fueled by prejudice and rumour.
While Rachel keeps the truth to herself, she watches as lies and anti-Jewish propaganda leap off the pages of the local newspaper, inciting Christians to riot against the Jews. Violence breaks out on Easter Sunday, 1903, and when it finally ends, Rachel finds that the person she loves most is dead and that her home has been destroyed. As she struggles to survive the aftermath of the riots – or pogroms – support comes from someone totally unexpected, when a young Christian named Sergei turns against his father, a police officer complicit in the riots, to help Rachel.
With everything against them, the two young people find comfort in the bond that is growing between them, one of the few signs of goodness and hope in a time of chaos and violence.
Rachel is a Jew living in Kishinev, Russia. At fourteen, Rachel knows that she wants more from life than the traditional role of wife and mother. She has dreams of being a writer. But everything is put on hold when a young Christian man is murdered and Rachel is forced to keep the murderer’s identity a secret. Tensions mount as the Christians’ distrust of the Jews is fueled by prejudice and rumour.
While Rachel keeps the truth to herself, she watches as lies and anti-Jewish propaganda leap off the pages of the local newspaper, inciting Christians to riot against the Jews. Violence breaks out on Easter Sunday, 1903, and when it finally ends, Rachel finds that the person she loves most is dead and that her home has been destroyed. As she struggles to survive the aftermath of the riots – or pogroms – support comes from someone totally unexpected, when a young Christian named Sergei turns against his father, a police officer complicit in the riots, to help Rachel.
With everything against them, the two young people find comfort in the bond that is growing between them, one of the few signs of goodness and hope in a time of chaos and violence.
241 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Sanders
6 books196 followersTHE NIGHT SPARROW April 1 2025/Canada
July 1 2025/UK, Australia, New Zealand
For fans of Kate Quinn and The Nightingale, a gripping story of a young Jewish girl who joins an elite Russian sniper unit and embarks on a mission targeting the highest prize of World War II: Adolph Hitler.
The Night Sparrow is a tense, engrossing tale of WW2. Based on true events, this is an improbably beautiful novel about a brutal episode in history."
— Janie Chang, author of The Phoenix Crown
https://www.harpercollins.com/product...
Daughters of the Occupation, HarperCollins, 2022, is a Canadian Bestseller, and received a Starred Review from Kirkus: “A gripping historical saga that skilfully addresses the trauma of the Holocaust.”
This historical fiction explores intergenerational trauma from the Latvian Holocaust, and was spurred by ancestors, as well as the discovery of my Jewish roots as an adult.
The Washington Post says, “The title of this haunting novel refers not only to the victims of Latvia’s Holocaust but also to their descendants, who carry the trauma of their ancestors.”
“…this is a read that will stay in the minds of those lucky enough to read it.”—New York Journal of Books
Here's a review from New York Times bestselling author Lucy Adlington (The Dressmakers of Auschwitz):
"Daughters of the Occupation is a neatly crafted saga of personal and national trauma, a story of tentative hope in a world of menace, as three generations of women strive to understand who they are, where they came from and how they can feel free."
My first three novels, Rachel’s Secret, Rachel’s Promise, and Rachel’s Hope (Second Story Press) were inspired by my grandmother’s escape from a Russian pogrom and subsequent journey to Shanghai. They received starred reviews, including Booklist and VOYA, and two were named Notable Books by the Sydney Taylor Book Awards announced by the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Before I started weaving my family through historical narratives, I was a journalist, writing about everything from green architecture to Tourette’s Syndrome for the Toronto Star, National Post, Canadian Jewish News, Maclean’s magazine, Canadian Living, and Reader’s Digest. (I did write about family in a few pieces; it was impossible to resist when all three of my children got lice at the same time, or when we hosted a Chernobyl child.)
July 1 2025/UK, Australia, New Zealand
For fans of Kate Quinn and The Nightingale, a gripping story of a young Jewish girl who joins an elite Russian sniper unit and embarks on a mission targeting the highest prize of World War II: Adolph Hitler.
The Night Sparrow is a tense, engrossing tale of WW2. Based on true events, this is an improbably beautiful novel about a brutal episode in history."
— Janie Chang, author of The Phoenix Crown
https://www.harpercollins.com/product...
Daughters of the Occupation, HarperCollins, 2022, is a Canadian Bestseller, and received a Starred Review from Kirkus: “A gripping historical saga that skilfully addresses the trauma of the Holocaust.”
This historical fiction explores intergenerational trauma from the Latvian Holocaust, and was spurred by ancestors, as well as the discovery of my Jewish roots as an adult.
The Washington Post says, “The title of this haunting novel refers not only to the victims of Latvia’s Holocaust but also to their descendants, who carry the trauma of their ancestors.”
“…this is a read that will stay in the minds of those lucky enough to read it.”—New York Journal of Books
Here's a review from New York Times bestselling author Lucy Adlington (The Dressmakers of Auschwitz):
"Daughters of the Occupation is a neatly crafted saga of personal and national trauma, a story of tentative hope in a world of menace, as three generations of women strive to understand who they are, where they came from and how they can feel free."
My first three novels, Rachel’s Secret, Rachel’s Promise, and Rachel’s Hope (Second Story Press) were inspired by my grandmother’s escape from a Russian pogrom and subsequent journey to Shanghai. They received starred reviews, including Booklist and VOYA, and two were named Notable Books by the Sydney Taylor Book Awards announced by the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Before I started weaving my family through historical narratives, I was a journalist, writing about everything from green architecture to Tourette’s Syndrome for the Toronto Star, National Post, Canadian Jewish News, Maclean’s magazine, Canadian Living, and Reader’s Digest. (I did write about family in a few pieces; it was impossible to resist when all three of my children got lice at the same time, or when we hosted a Chernobyl child.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 5, 2016
I don’t even know where to start in describing the importance and emotional impact of “Rachel’s Secret.”
The most important aspect, to me, is that it fills a crucial gap in the historical fiction genre available to middle readers. Set in pre-revolutionary Russia, it explores the divide between Christians and Jews. Many unfamiliar words and sayings are introduced and explained in a way which feels natural to the flow of the story. The history is not limited to the Jews and life for all people in Russia at the time is portrayed in an accurate, yet easily understood, manner. Details of the horrors of pogroms are not sugar-coated, which shows a respect for the reader that I am sure they will recognize as well as appreciate.
The plot itself revolves around a murder which the protagonist, Rachel, witnesses and is forced to keep a secret due to all of the discrimination and corruption found in Russia at the time. It’s a catalyst that adds some suspense and keeps the reader engaged, while also presenting an opening into the complex world in which they live. I can’t applaud the author enough for making the book so educational without being dry.
I highly recommend “Rachel’s Secret” to all of those who are responsible for acquiring books for middle and high school library collections or classrooms. Those who home school will find it a good opening to Eastern European history. It’s a wonderful resource that will appeal to reluctant readers and advanced readers alike.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The most important aspect, to me, is that it fills a crucial gap in the historical fiction genre available to middle readers. Set in pre-revolutionary Russia, it explores the divide between Christians and Jews. Many unfamiliar words and sayings are introduced and explained in a way which feels natural to the flow of the story. The history is not limited to the Jews and life for all people in Russia at the time is portrayed in an accurate, yet easily understood, manner. Details of the horrors of pogroms are not sugar-coated, which shows a respect for the reader that I am sure they will recognize as well as appreciate.
The plot itself revolves around a murder which the protagonist, Rachel, witnesses and is forced to keep a secret due to all of the discrimination and corruption found in Russia at the time. It’s a catalyst that adds some suspense and keeps the reader engaged, while also presenting an opening into the complex world in which they live. I can’t applaud the author enough for making the book so educational without being dry.
I highly recommend “Rachel’s Secret” to all of those who are responsible for acquiring books for middle and high school library collections or classrooms. Those who home school will find it a good opening to Eastern European history. It’s a wonderful resource that will appeal to reluctant readers and advanced readers alike.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2022
Rachel's Secret combines the story of the author's grandmother, who escaped pogroms to flee to the USA, with a fictionalized version of a pogrom that took place in Kishinev (Chișinău) in 1903. Rachel, a Jewish teenager, has Christian friends, but is forced to keep a terrible secret about an event that stirs up the Christian population of Kishinev to riot and destroy Jewish lives, homes, and businesses.
Rachel's Secret would have worked better for me if there were a few chapters before chapter 1 that allowed the reader to befriend Rachel before she is traumatized. As I had no sense of who she was before her first trauma, it was difficult to empathize with her through it. Sanders also overplayed the sternness of Rachel's parents. While it makes sense that they would be protective of their children in a dangerous time, there was little sense of affection or familial closeness in the home. I'm tired of people acting like parents didn't learn to love their children until the 1950s and that all historical families were distant and afraid to display affection. Sergei's family had a good excuse for being dysfunctional--his father is an alcoholic--but Rachel's family should have been more affectionate earlier in the book, given how their relationships are portrayed later in the book.
There are two more books in this series, and I might pick them up someday, but I wasn't overly impressed with the first book. Since Rachel and her family are headed toward at the end of the book, I am mildly intrigued.
Recommended to readers of historical YA that want to learn more about life under pogroms and the Jewish diaspora.
Content warnings: violence, murder, antisemitism, parental death
Rachel's Secret would have worked better for me if there were a few chapters before chapter 1 that allowed the reader to befriend Rachel before she is traumatized. As I had no sense of who she was before her first trauma, it was difficult to empathize with her through it. Sanders also overplayed the sternness of Rachel's parents. While it makes sense that they would be protective of their children in a dangerous time, there was little sense of affection or familial closeness in the home. I'm tired of people acting like parents didn't learn to love their children until the 1950s and that all historical families were distant and afraid to display affection. Sergei's family had a good excuse for being dysfunctional--his father is an alcoholic--but Rachel's family should have been more affectionate earlier in the book, given how their relationships are portrayed later in the book.
There are two more books in this series, and I might pick them up someday, but I wasn't overly impressed with the first book. Since Rachel and her family are headed toward at the end of the book, I am mildly intrigued.
Recommended to readers of historical YA that want to learn more about life under pogroms and the Jewish diaspora.
Content warnings: violence, murder, antisemitism, parental death
April 11, 2012
I don't generally do reviews but since I got this as an advanced reader though a giveaway I thought the least I could do was share some thoughts about it.
This book was a very fast and engaging read, although it deals with a very emotionally charged slice of history. This is tough stuff.
My favorite genre is historical fiction and I have a deep interest in Jewish history. This book very much meet my reading needs. As someone who has studied history; European history and Jewish history this book provided an emotional connection to the fate of Russian Jews living in 1903, specifically during a violent and deadly pogrom. I was able to understand (as much as I can) the impact of the growing tension in Russia at this time especially for families, much more so that reading simple historical facts. I feel the author did a nice job creating characters you feel deeply for and therefore as things become out of hand between Christians and Jews your heart aches for everyone involved, especially our young 15-year old protagonist Rachel. I felt her character was a little too closely connected to Anne Frank but that can be forgiven.
My only real complaint about the book is that I feel the writing could have been smoother and lacked sophistication. I still would recommend "Rachel's Secret", It is a very compelling story that outlines an often overlooked piece of history, the few decades leading up to WWII and the Holocaust.
This book was a very fast and engaging read, although it deals with a very emotionally charged slice of history. This is tough stuff.
My favorite genre is historical fiction and I have a deep interest in Jewish history. This book very much meet my reading needs. As someone who has studied history; European history and Jewish history this book provided an emotional connection to the fate of Russian Jews living in 1903, specifically during a violent and deadly pogrom. I was able to understand (as much as I can) the impact of the growing tension in Russia at this time especially for families, much more so that reading simple historical facts. I feel the author did a nice job creating characters you feel deeply for and therefore as things become out of hand between Christians and Jews your heart aches for everyone involved, especially our young 15-year old protagonist Rachel. I felt her character was a little too closely connected to Anne Frank but that can be forgiven.
My only real complaint about the book is that I feel the writing could have been smoother and lacked sophistication. I still would recommend "Rachel's Secret", It is a very compelling story that outlines an often overlooked piece of history, the few decades leading up to WWII and the Holocaust.
April 7, 2016
A finished copy was provided by the publisher for review.
Rachel, a teenage Jew lives in Russia at the start of the 20th Century. After witnessing her Christian friend’s murder, she decides to keep it a secret to keep her family from harm. After the Jewish community is blamed for her friend’s death, tensions mount and an all out hate war explodes.
What I found the most remarkable about Rachel’s Secret is that this book is based on real-life events. Truth be told, I was a little shaken after reading this. So much anger, so much hate, I couldn’t believe it. Because someone is from a certain religion, they turn to hate and part blame.
Rachel being our main protagonist was a great character. I felt her emotions, and her actions to be clearly justified. Her loss from losing her friend, to all the horrible things that happen in the end. My heart felt for her. Just imagine your entire world and life ripped from you in one day. By people who were your neighbours. It’s sickening and saddening at the same time.
I felt the pacing to definitely be on point. It was very fast and I was never bored. The character arc and development needed a lot of work because l thought the emphasis on their progress was weak. Wonderful glossary in the back because there were a lot of Jewish words I didn’t know. It helped immensely.
A must-read for any historical fiction fan or those who love mysteries, Rachel’s Secret is just for you.
Rachel, a teenage Jew lives in Russia at the start of the 20th Century. After witnessing her Christian friend’s murder, she decides to keep it a secret to keep her family from harm. After the Jewish community is blamed for her friend’s death, tensions mount and an all out hate war explodes.
What I found the most remarkable about Rachel’s Secret is that this book is based on real-life events. Truth be told, I was a little shaken after reading this. So much anger, so much hate, I couldn’t believe it. Because someone is from a certain religion, they turn to hate and part blame.
Rachel being our main protagonist was a great character. I felt her emotions, and her actions to be clearly justified. Her loss from losing her friend, to all the horrible things that happen in the end. My heart felt for her. Just imagine your entire world and life ripped from you in one day. By people who were your neighbours. It’s sickening and saddening at the same time.
I felt the pacing to definitely be on point. It was very fast and I was never bored. The character arc and development needed a lot of work because l thought the emphasis on their progress was weak. Wonderful glossary in the back because there were a lot of Jewish words I didn’t know. It helped immensely.
A must-read for any historical fiction fan or those who love mysteries, Rachel’s Secret is just for you.
November 19, 2015
Read this in one day - I loved it that much! I love a writer who can write about things that other writers dare not touch such as the events in this book. There is only ONE fault I can give this book, which is too many characters - I think it was too short to include as many people as it did, as I got very confused most likely due to my lack of knowledge of most of the names used due to living in England.
May 4, 2023
I really liked this book. Book 1 of the 3 in this series. I didn’t realize it was based on true events, until the end. The WWII/Holocaust books I read usually take place in the 40s, during the war. This book was interesting in that it took place in 1903 and shows how antisemitism in Europe started many years before WWII. This book moved along very quickly, with no fillers. Most of the time the story moved along so quickly, that I didn’t have enough time to build an emotional connection with the characters.
January 1, 2016
For Rachel, the village of Kishinev in Russia is not big enough to hold her dreams. While her friends are thinking of romance and marriage, she's more interested in reading and writing. Now Rachel's friend Mikhail is also thinking of romance - with her! She likes Mikhail as a friend but not as a lover and besides, Jews and gentiles can't be together. When Rachel witnesses Mikhail's murder, she believes it was all her fault because someone saw him kiss her. She keeps her secret to herself. Mikhail's friend Sergei wants to get to know Rachel better but he always acts like an idiot whenever she's around. As Mikhail's murder kicks off a wave of anti-Semitic fights, Sergei takes a stand to fight injustice. When something terrible happens, he feels powerless, a feeling Rachel also feels trapped in the middle of it all. After an unspeakable tragedy, Rachel knows the time for telling her secret has finally come. Will anyone believe her, a girl and a Jew? Sergei does and he will fight for her and for justice all he can.
I started this ages ago and put it down. I felt the writing style was too juvenile for the subject matter, the motive for murder was completely stupid and the author let the reader see the murder so who did it and why is never a mystery. After reading the final volume in the trilogy, I was curious enough to return to this book. I found myself more interested in Sergei in this book and perhaps I would have been more interested in him in Rachel's Hope if I had that connection to him. There's not a lot of plot involving Rachel until the middle of the book. I was surprised the big event happened in the middle and not at the end. The rest was resolution. I found the tragic event absolutely terrible. I have heard about pogroms but I had never actually read one as it happened before. It was completely awful. The writing style is young enough for middle grades but the violence bumps it to young adult level. I especially liked the aftermath and learning how everyone coped and what happened to the various characters.
I didn't really connect with Rachel in this story. She's just beginning to dream of her future but I can identify with the longing to leave her small town and explore the wider world. I also identified with Sergei and his hot temper and fight for justice. I didn't buy the budding romance at all though. Sergei is wrong for Rachel, religion not withstanding. He's too hot tempered and quick to shoot his mouth off. She's a writer and knows to choose her words carefully. There's no real romance in this story, just a quick kiss.
I started this ages ago and put it down. I felt the writing style was too juvenile for the subject matter, the motive for murder was completely stupid and the author let the reader see the murder so who did it and why is never a mystery. After reading the final volume in the trilogy, I was curious enough to return to this book. I found myself more interested in Sergei in this book and perhaps I would have been more interested in him in Rachel's Hope if I had that connection to him. There's not a lot of plot involving Rachel until the middle of the book. I was surprised the big event happened in the middle and not at the end. The rest was resolution. I found the tragic event absolutely terrible. I have heard about pogroms but I had never actually read one as it happened before. It was completely awful. The writing style is young enough for middle grades but the violence bumps it to young adult level. I especially liked the aftermath and learning how everyone coped and what happened to the various characters.
I didn't really connect with Rachel in this story. She's just beginning to dream of her future but I can identify with the longing to leave her small town and explore the wider world. I also identified with Sergei and his hot temper and fight for justice. I didn't buy the budding romance at all though. Sergei is wrong for Rachel, religion not withstanding. He's too hot tempered and quick to shoot his mouth off. She's a writer and knows to choose her words carefully. There's no real romance in this story, just a quick kiss.
November 16, 2014
A young adult book, this is a fictionalized account of the 1903 programs in Russia. The author uses some of the real characters involved. The level of violence is not minimalized but also not gruesomely depicted. This is the first of a trilogy about a young Jewish girl and her family. Highly recommended for middle school and early high school.
September 15, 2015
I really love this book. I wasn't sure about it when I borrowed it at the library but as I started reading and got deeper into it it was hard to put down. I recommend it to anyone who likes history and likes to read more of a story instead of lots of facts thrown at you. And the author uses real events and many real people as her characters.
November 14, 2015
*3.75*
Such a good and emotional read. Just can't believe it was based on true events. I can't believe people were actually treated like that because of their religion! Recommend this book to everyone even though it's tough to read, it really opens your eyes.
a full review will be up on my blog on Monday the 16th www.themysteryreader.wordpress.com
Such a good and emotional read. Just can't believe it was based on true events. I can't believe people were actually treated like that because of their religion! Recommend this book to everyone even though it's tough to read, it really opens your eyes.
a full review will be up on my blog on Monday the 16th www.themysteryreader.wordpress.com
February 7, 2012
Reviewed this for Quill & Quire. While I think the novel did a solid job at humanizing the events of the Kishinev pogrom through the character of Rachel, I found the writing to be extremely overwrought and was disappointed at how that really took away from the overall impact of the book.
July 29, 2021
This book is set in Russia before the Russian Revolution and it opened my eyes to the pre-Nazi persecution of Jews through violent pogroms. No wonder so many immigrated to America. Well researched and well written. I loved how the author alternated between the Jewish and Christian points of view.
August 13, 2021
Mixed feelings here. Interesting from a historical viewpoint and the author addresses some tough issues well. The two main characters relationship was well done. But generally the characters could have had a little more depth. A few points were a little short of realistic.
May 8, 2023
Spoiler - I love historical fiction. This was a good story but l think the acceptance of Rachel's story was accepted too easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
a patient of mine lended me this trilogy. i loved that there were true events and real people that were part of this story
May 31, 2013
Rachel is a Jew living in Kishinev, Russia, in the winter of 1903. Rachel knows she's no different from the Christians; unfortunately, the Christians don't believe the same. After the murder of Rachel's best friend, Mikhail, the Christian community blames the killing on the Jews. Rachel knows what really happened - but giving away her secret may end up hurting more people than helping. As the Christians strike out against the Jewish people of Kishinev, Rachel finds a friend in Sergei, a Christian boy her age. But when decisions have to be made, how will Rachel choose between safety and doing the right thing, and friendship or forbidden feelings?
Rachel's Secret isn't the type of book I would normally read - it's based in a foreign country, in the past, and it's written in third-person. These are three things that would drive me away from a book, normally. But I decided to give it a whirl and ended up pleasantly surprised. This book isn't like most other books based in the past which I've read before - I found I could identify with the characters better, and compare their lives to mine without seeing an incredibly drastic difference. However, I could still feel the aura of olden ages. This is a feat every other author who's based their book in the past with non-time traveling characters has not been able to do. I congratulate Shelly Sanders for proving it can be done.
I found this story to be very fast-paced. Mikhail is killed almost immediately in the beginning, after I believe three different scenes: one featuring Rachel and Mikhail together, one of just Rachel, and then one of Mikhail, where he gets angry, races to the skating pond, and gets murdered. Then there's a bit of build-up of tension, but then it's back to being fast-paced as the Jews are attacked by the Christians. Then the consequences are dealt with and that's pretty much the whole story. I wish there had been more detail building up the characters, so we had gotten to know Mikhail better before he was murdered. Feeling some emotions over his death, even just remorse, would have livened up the book a bit more.
I found Rachel and Sergei's romance to be a bit awkward, stilted, and slightly unrealistic. I thought it was sweet, that the two of them could find positive emotions amidst the chaos, but first off, they were both extremely young. Age fourteen? I understand that everyone married much younger in the early twentieth century, but I don't think, even then, that real relationships could have been formed that would last a lifetime. Secondly, they didn't really know each other before Mikhail's death, but as soon as he is out of the way as competition, they began to feel things for each other. Why now, suddenly? Why not before? They didn't help each other through the grief or anything else that would create a bond between them. Thirdly, there was very little time spent between these two characters that would provide them with something to base their relationship upon. They were only together maybe four times throughout this novel, and most of the time their interactions were very brief; a few sentences here, a moment of content silence there. If these issues were amended, I would have found the relationship to be very much more realistic and enticing.
Rachel's Secret unexpectedly captured my interest, after I got past the very beginning. Overall, I would give this book a rating of three stars, since I enjoyed the storyline, even if I didn't enjoy the location, time, and person it was written in. It was a very good first novel for Shelly Sanders, though. I would recommend this book to anyone who looks for mystery, young love, and difficult prejudices.
Rachel's Secret isn't the type of book I would normally read - it's based in a foreign country, in the past, and it's written in third-person. These are three things that would drive me away from a book, normally. But I decided to give it a whirl and ended up pleasantly surprised. This book isn't like most other books based in the past which I've read before - I found I could identify with the characters better, and compare their lives to mine without seeing an incredibly drastic difference. However, I could still feel the aura of olden ages. This is a feat every other author who's based their book in the past with non-time traveling characters has not been able to do. I congratulate Shelly Sanders for proving it can be done.
I found this story to be very fast-paced. Mikhail is killed almost immediately in the beginning, after I believe three different scenes: one featuring Rachel and Mikhail together, one of just Rachel, and then one of Mikhail, where he gets angry, races to the skating pond, and gets murdered. Then there's a bit of build-up of tension, but then it's back to being fast-paced as the Jews are attacked by the Christians. Then the consequences are dealt with and that's pretty much the whole story. I wish there had been more detail building up the characters, so we had gotten to know Mikhail better before he was murdered. Feeling some emotions over his death, even just remorse, would have livened up the book a bit more.
I found Rachel and Sergei's romance to be a bit awkward, stilted, and slightly unrealistic. I thought it was sweet, that the two of them could find positive emotions amidst the chaos, but first off, they were both extremely young. Age fourteen? I understand that everyone married much younger in the early twentieth century, but I don't think, even then, that real relationships could have been formed that would last a lifetime. Secondly, they didn't really know each other before Mikhail's death, but as soon as he is out of the way as competition, they began to feel things for each other. Why now, suddenly? Why not before? They didn't help each other through the grief or anything else that would create a bond between them. Thirdly, there was very little time spent between these two characters that would provide them with something to base their relationship upon. They were only together maybe four times throughout this novel, and most of the time their interactions were very brief; a few sentences here, a moment of content silence there. If these issues were amended, I would have found the relationship to be very much more realistic and enticing.
Rachel's Secret unexpectedly captured my interest, after I got past the very beginning. Overall, I would give this book a rating of three stars, since I enjoyed the storyline, even if I didn't enjoy the location, time, and person it was written in. It was a very good first novel for Shelly Sanders, though. I would recommend this book to anyone who looks for mystery, young love, and difficult prejudices.
Want to read
October 3, 2016This book is a story about an Amish family living in Ohio in 1855. It addresses the challenges they face due to their traditions and beliefs. They struggle with what would be God's will when they are faced with caring for an injured outsider. The book ends keeping you wondering about what happens next. It is part of a series and I may need to read the next book.
This was one of my book club reads and very easy to read.
This was one of my book club reads and very easy to read.
August 12, 2015
A promising start to this trilogy, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. YA novels are sometimes a toss-up; they can be shockingly awesome or heaping piles of stinky stuff. It all depends on which part of the YA audience the author is targeting, I think, and how much effort goes into telling a truly great story. This one falls on the awesome side.
First off, I was surprised by how much the author DIDN’T shy away from the tragedy, drama, suspense, and horror that revolve around the early 20th century pogroms in Russia. Events are shown in all their horrific and bloody boldness; giving the reader an immediate portrayal of these sad historical events.
I found this go-for-broke portrayal refreshing as its stuff that the younger generations really need to be exposed to, in my opinion. But if you want to protect your kids longer, maybe screen this one first.
I admired the amount of real historical research that was incorporated into the storyline, too. Real people and real event sequences found themselves woven into Rachel’s story with seamless effort. The times and effort the author put into getting her facts right shows.
Our leads, Rachel and Sergei, made me invested in the story even more. Very human and understandably young, the story in these horrific surroundings seems more immediate due to them. Rachel is trying to find an identity for herself outside of her society’s expectations, dreaming dreams bigger than her circumstances. Sergei is rebelling against the expectations of his father as well, standing up for his dreams of a different life as well as his own inner moral code that differs significantly from his fathers. How these two deal with the trauma and tragedy of the Kishinev pogrom pulled at the heartstrings and made me live the events with them.
This was a winner of a YA historical novel. The author took her time in her research and portrayal, giving homage to the original material at the same time making it her own for her story. Brutality wasn’t shied away from, giving the book extra weight. Our lead characters made the story very immediate and close to my heart, their young eyes providing fresh horror and depth to the intolerance of anti-Semitism. This is the first in a trilogy, and I can’t wait to follow Rachel and Sergei as they travel the world and follow their dreams.
First off, I was surprised by how much the author DIDN’T shy away from the tragedy, drama, suspense, and horror that revolve around the early 20th century pogroms in Russia. Events are shown in all their horrific and bloody boldness; giving the reader an immediate portrayal of these sad historical events.
I found this go-for-broke portrayal refreshing as its stuff that the younger generations really need to be exposed to, in my opinion. But if you want to protect your kids longer, maybe screen this one first.
I admired the amount of real historical research that was incorporated into the storyline, too. Real people and real event sequences found themselves woven into Rachel’s story with seamless effort. The times and effort the author put into getting her facts right shows.
Our leads, Rachel and Sergei, made me invested in the story even more. Very human and understandably young, the story in these horrific surroundings seems more immediate due to them. Rachel is trying to find an identity for herself outside of her society’s expectations, dreaming dreams bigger than her circumstances. Sergei is rebelling against the expectations of his father as well, standing up for his dreams of a different life as well as his own inner moral code that differs significantly from his fathers. How these two deal with the trauma and tragedy of the Kishinev pogrom pulled at the heartstrings and made me live the events with them.
This was a winner of a YA historical novel. The author took her time in her research and portrayal, giving homage to the original material at the same time making it her own for her story. Brutality wasn’t shied away from, giving the book extra weight. Our lead characters made the story very immediate and close to my heart, their young eyes providing fresh horror and depth to the intolerance of anti-Semitism. This is the first in a trilogy, and I can’t wait to follow Rachel and Sergei as they travel the world and follow their dreams.
June 16, 2016
Rachel's Secret by Shelly Sanders is a fictionalized account of a real event in Kishinev, Russia in 1903.
This book started off with a group enjoying the day ice skating on the River Byrk. It was customary for the Christians and Jewish to not mix socially but this day they all having fun on the ice.
Mikhail Rybachenko had a crush on Rachel, a Jew, who lives in Kishinev. Mikhail didn’t want to work at the family factory like his grandfather wanted, he wanted to he wanted to choose his own life. He wanted Rachel to be in his life, that would never be accepted but he went ahead and on that day kissed her.
Rachel pulled back. She wasn’t ready for marriage or children period. Her dream was to be a famous woman writer, something unheard of in her time and place. She was worried that people would see them and she told him to stop and later went home when her sister called her to help with the supper. She returned later for a forgotten shawl andwitnessed the murder of Mikhail by his uncle and cousin. She couldn’t tell anyone for fear of retaliation against her family. She wanted justice and she missed Mikhail badly but it wasn’t wise to reveal her secret at that time.
Newspaper articles and gossip made the Christians blame the Jews for the murder of Mikhail. Anger erupted quickly and on Easter Sunday, drunken mobs formed, many were killed and injured, houses and shops were destroyed. This book told of the terror of the bludgeoning and stabbings that happened in front of family members and the other destruction of where the Jewish lived.
There is a short summary in the back of this book that told of the real events in Kishinev in 1903. Many details in the book were true. The author wrote in this book that Leo Tolstoy protested the pogrom.Responses to this tragedy were heard from around the world. This pogrom was the historical beginning of the Holocaust.
The story is well written and I could not lay it down, I urge you if you are interested in knowing the background of the Holocaust to read this book.
I received this book from the GoodReads program and that in no way influenced my review.
This book started off with a group enjoying the day ice skating on the River Byrk. It was customary for the Christians and Jewish to not mix socially but this day they all having fun on the ice.
Mikhail Rybachenko had a crush on Rachel, a Jew, who lives in Kishinev. Mikhail didn’t want to work at the family factory like his grandfather wanted, he wanted to he wanted to choose his own life. He wanted Rachel to be in his life, that would never be accepted but he went ahead and on that day kissed her.
Rachel pulled back. She wasn’t ready for marriage or children period. Her dream was to be a famous woman writer, something unheard of in her time and place. She was worried that people would see them and she told him to stop and later went home when her sister called her to help with the supper. She returned later for a forgotten shawl andwitnessed the murder of Mikhail by his uncle and cousin. She couldn’t tell anyone for fear of retaliation against her family. She wanted justice and she missed Mikhail badly but it wasn’t wise to reveal her secret at that time.
Newspaper articles and gossip made the Christians blame the Jews for the murder of Mikhail. Anger erupted quickly and on Easter Sunday, drunken mobs formed, many were killed and injured, houses and shops were destroyed. This book told of the terror of the bludgeoning and stabbings that happened in front of family members and the other destruction of where the Jewish lived.
There is a short summary in the back of this book that told of the real events in Kishinev in 1903. Many details in the book were true. The author wrote in this book that Leo Tolstoy protested the pogrom.Responses to this tragedy were heard from around the world. This pogrom was the historical beginning of the Holocaust.
The story is well written and I could not lay it down, I urge you if you are interested in knowing the background of the Holocaust to read this book.
I received this book from the GoodReads program and that in no way influenced my review.
December 27, 2012
Originally posted at: A Girl that Likes Books
I got this book through a LybraryThing Giveaway. When I first asked for it I thought it was going to be mostly a love story under a lot of pressure. I was wrong.
First of all, I had no idea that it was based/inspired in a real character, in this case Sander's grandmother. This explains all the details in this book. I love romanticised history and in this case the author had the "advantage" of having the details from a person who was actually there, and luckily survived such a terrible moment in history.
I've always liked books that explain traditions and this book did a lovely work, both with Christian and Jewish ones. Also, seeing all the riots through the eyes of young people was something I really appreciated. Usually is the adults that provoke this type of events. Kids more often than not, think the way we tell them too, and this book showed this once again. All the prejudice against, in this case, the Jewish people, came from the adults that felt threatened and rumors were started and fed by the same people. Is sad to think that this type of behaviour has no changed; people feel threatened by what is strange to them and let fear take the best of their rationality.
I gave this book a 5 because it showed the sides of the story in a very human way. I liked the fact that the struggle Rachel has inside is not just the fact that she knows who killed her friend, she is fighting against 2 prejudices, her religion and the fact that she is a girl.
I appreciated the fact that Sergei grows in front of our eyes. The juvenile jealousy against Rachel taking "too much time with his friend" replaced by a questioning young adult, someone who listens to others and makes his own mind.
Without ruining the end for you I have to tell you that I wanted a different end, but this one was as full of emotion as the one I wanted.
I got this book through a LybraryThing Giveaway. When I first asked for it I thought it was going to be mostly a love story under a lot of pressure. I was wrong.
First of all, I had no idea that it was based/inspired in a real character, in this case Sander's grandmother. This explains all the details in this book. I love romanticised history and in this case the author had the "advantage" of having the details from a person who was actually there, and luckily survived such a terrible moment in history.
I've always liked books that explain traditions and this book did a lovely work, both with Christian and Jewish ones. Also, seeing all the riots through the eyes of young people was something I really appreciated. Usually is the adults that provoke this type of events. Kids more often than not, think the way we tell them too, and this book showed this once again. All the prejudice against, in this case, the Jewish people, came from the adults that felt threatened and rumors were started and fed by the same people. Is sad to think that this type of behaviour has no changed; people feel threatened by what is strange to them and let fear take the best of their rationality.
I gave this book a 5 because it showed the sides of the story in a very human way. I liked the fact that the struggle Rachel has inside is not just the fact that she knows who killed her friend, she is fighting against 2 prejudices, her religion and the fact that she is a girl.
I appreciated the fact that Sergei grows in front of our eyes. The juvenile jealousy against Rachel taking "too much time with his friend" replaced by a questioning young adult, someone who listens to others and makes his own mind.
Without ruining the end for you I have to tell you that I wanted a different end, but this one was as full of emotion as the one I wanted.
July 26, 2012
Novel received from Goodreads.com giveaway
"Rachel's Secret" is historically accurate and presently relevant. As Rachel, a Jewish teen, is enjoying growing up in her town, she witnesses the murder of her friend Mikhail. Because she is Jewish, she knows that she cannot report the murders to the police because she will not be believed. Rachel must come to terms with the knowledge she has of the murders as the newspaper begins to blame the Jews for the murder of the boy. As Rachel lives through the pogrom of her town, she must decide what to do about her "secret". American teenage readers of this book will learn that hatred of a group of people can lead to terror and death. Our kids have no idea that things like this have happened. "Rachel's Secret" tells the story from a teenage point of view so that it is relatable for American teens.
My only complaint is that when Sergei signs his friend Menahem out of the orphanage, he is asked for his phone number. The novel is set in 1903. A quick edit would solve this problem!
"Rachel's Secret" is historically accurate and presently relevant. As Rachel, a Jewish teen, is enjoying growing up in her town, she witnesses the murder of her friend Mikhail. Because she is Jewish, she knows that she cannot report the murders to the police because she will not be believed. Rachel must come to terms with the knowledge she has of the murders as the newspaper begins to blame the Jews for the murder of the boy. As Rachel lives through the pogrom of her town, she must decide what to do about her "secret". American teenage readers of this book will learn that hatred of a group of people can lead to terror and death. Our kids have no idea that things like this have happened. "Rachel's Secret" tells the story from a teenage point of view so that it is relatable for American teens.
My only complaint is that when Sergei signs his friend Menahem out of the orphanage, he is asked for his phone number. The novel is set in 1903. A quick edit would solve this problem!
May 26, 2016
Rachel is a Jewish girl living in Russia in 1903. When her Christian friend Mikhail is killed, there's an uproar in the community, with many of Christians claiming that the Jews were responsible for the murder in order to use the blood in their rituals. Rachel, who actually saw the murder and knows who is guilty, is terrified that if she comes forward, she and her family will all be at risk. As anti-Jewish sentiments ran wild in their city, Rachel forms an unlikely friendship with Sergei, a Christian boy whose father, chief of police, seems content to let violence erupt against the Jews.
Based on actual events, this is a worthy piece of historical fiction as it shows an important piece of history, as well as delivering messages about prejudice, propaganda, and friendship. Sometimes the writing seemed somewhat awkward, such as in a scene where Sergei lectures his father about doing nothing to do stop the pogrom, but overall, it's one that any conscientious reader looking to learn more about history should read.
Based on actual events, this is a worthy piece of historical fiction as it shows an important piece of history, as well as delivering messages about prejudice, propaganda, and friendship. Sometimes the writing seemed somewhat awkward, such as in a scene where Sergei lectures his father about doing nothing to do stop the pogrom, but overall, it's one that any conscientious reader looking to learn more about history should read.
April 25, 2016
Rachel is a young Jewish girl living in 1903 Russia. Relations between the Christians and the Jews are tenuous, and when a young Christian man is murdered, rumours abound and fingers are pointed at the Jews. Emotions escalate into tragedy when riots break out and a whole part of the community is left homeless and some orphaned. Rachel is caught up in the middle of the drama because she witnesses the murder but is afraid to come forward. She also dreams of being a writer, but is appalled at all the lies that are being published about her people. Rachel and her family struggle to survive in their new reality and try to have hope for the future.
I enjoyed reading about this lesser-known historical event. Rachel was a young, innocent voice that went through quick character development and maturity due to circumstances. The story didn't blow me away but it was thorough and detailed for any historical fiction lovers.
I enjoyed reading about this lesser-known historical event. Rachel was a young, innocent voice that went through quick character development and maturity due to circumstances. The story didn't blow me away but it was thorough and detailed for any historical fiction lovers.
September 24, 2012
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. In this skillful blending of real events, both on the world front (the murder of a Christian boy leads to catastrophic riots against the Jewish population of Kishinev, Russia) and her grandmother's personal life history (how she fled to the safety of Shanghai), Shelley Sanders has a winner! It is a story so captivating, that I had to learn more about these real historical events. In the process I learned about a country, I never knew existed. Kishinev, Russia is now in present day Moldova. At the time, the events were so shocking, that the entire world watched as they unfolded. This murder and another led to disastrous consequences for the Jewish residents of the city, including tremendous loss of life and personal property in a series of pogroms. I too hope for a sequel to see if Rachel and her friend reunite later in life.
September 28, 2012
I was just sitting at the library & saw this on the new YA shelf - took me about half an hour's light reading to finish, though I moved fairly quickly.
The historical part was pretty much why I read it. The characters were okay but nothing really attached me to them. I really just wanted to know about this pogrom as it's a chapter of history I know little about.
The writing looks like it's a debut novel. Author definitely could go places - solid grammar and style - but characters could be more interesting; individual writing style could be more defined.
Side note - character who died on the backcover - please - don't give me his death from his POV. It's dreamy and melodramatic but I have a hard time connecting to a historical fiction book that does that in the first twenty pages. Reserve it for a spec fic book or one in which the character is not truly dead.
The historical part was pretty much why I read it. The characters were okay but nothing really attached me to them. I really just wanted to know about this pogrom as it's a chapter of history I know little about.
The writing looks like it's a debut novel. Author definitely could go places - solid grammar and style - but characters could be more interesting; individual writing style could be more defined.
Side note - character who died on the backcover - please - don't give me his death from his POV. It's dreamy and melodramatic but I have a hard time connecting to a historical fiction book that does that in the first twenty pages. Reserve it for a spec fic book or one in which the character is not truly dead.
June 30, 2012
I won an advanced readers copy of this young adult novel from goodreads. The book is based on actual events in a Russian town in 1903 where the murder of a teenaged boy and misinformation and lies published in the newspaper led to a riot where peasants vandalize hundreds of properties, kill 50+ Jews, and injure hundreds more.
The book was told from the perspective of a 14 year old Jewish girl named Rachel and the 14 year old Christian son of the police chief. These two characters help make this telling of a dark moment in history more approachable for young readers.
September 19, 2012
(I received this book through Goodreads first read giveaways.)
Rachel, a Jewish teen from Russia in the 1900s, witnesses the death of a friend by a police officer. Unable to turn to the police for assistance, she confides in another friend, Sergei. Sergei seeks a way to help Rachel deal with the murder and with the way Christian Russians are treating Jews at this time period.
The book is set in a delicate time period and covers a serious issue. I enjoyed reading it and continue to be appalled that people can treat one another this way due to mere differences of belief.
Rachel, a Jewish teen from Russia in the 1900s, witnesses the death of a friend by a police officer. Unable to turn to the police for assistance, she confides in another friend, Sergei. Sergei seeks a way to help Rachel deal with the murder and with the way Christian Russians are treating Jews at this time period.
The book is set in a delicate time period and covers a serious issue. I enjoyed reading it and continue to be appalled that people can treat one another this way due to mere differences of belief.
March 2, 2012
I won this book in a firstreads giveaway. I read this book in a day and enjoyed every word. Rachel is a Jewess who lives in Russia in the early 1900s. She witnesses a murder off a friend who is a non Jew. She is scared to to tell anyone for fear of her families safety. The entire town blames the Jewish community and starts terrorizing them to the point of murder. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history,
September 16, 2012
Although, in general, I felt the writing of this book was above good, but not excellent, for being targeted as adult literature, I thought it was much more targeted to a YA or even Juvenile audience. I found myself periodically bored by the story because of the "language" style.
Had I gone into it with this perspective rather than pulling it out of the adult section of my library, it probably would have been a 3-3.5 star read.
Had I gone into it with this perspective rather than pulling it out of the adult section of my library, it probably would have been a 3-3.5 star read.
August 20, 2014
This is a very quick, easy-to-read fiction about a heart-wrenching historical event - the 1903 Kishinev Massacre of Jews in Russia. The writing suggests the book is targeted for a "young adult" audience. In spite of that, I am intrigued with the story to want to continue with the 2nd and 3rd books in the "Rachel trilogy".
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