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The Forbidden Daughter: The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor
The unforgettable true story of a girl born in the Kovno Ghetto, and the dangerous risk her parents faced in defying the barbarous Nazi law prohibiting childbirth. Elida Friedman was not supposed to have been born. In the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, Nazi law forbade Jewish women from giving birth. Yet despite the fear of death, Dr. Jonah Friedman and his wife Tzila, choose to bring a daughter into the world, a little girl they name Elida—meaning non-birth in Hebrew. To increase their child’s chance of survival, the Friedmans smuggle the baby out of the ghetto and into the arms of a non-Jewish farm family when Elida is only three months old. It is the beginning of a life marked by constant upheaval. When the Nazis raze the entire Kovno Ghetto, Jonah and Tzila are among those killed. Their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the kindness of strangers. Despite her circumstances, Elida grows up, changing families, countries, continents, and even names, countless times. Surviving the war and the Holocaust that stole her parents, the young woman never gives up hope. In her lifelong pursuit to find love and belonging, she works to rebuild her identity and triumph over her terrible circumstances. A moving, powerful chronicle of overcoming impossible odds , The Forbidden Daughter is the true story of one unforgettable woman and her will to survive.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 15, 2024
I received an ARC of “The Forbidden Daughter: The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor” by Zipora Klein Jakob from NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t lie. This book was an extremely difficult biography to read. After the first few chapters, I had to set this book aside for weeks so that I could focus on my own emotions—emotions that the author was able to pull out of me. Elida aka Rita aka Gita suffered unbelievably.
Born clandestinely in Lithuania during the Holocaust and secreted out of the ghetto, raised until just after the war by gentiles, then redeemed by unrelated Holocaust survivors, and later adopted by people she ***was*** related to, Elida’s life was one giant, uncontrollable roller coaster of grief. Added to all of this, her tragic death at such a young age—and the circumstances surrounding her death—made me angry. How is it that a newborn can lose her parents to Nazi’s only to lose her own life to later to terrorists? I don’t have the answer to that.
Compounding all of this is the fact that I found many of the so-called adults in young Elida’s life were simply disgusting. Yes, the gentile Lithuanian family took her in, saving Elida from death. But this woman, Stanislava, believed she was “entitled” to payment for caring for Elida for three years (she was indeed paid for her “services”). And yes, the Holocaust survivors who cared for her afterwards had suffered unspeakable tragedies of their own. But does that give a green light to physical and emotional abuse, including when they told Elida’s blood relative to quit visiting them?
Elida was a brilliant child, and later became a brilliant woman. Elida could have earned a PhD in Slavic Languages, and had already been accepted to Harvard. But, like many women prior to the Women’s Movement, she chose her husband’s career over her own academic aspirations. Yes, Elida suffered. But so did all of the people who loved her, including her adopted father and relative, Lazar, who it seems became inconsolable after her death.
And yet, this story is also a tale of triumph: Elida lived. She excelled academically. She found peace with her adoptive parents. And she gave birth to three children who in turn brought five additional children—Elida’s grandchildren—into this world. Klein Jakob showed how many simple acts of bravery loosely woven together enabled an entire lineage to survive. Although Elida’s life and that of her husband and her parents were cut short, she lives on, as do all of her descendants and relatives.
Klein Jakob did a ***fantastic*** job of laying out Elida’s life from prior to Elida’s birth until her death, meticulously piecing the story together. I heartily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This is a story about survival, strength, redemption, and love. And how, in the end, love won.
I can’t lie. This book was an extremely difficult biography to read. After the first few chapters, I had to set this book aside for weeks so that I could focus on my own emotions—emotions that the author was able to pull out of me. Elida aka Rita aka Gita suffered unbelievably.
Born clandestinely in Lithuania during the Holocaust and secreted out of the ghetto, raised until just after the war by gentiles, then redeemed by unrelated Holocaust survivors, and later adopted by people she ***was*** related to, Elida’s life was one giant, uncontrollable roller coaster of grief. Added to all of this, her tragic death at such a young age—and the circumstances surrounding her death—made me angry. How is it that a newborn can lose her parents to Nazi’s only to lose her own life to later to terrorists? I don’t have the answer to that.
Compounding all of this is the fact that I found many of the so-called adults in young Elida’s life were simply disgusting. Yes, the gentile Lithuanian family took her in, saving Elida from death. But this woman, Stanislava, believed she was “entitled” to payment for caring for Elida for three years (she was indeed paid for her “services”). And yes, the Holocaust survivors who cared for her afterwards had suffered unspeakable tragedies of their own. But does that give a green light to physical and emotional abuse, including when they told Elida’s blood relative to quit visiting them?
Elida was a brilliant child, and later became a brilliant woman. Elida could have earned a PhD in Slavic Languages, and had already been accepted to Harvard. But, like many women prior to the Women’s Movement, she chose her husband’s career over her own academic aspirations. Yes, Elida suffered. But so did all of the people who loved her, including her adopted father and relative, Lazar, who it seems became inconsolable after her death.
And yet, this story is also a tale of triumph: Elida lived. She excelled academically. She found peace with her adoptive parents. And she gave birth to three children who in turn brought five additional children—Elida’s grandchildren—into this world. Klein Jakob showed how many simple acts of bravery loosely woven together enabled an entire lineage to survive. Although Elida’s life and that of her husband and her parents were cut short, she lives on, as do all of her descendants and relatives.
Klein Jakob did a ***fantastic*** job of laying out Elida’s life from prior to Elida’s birth until her death, meticulously piecing the story together. I heartily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This is a story about survival, strength, redemption, and love. And how, in the end, love won.
April 16, 2024
The title and description of this book really intrigued me. Holocaust stories are always so heartbreaking, and I have great respect for Elida’s biological parents. They were so brave and selfless.
The rest of Elida’s story kept my attention most of the time, and I’m glad her cousin was able to research the history of her life. I know I’d love to do that with some of my ancestors, especially ones I know have special untold stories or were known for their character.
I waited and waited for Elida to grow/change/mature. I really wanted to like her, and I know she had a LOT of childhood trauma and confusion. I also know this isn’t fiction, so the plot is what it is. It’s pretty well written (except that I had a hard time keeping track of how old she actually was at various points!), but the story of Elida herself was not really inspiring. It was just sad 😞 and truly sobering.
The majority of the time i prefer to read about individuals who inspite of odds and difficulties care and make a difference, even in small ways. I especially love reading about how Jesus Christ changes lives, because He truly does make the difference. So this was definitely not my normal read. Elida’s personal choices (disclaimer: I’m NOT speaking of all the terrible things that happened in younger childhood, but rather her personal decisions, especially when she was given love and true family) give a stellar example of what NOT to do. This is a story of a lost and lonely soul searching for fulfillment.
The end caught me off guard and was very sad.
Conclusion: So, was I glad I read this book? Yes. It was engaging, heart rending, and made me think. I’d like to read another bio on a Jewish child from that era. I’ve seen and read other WW2 holocaust stories, but this was the first I’ve read about a child born in the middle of such horrific events.
**I don’t recommend this for those under 18 due to a few random inappropriate moments/unnecessary details and the lack of character growth.
I recieved an ARC copy of this story from Netgalley These thoughts are my own.
The rest of Elida’s story kept my attention most of the time, and I’m glad her cousin was able to research the history of her life. I know I’d love to do that with some of my ancestors, especially ones I know have special untold stories or were known for their character.
I waited and waited for Elida to grow/change/mature. I really wanted to like her, and I know she had a LOT of childhood trauma and confusion. I also know this isn’t fiction, so the plot is what it is. It’s pretty well written (except that I had a hard time keeping track of how old she actually was at various points!), but the story of Elida herself was not really inspiring. It was just sad 😞 and truly sobering.
The majority of the time i prefer to read about individuals who inspite of odds and difficulties care and make a difference, even in small ways. I especially love reading about how Jesus Christ changes lives, because He truly does make the difference. So this was definitely not my normal read. Elida’s personal choices (disclaimer: I’m NOT speaking of all the terrible things that happened in younger childhood, but rather her personal decisions, especially when she was given love and true family) give a stellar example of what NOT to do. This is a story of a lost and lonely soul searching for fulfillment.
The end caught me off guard and was very sad.
Conclusion: So, was I glad I read this book? Yes. It was engaging, heart rending, and made me think. I’d like to read another bio on a Jewish child from that era. I’ve seen and read other WW2 holocaust stories, but this was the first I’ve read about a child born in the middle of such horrific events.
**I don’t recommend this for those under 18 due to a few random inappropriate moments/unnecessary details and the lack of character growth.
I recieved an ARC copy of this story from Netgalley These thoughts are my own.
November 17, 2023
The Forbidden Daughter is a book not so much about the Holocaust—but about a girl who lived in the shadow of the Holocaust. We follow Elida through her life from birth to the end.
I can’t fathom the struggles she wrestled with every day. Every chapter of her life brought more anguish. The author is obviously passionate about Elida’s story, which showed on every page.
I will say, I would have loved to have had more written about her personality. All I really got was: she’s an intellectual. How was she as a mother? Did she ever come to terms with her childhood? I also would have loved to have read stories from her kids. She isn’t just an important person in history. Elida was a woman living her life to the best of her ability. I guess in the end I just wanted more emotion from Elida.
I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.
I can’t fathom the struggles she wrestled with every day. Every chapter of her life brought more anguish. The author is obviously passionate about Elida’s story, which showed on every page.
I will say, I would have loved to have had more written about her personality. All I really got was: she’s an intellectual. How was she as a mother? Did she ever come to terms with her childhood? I also would have loved to have read stories from her kids. She isn’t just an important person in history. Elida was a woman living her life to the best of her ability. I guess in the end I just wanted more emotion from Elida.
I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.
December 7, 2024
I didn’t care for the writing style (and the narration didn’t help). 2.5 at best.
November 12, 2024
I’ve read many stories about the Holocaust. I was hoping this would end up as one that I’d carry for a while, but it was quite the opposite. The writing style at the beginning of the book was quite different. It wasn’t very good and a bit halfway through I noticed the writing style had changed which is what threw me off. Made me think that someone else jumped in to write the book or that only have of it was proofread.
A lot of it felt skimmed through, but I also understand it’s not easy trying to write a book on someone else’s life when all you have are letters, testimonials and memories of those who knew her.
A lot of it felt skimmed through, but I also understand it’s not easy trying to write a book on someone else’s life when all you have are letters, testimonials and memories of those who knew her.
April 26, 2024
This is the unforgettable true story of Elida Friedman, who was born in the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, to Jewish parents who hid their pregnancy as a secret and smuggled Elida out and into the hands of strangers to ensure her survival. Surviving against all odds, Elida was moved from family to family, and had a lifelong search for a place to call home- and a place to belong.
.
I’ll admit that this wouldn’t be a book I would normally pick up to read. I was concerned there would be in-depth tellings of the Holocaust, which there wasn’t- instead it was such a gripping tale of what Elida endured throughout her life. 3/4 of the book focusses on the first 18 years of her life, and the latter years are covered by plenty of excerpts from letters she wrote to family and friends. I was fully invested in her story, just hoping that the next page would hold some stability, love and belonging for Elida. This is definitely a must read if you enjoy biographies and have an interest in WWII.
.
I’ll admit that this wouldn’t be a book I would normally pick up to read. I was concerned there would be in-depth tellings of the Holocaust, which there wasn’t- instead it was such a gripping tale of what Elida endured throughout her life. 3/4 of the book focusses on the first 18 years of her life, and the latter years are covered by plenty of excerpts from letters she wrote to family and friends. I was fully invested in her story, just hoping that the next page would hold some stability, love and belonging for Elida. This is definitely a must read if you enjoy biographies and have an interest in WWII.
April 25, 2024
The Forbidden Daughter was an engaging, thought provoking and emotional story! The story follows Elida through her life from the beginning to the end and it's a heartbreaking story! I can't even imagine everything she lived through. The book is beautifully written and you do learn a lot about Elidas life but I do wish I could have learned more about her as a person but other than that it was a great read! Thank you Tlc Book Tours, Zipora Klein Jakob and Harper Paperbacks for sharing this book with me!
April 4, 2024
The Forbidden Daughter, by Zipora Klein Jakob, is an account of a Holocaust survivor born in the ghetto, contrary to the Nazi prohibition of Jewish women giving birth. Her parents managed the impossible task of having her transported out of the ghetto and into the care of a Lithuanian couple. Both parents died when the Nazis destroyed the ghetto. Written by her cousin, this is the story of the infant's life from birth until her untimely death. She was brilliant, and in my amateur opinion, emotionally damaged as a consequence of her experiences. I wish I had liked her more. I wanted so much for her to have more sympathy, understanding, and gratitude for the many people who tried and did help her. And yet, I know that unless you walk in another person's shoes, you never really grasp their perspective. The author is to be commended for her exhaustive research. I think this account adds to the vast library of Holocaust biographical accounts in that it provides an unusual perspective. Nonetheless, if you are just beginning to learn about this period of history, there are better places to start. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennials for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.
May 31, 2024
This book me soooo long to read even though it’s 250 pages. I just couldn’t get into it. The story is great but I think it was the writing that made it so difficult to read. I could only read it in small chapters at a time. The “author” does not seem like a true author and the story is all over the place at times, mostly jumping timelines throughout paragraphs instead of chapters. But Elida’s story is so sad. “I still lack a place I can call home” after overcoming genocide/war, excelling in school, and having a family. I did not expect the ending… “born in fire and died in fire.” Truly a great story, but terribly written. 3.5 ⭐️
October 27, 2025
An absolutely incredible story. For anyone to have survived the atrocities of the war and the holocaust is a testament to their resilience and strength. Elida is a child born to a couple in the Kosovo Ghetto, who was wanted and loved by her parents more than they could imagine. They were faced with the most difficult life decision a parent could every make. Given the current condition of the war and impending assault on their beloved home they had to find a safe home/family that could take their infant daughter at 3 months old, to try and ensure that their daughter had her best chance of survival.
She was transferred between homes and families over the years, some Jewish some not. After enduring her own uncertainties, unhappiness, beatings, some friendships and special bonds she grew into a strong, brilliant and amazing woman. Not without adversity she found her love of reading and a place to belong in academia and eventually also found the love of her life. She went on to have children of her own, and found her own way back to the Jewish upbringing and her parents family members. Having found herself and her own life was a blessing, but it was also cut short by a senseless act terrorism. Thank you to author for sharing this incredible story and sharing this unforgettable story.
She was transferred between homes and families over the years, some Jewish some not. After enduring her own uncertainties, unhappiness, beatings, some friendships and special bonds she grew into a strong, brilliant and amazing woman. Not without adversity she found her love of reading and a place to belong in academia and eventually also found the love of her life. She went on to have children of her own, and found her own way back to the Jewish upbringing and her parents family members. Having found herself and her own life was a blessing, but it was also cut short by a senseless act terrorism. Thank you to author for sharing this incredible story and sharing this unforgettable story.
October 30, 2024
Author Zipora Klein Jakob chose to explore her cousin’s Holocaust story as a “biographical novel.” Elida’s survival reveals another tragic aspect of the Jews’ persecution as she was born within the Kovno Ghetto when Jewish women were forbidden to have children. The novel traces the baby’s journey out of the ghetto to a “safer” place, where it was hoped she would be eventually reunited with her biological parents. But, Elida became orphaned and spent her childhood and early life moving from family to family, country to country, even having her named changed in the hope of surviving. One can only imagine the psychological impact this had, which the author examines as she recounts Elida’s early life. I felt that although the novel traced Elida’s journey successfully, it did not examine her trauma deeply enough for me to feel that I truly knew the character or understood what lay behind many of the important decisions she made in her life.
April 18, 2024
Firstly, I would like to thank Harper Collins for sending me a copy of this incredible story.
I can’t even tell you how many times this book brought me to tears for what Elide and her family had to go through. Her journey was so long and more than any one person should have to endure.
I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to read this and help keep Elide’s memory alive.
Thank you to the author (a family member of Elide’s) who was able to research and tell her story to the best of her ability. As a reader, I can tell you that you did her story justice.
I can’t even tell you how many times this book brought me to tears for what Elide and her family had to go through. Her journey was so long and more than any one person should have to endure.
I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to read this and help keep Elide’s memory alive.
Thank you to the author (a family member of Elide’s) who was able to research and tell her story to the best of her ability. As a reader, I can tell you that you did her story justice.
May 31, 2024
Finished in one sitting- highly recommended reading (but maybe break it up!)
This time of history has always drawn me because of the incredibly heart-wrenching true stories. The Forbidden Daughter was intricately pieced together in a compelling way. The familial reverence by the author adds a significance to the story, as only one related can. The ending brought tears to my eyes and I wasn’t prepared for the “fire quote” from Toibeh.
This time of history has always drawn me because of the incredibly heart-wrenching true stories. The Forbidden Daughter was intricately pieced together in a compelling way. The familial reverence by the author adds a significance to the story, as only one related can. The ending brought tears to my eyes and I wasn’t prepared for the “fire quote” from Toibeh.
August 12, 2024
XXXXX
A CAPTIVATING CHARACTER STUDY OF SURVIVAL AND RESILIENCE
XXXXX
"About ten years ago, I set out on a journey of thousands of miles to Lithuania and the United States. Conducting dozens of meetings and interviews, I became immersed in the memories and pain of my family [member, the holocaust survivor named Elida]. I tracked down documents, certificates, court records, drawing, and letters in Elida's handwriting. I read books about the periods and events of her life.
I incorporated the information that I gathered into the plot of this book and shaped Elida's character as I understood it.
I chose to tell the story of her life as a biographical novel...
In this book, I tell the story of Elida...as I experienced and internalized it over the years."
The above quote (in italics) comes from this well-written, emotionally charged book by Zipora Klein Jakob. She holds degrees in both literature and history. Jakob was a high school history teacher as well as a counselor for university history education.
A biographical novel (as mentioned in the above quote) is biographical fiction. Biographical fiction is a type of historical fiction. Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events.
This book presents the Holocaust-era (1939 to 1945) story of an orphan girl named Elida (means "nonbirth" in Hebrew) who escapes the Nazis terror via a succession of Jewish families and relatives in Israel and America.
This book provides readers with an engrossing tale with heart-wrenching details of Elida's difficult (and short) life at each stage of growing up.
This is the story of a Holocaust survivor and can be summarized in two phases: she was "born in fire and died in fire" & "She was born in the Holocaust and perished in a terrorist act."
Note that this book was translated from Hebrew to English. I noticed that some words and ideas were lost in translation.
Finally, there are fourteen black and white photographs with captions. They are all found in this book's Afterword. I found that these photos aided the main narrative.
In conclusion, this is an emotionally impactful story of a Holocaust survivor's short life.
XXXXX
(2024; prologue; 8 chapters; epilogue; afterword; main narrative 270 pages; acknowledgments; about the author)
XXXXX
A CAPTIVATING CHARACTER STUDY OF SURVIVAL AND RESILIENCE
XXXXX
"About ten years ago, I set out on a journey of thousands of miles to Lithuania and the United States. Conducting dozens of meetings and interviews, I became immersed in the memories and pain of my family [member, the holocaust survivor named Elida]. I tracked down documents, certificates, court records, drawing, and letters in Elida's handwriting. I read books about the periods and events of her life.
I incorporated the information that I gathered into the plot of this book and shaped Elida's character as I understood it.
I chose to tell the story of her life as a biographical novel...
In this book, I tell the story of Elida...as I experienced and internalized it over the years."
The above quote (in italics) comes from this well-written, emotionally charged book by Zipora Klein Jakob. She holds degrees in both literature and history. Jakob was a high school history teacher as well as a counselor for university history education.
A biographical novel (as mentioned in the above quote) is biographical fiction. Biographical fiction is a type of historical fiction. Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events.
This book presents the Holocaust-era (1939 to 1945) story of an orphan girl named Elida (means "nonbirth" in Hebrew) who escapes the Nazis terror via a succession of Jewish families and relatives in Israel and America.
This book provides readers with an engrossing tale with heart-wrenching details of Elida's difficult (and short) life at each stage of growing up.
This is the story of a Holocaust survivor and can be summarized in two phases: she was "born in fire and died in fire" & "She was born in the Holocaust and perished in a terrorist act."
Note that this book was translated from Hebrew to English. I noticed that some words and ideas were lost in translation.
Finally, there are fourteen black and white photographs with captions. They are all found in this book's Afterword. I found that these photos aided the main narrative.
In conclusion, this is an emotionally impactful story of a Holocaust survivor's short life.
XXXXX
(2024; prologue; 8 chapters; epilogue; afterword; main narrative 270 pages; acknowledgments; about the author)
XXXXX
July 20, 2024
A moving, honest and incredibly fascinating tale! I enjoyed listening to this true story with the question of identity, value of religion, choice of religion, and duty to family and (which?) country. Highly recommended!
July 2, 2025
To be honest I found this book a difficult read. I cannot even comprehend the turmoil that Elida must have endured. Trying to find her own identity in a world that seemed alien to her. To tragically lose all that she came to be and all that she loved in that manner is just heartbreaking.
June 2, 2024
Heartbreaking from start to finish
June 27, 2024
A must read
April 27, 2025
Story of resilience, her intelligence was her savior.
June 18, 2024
A family member’s investigative story of Elida’s life, set during the aftermath of WWII.
The ending caught me off guard.
Listened to the audiobook.
The ending caught me off guard.
Listened to the audiobook.
May 14, 2024
A emotional roller-coaster of a book. It's a amazing story to read
November 24, 2024
I usually enjoy reading true stories about real people and their experiences of the war and holocaust but this was such a frustrating read.
The writing style and dialogue doesn't flow well and it feels like the style changes at some point from a fictionalised historical story based on the facts that are known, to a non-fiction biography - this may have been because there was more information to write the story with from the point where family members and Elida herself are able to fill in the gaps and provide more detail, but the style change makes it feel disjointed. I have issues with character portrayal too which I'll put below with a spoiler warning.
Ultimately, I think it's important to have these stories told. I've read many Holocaust stories but don't think I'd understood the laws forbidding childbirth for Jewish women, forced abortion, and more even before they were forced into ghettos and concentration camps. Horrendous what those people went through, and what the ramifications were. Thank you to all the authors who tell these stories.
*Potential spoilers from here*
Elida is also so unlikeable, selfish, and egocentric. Yes, she went through a lot including multiple home upheavals, was smuggled away from the ghetto where she would have been killed with her parents, then effectively sold to the highest bidder as a young child by a foster mother who couldn't afford to keep her, and is moved to violent and secretive adoptive parents. She loses her birth parents, her loving foster sister, and her happy childhood home in just a few years, is lied to and beaten by new adoptive parents and is confused by the religious traditions, different languages and cultures that change around her without explanation. It's all very tragic.
But she eventually does find members of her birth family who want her, who treat her well, and are able to give her financial and material support too. Her new 'mother' (the wife of her birth father's best friend/cousin) does love her and want her to settle into her new American life. She wants to help her to fit in and although coercing her into getting plastic surgery as a teenager to fix her Jewish looks is not particularly good parenting, they were trying their best to give her everything. She acts like a spoilt brat and responds by rejecting them, her family's religion, and her heritage.
Someone clearly needed to sit with her and explain actually what happened to her parents, all the challenges everyone else went through during the war and afterwards to ensure her safety and wellbeing, and why she's was moved around so much. No one seems to be able to explain the difference between Jewish religion and observance, and the Jewish cultural identity and heritage - many others seem to be able to separate this but her family don't explain this or seem to be able to offer this as an option. She needed some therapy! However she seems to think her suffering is paramount and doesn't seem to care about anyone else's feelings, what her parents wanted for her or what her adoptive families did to support her. There's no gratitude or even kindness returned.
That said, it may simply be the way she has been written, she may have been quite different in real life. Elida must have found it to feel lied to, and to have conflicting beliefs and opinions pushed onto her - on the one hand everyone wants her to embrace her Jewish heritage and religion just like her father wanted, but on the other hand she's told her Jewish looks need fixing so she can fit in with American life and is sent to a Catholic school. Confusing!
The writing style and dialogue doesn't flow well and it feels like the style changes at some point from a fictionalised historical story based on the facts that are known, to a non-fiction biography - this may have been because there was more information to write the story with from the point where family members and Elida herself are able to fill in the gaps and provide more detail, but the style change makes it feel disjointed. I have issues with character portrayal too which I'll put below with a spoiler warning.
Ultimately, I think it's important to have these stories told. I've read many Holocaust stories but don't think I'd understood the laws forbidding childbirth for Jewish women, forced abortion, and more even before they were forced into ghettos and concentration camps. Horrendous what those people went through, and what the ramifications were. Thank you to all the authors who tell these stories.
*Potential spoilers from here*
Elida is also so unlikeable, selfish, and egocentric. Yes, she went through a lot including multiple home upheavals, was smuggled away from the ghetto where she would have been killed with her parents, then effectively sold to the highest bidder as a young child by a foster mother who couldn't afford to keep her, and is moved to violent and secretive adoptive parents. She loses her birth parents, her loving foster sister, and her happy childhood home in just a few years, is lied to and beaten by new adoptive parents and is confused by the religious traditions, different languages and cultures that change around her without explanation. It's all very tragic.
But she eventually does find members of her birth family who want her, who treat her well, and are able to give her financial and material support too. Her new 'mother' (the wife of her birth father's best friend/cousin) does love her and want her to settle into her new American life. She wants to help her to fit in and although coercing her into getting plastic surgery as a teenager to fix her Jewish looks is not particularly good parenting, they were trying their best to give her everything. She acts like a spoilt brat and responds by rejecting them, her family's religion, and her heritage.
Someone clearly needed to sit with her and explain actually what happened to her parents, all the challenges everyone else went through during the war and afterwards to ensure her safety and wellbeing, and why she's was moved around so much. No one seems to be able to explain the difference between Jewish religion and observance, and the Jewish cultural identity and heritage - many others seem to be able to separate this but her family don't explain this or seem to be able to offer this as an option. She needed some therapy! However she seems to think her suffering is paramount and doesn't seem to care about anyone else's feelings, what her parents wanted for her or what her adoptive families did to support her. There's no gratitude or even kindness returned.
That said, it may simply be the way she has been written, she may have been quite different in real life. Elida must have found it to feel lied to, and to have conflicting beliefs and opinions pushed onto her - on the one hand everyone wants her to embrace her Jewish heritage and religion just like her father wanted, but on the other hand she's told her Jewish looks need fixing so she can fit in with American life and is sent to a Catholic school. Confusing!
May 7, 2024
I was interested in this book after hearing about it on NPR. It's a part of the Holocaust that I normally don't read a lot about, children born in the ghetto or children hidden with others during/after the war. Elida clearly live a complex life that deserved to be reordered and shared with the world (I did not expect the ending and how she would met her fate: "born in fire and died in fire"). However I didn't like the way the author wrote the story by adding in made up dialogue, it was confusing. I also don't think she told it in a very linear way and that was also confusing. The best written chapter was the first.
June 22, 2024
The writing was so bad I couldn't finish it as much as I wanted to. I more felt like I was reading a high school essay than a written book
July 30, 2024
I felt like I was reading a point form book. It wasn’t written well.
February 25, 2024
Thank you Netgalley & Harper Paperbacks for an eARC ♥️
“The Forbidden Daughter" is a soul-crushing, yet ultimately uplifting true story of unwavering hope and resilience in the face of unspeakable horrors. Elida Friedman's journey, from her secret birth in the Kovno Ghetto to her precarious childhood, is a testament to the unbreakable human spirit that will leave you shattered and inspired.
As I read about Elida's parents, Jonah and Tzila, risking everything to bring their daughter into the world, I am struck by their courage and selflessness, and my heart is shattered into a million pieces at the thought of them being brutally torn from her life. The inhumane cruelty of the Nazi regime snuffed out their lives, leaving their precious child to navigate a treacherous and unforgiving world alone.
But Elida's story is more than just a tale of survival - it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit that refuses to be extinguished. Despite being uprooted and renamed multiple times, she never loses sight of her identity or her determination to thrive, even in the face of unimaginable loss and trauma. Her unwavering belief in the power of love and belonging propels her forward, like a beacon of light in the darkness.
Every page of this book is a reminder of the unspeakable horrors that humanity is capable of, but also of the boundless capacity for love, hope, and resilience that exists within every human soul. You'll read of Elida's struggles to find her place in a world that seems determined to reject her, and of the miraculous moments of kindness and connection that sustain her.
"The Forbidden Daughter" is a book that will leave you changed, like a piece of clay that's been broken and remade into something stronger and more beautiful. It's a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome even the darkest of circumstances, and a reminder that love and hope can bloom in the most barren of landscapes. ♥️🥹
“The Forbidden Daughter" is a soul-crushing, yet ultimately uplifting true story of unwavering hope and resilience in the face of unspeakable horrors. Elida Friedman's journey, from her secret birth in the Kovno Ghetto to her precarious childhood, is a testament to the unbreakable human spirit that will leave you shattered and inspired.
As I read about Elida's parents, Jonah and Tzila, risking everything to bring their daughter into the world, I am struck by their courage and selflessness, and my heart is shattered into a million pieces at the thought of them being brutally torn from her life. The inhumane cruelty of the Nazi regime snuffed out their lives, leaving their precious child to navigate a treacherous and unforgiving world alone.
But Elida's story is more than just a tale of survival - it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit that refuses to be extinguished. Despite being uprooted and renamed multiple times, she never loses sight of her identity or her determination to thrive, even in the face of unimaginable loss and trauma. Her unwavering belief in the power of love and belonging propels her forward, like a beacon of light in the darkness.
Every page of this book is a reminder of the unspeakable horrors that humanity is capable of, but also of the boundless capacity for love, hope, and resilience that exists within every human soul. You'll read of Elida's struggles to find her place in a world that seems determined to reject her, and of the miraculous moments of kindness and connection that sustain her.
"The Forbidden Daughter" is a book that will leave you changed, like a piece of clay that's been broken and remade into something stronger and more beautiful. It's a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome even the darkest of circumstances, and a reminder that love and hope can bloom in the most barren of landscapes. ♥️🥹
June 30, 2024
This is the amazing true story of a baby illegally born and smuggled out of Kovno ghetto. Illegally born? Yes, the Jewish women held in the Nazi controlled Lithuanian ghetto were forced to abort their babies but Elida Friedman’s mother was desperate to have her child. Her doctor husband went to great lengths to enable his daughter to be born. But then the parents made the heartbreaking decision to give away their tiny baby to a family in the country, never to see her again & they themselves were killed in the liquidation of the ghetto. The tragedy for Elida continues even after the war when she is taken from the only family she knew & given to a childless Jewish couple. I actually found this book so hard to read. She is treated so poorly, beaten by her father & she feels so unloved. She only realised the truth of her situation when a Jewish pharmacist says she looks so like her doctor father. Once the truth is out, you hope maybe she will find happiness when she goes to Israel & meets her actual aunts & uncles. She is a typical teenager, argumentative & difficult but you can imagine just how hurt she is. Long story short: her father’s cousin & his wife adopt her and she starts a new life in the USA where she is an outstanding student. She marries another brilliant young Jewish man, has three beautiful sons, manages to support her troubled alcoholic husband and is ready to begin a PHD. Finally life seemed to be giving her the happiness she deserves. The final chapter however left me bereft & I had to reread it to be certain I had it right. Important to point out that the author very wisely chose to write this as a work of historical fiction, based upon true events so when reading it, you have a genuine sense of living through Elida’s struggles.
May 12, 2024
The Forbidden Daughter
The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor
by Zipora Klein Jakob
Pub DateApr 23 2024
Harper Perennial and Paperbacks |Harper Paperbacks
Biographies & Memoirs| History| Nonfiction \(Adult\)
I am reviewing a copy of The Forbidden Daughter through Harper Perennial and NLegally:
It wasn't supposed to be Elida Friedman who was born. In the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, Nazi law prohibited Jewish women from giving birth. In spite of their fear of death, Dr. Jonah Friedman and his wife Tzila choose to have a daughter, a daughter they name Elida-meaning non-birth in Hebrew.
When Elida is only three months old, the Friedmans smuggle her out of the ghetto and into the arms of a non-Jewish farm family. It marks the beginning of a life marked by constant change. Jonah and Tzila are among those killed when the Nazis raze Kovno Ghetto. Their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the .As a result, their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the kindness of strangers for survival.
Elida grows up despite her circumstances, changing families, countries, continents, and even names countless times. Despite the war and Holocaust that took her parents, the young woman never gives up hope. Her lifelong quest for love and belonging has led her to rebuild her identity and triumph over terrible circumstances.
One unforgettable woman and her will to survive are the true stories behind Elida, the Forgotten Ghetto Girl, a compelling memoir about overcoming impossible odds.
I give The Forbidden Daughter five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor
by Zipora Klein Jakob
Pub DateApr 23 2024
Harper Perennial and Paperbacks |Harper Paperbacks
Biographies & Memoirs| History| Nonfiction \(Adult\)
I am reviewing a copy of The Forbidden Daughter through Harper Perennial and NLegally:
It wasn't supposed to be Elida Friedman who was born. In the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, Nazi law prohibited Jewish women from giving birth. In spite of their fear of death, Dr. Jonah Friedman and his wife Tzila choose to have a daughter, a daughter they name Elida-meaning non-birth in Hebrew.
When Elida is only three months old, the Friedmans smuggle her out of the ghetto and into the arms of a non-Jewish farm family. It marks the beginning of a life marked by constant change. Jonah and Tzila are among those killed when the Nazis raze Kovno Ghetto. Their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the .As a result, their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the kindness of strangers for survival.
Elida grows up despite her circumstances, changing families, countries, continents, and even names countless times. Despite the war and Holocaust that took her parents, the young woman never gives up hope. Her lifelong quest for love and belonging has led her to rebuild her identity and triumph over terrible circumstances.
One unforgettable woman and her will to survive are the true stories behind Elida, the Forgotten Ghetto Girl, a compelling memoir about overcoming impossible odds.
I give The Forbidden Daughter five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 29, 2024
"The Forbidden Daughter" is a gripping work of novelized nonfiction. The title makes it sound like a Holocaust memoir, but the protagonist is born in the last year or two of the War, and therefore her life story is really a post-Holocaust life. It's the tale of a doomed couple in the Kovno ghetto who choose to have a baby as an act of defiance and a show of life in the face of the Nazis. The baby survives, smuggles out to a Lithuanian farm family. The parents do not survive. And the girl's subsequent life is essentially the story of how a girl could grow up orphaned, repeatedly adopted by different people, and come to process the trauma of her existence and the way she makes all of her relatives sad with the memories of why she exists and her parents do not.
The protagonist, who is Elida and Rita and Gita and later Lida, lives with gentile peasants in the Lithuanian countryside, then with a bitter Jewish couple in communist Vilna who are grief-stricken and poor and abusive, then with a whole host of extended family in Haifa, and then adopted by distant relatives to Laredo, Texas. In her adulthood, she lives in Austin and Los Angeles and Boston and Memphis and Rehovot, Israel.
She never gets a chance to heal from her childhood traumas, bond well with family, or settle down with roots anywhere.
The story is well-researched and well-written with fictionalized narration. It makes for a compelling tale.
But--and I don't blame the protagonist for being a rebellious, difficult person, at all--it's not a satisfying story of a survivor who went on to live a wonderful postwar life. It's a story of traumas that never really go away.
The protagonist, who is Elida and Rita and Gita and later Lida, lives with gentile peasants in the Lithuanian countryside, then with a bitter Jewish couple in communist Vilna who are grief-stricken and poor and abusive, then with a whole host of extended family in Haifa, and then adopted by distant relatives to Laredo, Texas. In her adulthood, she lives in Austin and Los Angeles and Boston and Memphis and Rehovot, Israel.
She never gets a chance to heal from her childhood traumas, bond well with family, or settle down with roots anywhere.
The story is well-researched and well-written with fictionalized narration. It makes for a compelling tale.
But--and I don't blame the protagonist for being a rebellious, difficult person, at all--it's not a satisfying story of a survivor who went on to live a wonderful postwar life. It's a story of traumas that never really go away.
July 11, 2024
In this powerful, complex, World War II story, readers discover Elida Friedman, born in Lithuania’s Kovno ghetto when Nazi law forbade Jewish women from giving birth. Elida’s birth parents, Dr. Jonah and Tzila Friedman, however, bravely smuggle infant Elida out of the ghetto to a non-Jewish family farm for her survival. As she grows up, Elida lives with several families and travels between other countries and continents with biological and adoptive relatives, seeking a sense of permanent love and belonging. A powerful, moving, and complicated memoir, this incredible story of defying constant odds and the powers of found and chosen family is a fascinating perspective on the Lithuanian Holocaust. Elida’s life story is fascinating and complex, but the tragic elements of her story are poignant and deeply emotional. Jakob’s writing style is clear, emotional, and straightforward, and she weaves pertinent historical context and information into this biography for reader comprehension. Through this powerful memoir and the incredible personal and historical detail present in this biography of a Holocaust survivor, Jakob brings Elida and her family’s story to life and highlights the sacrifices that her parents -- birth and adoptive alike -- made for her time and time again in this fascinating biography.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Harper Paperbacks for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Harper Paperbacks for the advance copy.
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