Searching for Jakup

A Million Miracles #2

by Roberta Kagan

War has stolen everything from Pitor Barr—his home, his family, and the woman who gave him hope. But before she dies, Mila makes him swear two things: that he’ll survive and that he’ll find their son.

Haunted by loss and driven by love, Pitor embarks on a dangerous path deep into the heart of Nazi Germany. Armed with nothing but a false identity and an unbreakable will, he walks among his enemies, searching for a boy who may no longer remember him.

Each step forward demands impossible choices. To stay alive, Pitor must become what he despises. To find Jakup, he must risk everything—including his soul.

Searching for Jakup is a gripping novel of survival, sacrifice, and the quiet, defiant power of a father’s love in the face of unimaginable evil.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

About the author

I’m an American writer of Jewish and Romany decent. I write Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, most of which is set during the holocaust. Although I never discount the horrors of the time period, the main focus of my work is on ordinary people who prove to be strong heroic characters in unfathomable circumstances.

Facebook Author page:
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Reviews

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Roberta Kagan's books. They are so easy to read as the story never slows down and is always interesting. Her books always take place during the WWII era but somehow she always finds a way to write an original story that will captivate the reader. This is the second book in the A Million Miracles Series and the way it ended shows there will definitely be a another. My only "negative" criticism with this book was the "search for Jakup" was just a little to coincidental. I don't want to elaborate without giving too much away but it was just too easy of a set-up. With that said, I still very much enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to NetGalley, Roberta Kagan and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Father's Unyielding Quest
War has taken everything from Pitor Bar: his life, his home, his family, and the woman who once gave him hope. Before she dies, Mila makes him swear to survive and to find their son. Haunted by loss and driven by love, Pitor embarks on a dangerous journey deep into the heart of Nazi Germany. Armed with a false identity and an unbreakable will, he walks among his enemies, searching for a boy who may no longer remember him. Every step demands an impossible choice. To stay alive, Pitor must become what he hates. To find Jakup, he must risk everything, even his soul.
"Searching for Jakup" is a powerful and emotional read, a gripping novel of survival, sacrifice, and the quiet, defiant strength of a father’s love against unimaginable evil in the darkest times.
Kagan’s reputation for vivid storytelling and emotionally resonant characters is likely to deliver both historical insight and heart-wrenching drama to anyone who reads this book. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy to preview. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as this book came up on NetGalley I had to grab myself a copy, and even though I've got plenty of other book reviews due before one comes out I couldn't wait any longer to read it. Unfortunately it fell a little short for me. Which I'm so sad about.

Like all of Roberta's books that I have read, Searching for Jakup is mainly a story of hope and the lengths we will go to for those we love. Having lost his son Jakup when he was kidnapped from the Warsaw Ghetto, and his wife after she was shot, Pitor is a man who will stop at nothing to find his son and get him back. The lengths he goes to are a testimony to his bravery and fatherhood. But for me, this is where the story falls apart slightly. I don't believe it would have been possible for him to use someone else's identity papers, as they would have had photographs on and therefore only stood up to the lightest of security checks. There were a couple of other highly unlikely sub plots, but I would still say this book is worth a read so won't reveal spoilers.

Roberta really is an expert at her craft, even if I have to suspend belief a little at times and I really hope there is more to come from this series as I'm desperate to find out if Pitor and Jakup get their happy ending.

[HeloReads98 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could say I enjoyed this book - and in some ways, I did - but unfortunately, not as much as I’d hoped.

I'm usually very drawn to novels set during the Second World War, and the premise here was certainly intriguing. The story follows a Jewish father, Pitor, who has just lost his wife during their attempted escape from the ghetto, and is now desperately searching for his son, who has been taken by the Nazis. Through this narrative, the novel also sheds light on the horrifying reality of the Lebensborn programme - the Nazi initiative to breed “racially pure” Aryan children.

The historical background is compelling, and the premise holds real potential, even if certain plot turns occasionally felt a bit too convenient. That said, what pulled me out of the story at times were the dialogues and inner thoughts of Pitor. They didn’t always ring true - something about the way his character was voiced felt off or slightly unnatural to me.

But what most disrupted my reading experience was the repeated mention of the protagonist’s circumcised penis. While I understand that, as the character himself claims, it plays a significant role in the plot, the frequency and emphasis felt excessive and distracting.

Overall, the story addresses an important and lesser-known aspect of the war, and I do appreciate that. But the execution didn’t quite work for me - though I’m sure others might connect with it more.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy to preview.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Searching for Jakup
By Roberta Kagan

This is yet another book about World War II, the second in the "A Million Miracles Series". This book begins with Pitor and Mila, two Polish Jews, who have escaped the Warsaw ghetto. Unfortunately, Mila has been shot during the escape and dies after extracting a promise from Pitor to find their son Jakup, who was stolen from the ghetto by a Nazi. The brief reference to what happened to Jakup would indicate that the reader would not find this to be a standalone novel.

This book is about Pitor's attempt to find his son and the obstacles he encounters along the way. The plot line here is entertaining, but some happenings which push along Pitor's agenda are too easy to be believable: Pitor's meeting with Konrad; his ability to assume Konrad's identity; his being promoted to Hitler's personal bodyguard. Other subplots such as his meeting with Steffi and how easily she allows him into her life – and then allows him to leave; and the plot line about Zita and Asher and Gustav leave unfinished business.

The most disappointing thing here for me was the stilted, unnatural dialogue and Pitor's thoughts about the situation. None of this seems the way people actually think and speak.

Finally the ending leaves no doubt that the reader must wait for another book to find some resolution.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searching for Jakup by Robert Kagan is a Holocaust novel with a little different type of story line. Pitor has lost Mila on their escape from the Warsaw Ghetto and in a parting promise agreed he’d find their son, who had been taken by a Nazi soldier. At that point he had no idea how that would happen but he would not forget his promise. What happens next defies belief but he soldiers on, breaking down one door after another. Pretending to be a high-level Nazi officer is nye on to impossible but somehow he has managed so far. He has located Jakup, only to lose him again. But, he has a plan. Can it possibly work?

Kagan’s imagination knows no bounds although in a place as top heavy in high level personnel as Nazi Germany anything is possible. She imbues her characters with impossible strength so that even id the scenario is unlikely, we want to believes. Pitor is one such character: he is strong and creative, and determined. He meets every obstacle with memories of his family and it spurs him forward. It is a touching story which cannot possibly turn out well in the end, but the reader keeps going, hoping. As always, it is a good read.

I was invited to read Searching for Jakup by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #RobertaKagan #SearchingForJakup

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this complicated and emotional new World War II historical fiction novel from Roberta Kagan, readers follow Piotr Barr after he has lost both his wife and his son to the Nazis’ brutality. The second book in the A Million Miracles series, readers join Piotr on a dangerous mission into the heart of Nazi Germany to track down the officer that kidnapped Jakup and rescue his son, but the mission forces him to make difficult choices in pursuit of this goal. As he nears Berlin and the choices become more difficult, readers must grapple with these same moral dilemmas and intense emotions as Piotr does what he must. Complex, intense, and emotional, readers will totally devour this latest instalment in the series. Kagan’s characters continue to pull readers into the story, and the introduction of new characters further muddy the moral waters and emotional storylines in this book. Unwilling to shy away from the horrors and moral questions of the war, this book is a deeply thoughtful and emotionally intense continuation of this series. With Kagan’s consistently complex characters, vibrant settings, and intense questions and context, this book is perfect for fans of her other books and a brilliant addition to this fascinating historical fiction series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.

[SHIRLEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

This powerful and emotional story follows Pitor as he searches for his toddler son, Jakup who was kidnapped from the Warsaw Ghetto. Mila, his wife was Pitor's bashert (soulmate), and was shot as she was walking through the Ghetto. With Mila's dying breath, she begs Pitor to find Jakup and to find a woman to marry again.
As he escapes into the forest, he finds a group of partisans and works with them to foil Nazi plans. Eventually, he leaves the group and meets up with a SS officer who gives him the identity papers of a dead SS officer because he looks Aryan with blonde hair and blue eyes). To say more would spoil the story, but the author draws out the conflict within Pitor's mind as he poses as the high level SS officer at a Nazi party at the Eagle's Nest where Hitler accepts him as a bodyguard.
The story described in heartbreaking detail, the lengths that persons will go through for those we love. I felt the tension that Pitor felt as he went through Nazi HQ posing as the officer. There were some good stops along Pitor's journey with honest, German people who were helpful to Pitor.
The ending was a cliffhanger - Pitor is so close to finding Jakup. I can't wait until the third book in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving my opinions voluntarily.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Searching for Jakub, by Roberta Kagan, is the second in a series, but can easily be read on its own. It is the compelling story of a Jewish father searching for his stolen son in the midst of Nazi Germany's intensification of its plan to eradicate the Jewish population. In all of her books, Kagan meticulously sheds light on lesser known aspects of the WWII and their impact on individual lives. In this book, the emphasis is on the Nazi program of "racial purification." and its utter brutality. Unfortunately, her characters seem a bit wooden and unnatural. Many of the plot twists strike me as improbable. Finally, the cliffhangers at the end manipulate the reader towards the next entry in the series without offering any satisfaction of a conclusion. Kagan has the historical chops and writing ability to offer her readers more substance in a single volume. Yes, I was a bit disappointed .Three stars because this author is absolutely relentless in her efforts to insure that people do not forget the horrors of WWII. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and of course, Roberta Kagan, for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. I am grateful for every chance to remember.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“Searching for Jakup” is the second in the “A Million Miracles” series by Roberta Kagan. This book picks up where the last book left off - Pitor is comforting his wife, Mila, after she’s been shot. Pitor continues on his journey to find his son, Jakup. The reader meets some new characters, along with new adventures for some of the characters from the first book. Unfortunately, not a lot happens in this book. As part of a series, this book moves the story along, but I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. To be fair, there was a twist I didn’t see coming, but I cannot say I found it “gripping.” It’s obvious that Pitor will do anything to save his son, but it’s going to take at minimum another book (or more?) for him to do so. I found this book to be a fine one - it was pretty easy to read (though there’s a bit of repeated information and agonizing), but I’m hoping the next book is a bit more interesting.

[Su Thor · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War 2 story with a twist. It begins with an escape from the Warsaw ghetto and ends with the central character, Pitor, in the guise of an SS officer poised for an escape from a relationship which Pitor should never have entered except that he needed information to find his son Jakop. Pitor is Jewish but to the outside world both he and his son look Aryan and this has led to the kidnapping of Jakop and Pitor swi5ching places with a dead Nazi officer.
This story didn’t turn out the way I expected it to and the story hasn’t ended yet. This is just the beginning of this story. However, it is well written and captivating. Once I started it I couldn’t wait the return to the pages to find out what would happen next. I look forward to reading the next book where hopefully we will get answers to the many questions which the reader is left wondering about in the next book.
Thank you Roberta for bringing this story to life, please don’t keep your readers waiting too long for the next part. Thanks to book whisperer and NetGalley for the arc. All these comments are my own, freely given.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t read the first book in this series but I felt this didn’t spoil my enjoyment at all and it held up well as a standalone.

The book opens with Pita and his wife having escaped from the Nazis but his wife having been fatally injured. Before she dies Pita promises her he will survive and find their son. To do this Pita has to go right into the heart of the lion’s den and play the role of a German soldier.

I felt this was a really well-plotted book, which moves along at a fast pace and leaves you holding your breath at points, waiting to find out what was going to happen. There are a lot of strong characters in this book, along with some real-life and well known characters.

As you would expect in what looks like a trilogy the ending leaves you with some unanswered questions, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I just hope it doesn’t take too long to publish it!

This was my first book by this author but I will certainly look to read some of the books in her substantial back catalogue, and I definitely recommend this book.

[Howard Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an empathic person, it is always difficult to read Ms.Kagan’s novels without a lump in one’s throat. This novel is no different as it traces the adventures of a Jewish father in Nazi Germany during the war years in an attempt to find his young son who was kidnapped by the Germans from the Warsaw ghetto. While most of the book is enthralling — especially the portions highlighting “good Germans “ — it strains the imagination to think of infiltrating Hitler’s inner circle. One cannot help comparing the spell Hitler has over the Germans to what is happening in this country today. My major complaint about this book is having to wait for the sequel to see the resolution of the father’s search. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

[Donna Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 2nd book in A Million Miracles series starts out as a book that can be read alone. I had not read the 1st novel. Pitor and Mila, his wife, are Polish Jews and have just escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto and she has been shot. Their young son, Jakup, had been stolen from their home by a Nazi because he looked like an Aryan child. Mila’s final wish is that Pitor will find Jakup and raise him.
Pitor has lost everything, family, home and way of life. He will do anything to find Jakup. He is blonde, blue eyed and very handsome and easily passes as a German. His love for his wife and son forces him to do the unthinkable to find Jakup.
This novel has a cliffhanger finish and leaves you wanting to read the next in this series.

Thank you, The Book Whisperer

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searching for Jakup is written by a new-to-me author, Roberta Kagan. A World War II heartbreaking story of a father searching for a lost young son. A story of sacrifice, Pitor Barr is willing to do whatever it takes to find his son. Very different from any other WWII book I have read with Pitor going into Nazi Germany, assuming another identity, and making impossible choices. An emotionally intense story for the characters and the reader too.

This is the second book in A Million Miracles Series which I knew but didn’t realize it would begin where the first book concluded. I have not read the first book but now wish that I had. The way it ends leads one to know a third book must be coming which will resolve the separation.

[Anita R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC by Roberta Kagan from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am a huge fan of Roberta Kagan’s books. I was disappointed that this was not a stand alone book. It is #2 in the “A Million Miracles” series. The story is about Pitor Barr who escaped with his wife from the Warsaw Ghetto. Before she died, she made Pitor promise (1) that he will survive and (2) that he will find their kidnapped son . To find Jakup, Pitor must become the person he hates the most. This novel details the Lebensborn program that the Nazi’s started to breed “racially pure Aryan children. This is another well researched Holocaust story. I was disappointed that there was no conclusion and the reader must continue with the series to get to the ending.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second installment of the “A Million Miracles Series”, we find Pitor urgently searching for his young son, Jakup.
Mila,Pitor’s wife, has been murdered by the Nazis, and the only thing Pitor lives for is his son.

Devising an incredible plan, Pitor impersonates a Nazi soldier, and actually becomes an important security guard to Hitler.

His motivation is to find Jakup, and he excels in his job, and meets a woman who can help him.

This was a fast reading book, full of action.
Unfortunately, the ending leaves the reader hanging, waiting anxiously for the next book!!

Thank you to author Roberta Kagan, The Book Whisperer, and Net galley for the ARC, in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Gwyneth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Searching for Jakup by Roberta Kagan

Searching for Jakup is a great story idea, but poorly written. The sentence structure and dialog are simplistic. Scenes, thoughts, dialog of the characters are repeated, as though the reader might have forgotten what was said in a previous chapter. If one can get past the poor quality of writing, the story itself will carry one on to the frustrating end. It seems as though the author was in a hurry to end the story and got tired of writing. We are left, not with a cliff hanger, but an incomplete story. The only reason I read to the end was the tale itself, which never concluded.

[Evie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searching for Jakup is the second book in Roberta Kagan's WW 2 A Million Miracles series. Pitor Barr had once had it all: a wife he adored, a precious son and his own business. The Nazis stole all that from him. His wife's dying plea to him was that he promises to find their son Jakup who was stolen from them. This is a promise Pitor intends to keep.

In this well plotted story readers follow Pitor as he faces danger and seemingly impossible situations as he embarks on his perilous mission. Well written and engrossing, the narrative moves quickly and left me looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Ash Laverty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, and I LOVED the second book!

The story picks up right where book 1 ended, and the way Piotr used his heartbreak to fuel himself to carry on and fight is inspirational. I found it really interesting to learn of the interactions between the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and their wives, and also to learn more of the lebensborn programme and how the “little brown women” were treated even though they were “pure” aryans.

I cannot wait to read book 3, this book left me wanting to know what happens next - if and how Piotr gets Jakup back, whether Horst will expose Piotr, and whether Steffi makes a reappearance in Piotr’s life.

5 stars out of 5 ⭐️

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pitor has begun a dangerous journey in hopes of finding his son Jakup who he believes has mistakenly been kidnapped by the Nazis. He is posing as a Nazi officer to gain access to one of the nurseries where the children are kept. At a party given by Hitler, he catches a glimpse of Jakup and is now working to have a chance to get him back. This would give him a sense of peace and fulfill his promise to his deceased wife, Mila. He has to things that are repugnant to him but cannot think of another way. I love how the author develops her characters and I learn more and more about WWII than I had known before. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Harpreet Nagra · Rating 1 out of 5]

UNFINISHED

Story left so many loose ends most importantly Jakup was never found. Also, story of the German farm woman left unfinished. If the main charter was not going back to her then what is point in continuing her story. Also, didn’t see the point of adding her hiding 2 Jewish kids. That was never connected with anything in the story and left unfinished. Too much repetition in book including thoughts in the head. I also felt about the first book that there was too much repetition. Writing is simple like written by a non author. I will not be reading anything further from this author.

[robert ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

took my breathe away

I am a Jewish woman and all your books enlighten me. I grew up in the Bronx and was born in 1947. Our tenement building was mostly Jewish my Bubbe & Zadee owned a candy store. I always remember people in our building having nervous breakdowns and my parents would watch the children while the mom was hospitalized..The father of the children had numbers on his wrist & so did the mom. Your books have so enlightened me of the horrors they must have endured. I was only 6 or 7 but I have such a love for that family after reading your books. Thank you Sandy Levy Ramos

[Theresa Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roberta Kagan has once again delivered an engrossing historical novel with Searching for Jakup, the second book in her latest series. As with her previous works, Kagan’s storytelling is immersive, drawing readers deep into a world marked by hardship, resilience, and the search for justice.
This book focuses heavily on character development, while major resolutions remain elusive, heightening the anticipation for the next book.
Though this novel can stand alone, reading the first book beforehand enriches the experience, providing context.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith and Determination

This book was filled with faith and determination by Pitor to find his son Jakup after he lost Mila. I cannot believe the danger he is in and what he has done to find his son. It was inspiring.

I enjoyed the interaction between Pitor and Steffi as well as that between Steffi and Emilia. I do hope that Pitor returns to Steffi.

I enjoyed the story and the characters and now I can’t wait for the next book to find out if Pitor finds his son.

I was given a free advance copy to read. The review and the words are my own.

[Nethanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story begins where the previous end. Pitor has lost his wife but he has promised her he would do everything to find their son. But to find his son he has to do some difficult and dangerous things. Will they ever be reunited?
Great story that end in a cliffhanger, I wanted to read the conclusion right away.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC, this review is my own opinion.

[Bernee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of a two book series, and I have read both of them in
2 days
This one ends as a cliffhanger, so I hope book 3 8s forthcoming, otherwise it makes a devastating ending.
I read all of Roberta Sagan books, which are generally set in the era of WW2, and the history of the atrocities that occurred at that time.
Her stories need to be told, and the characters in her books are resilient, courageous and unforgettable.

[Karen Kepner · Rating 5 out of 5]

TheLiebensborn Home

Book 2 in A million Miracles continues with Pitor impersonating an SS man and carrying out his search for Jakup. There is a lot of subterfuge, and a lot of Hitler and his higher-ups. And a lot more about the Liebensborn houses and how the Germans thought it was part of their patriotic duty to impregnate as many blond haired, blue-eyed, athletic women living in the homes in order to increase the birth rate of Arabians.

[Virginia Erickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roberta could have saved 25 pages or so, by not repeating everything-again and again. I have read that blonde, blue eyed children -both Polish and some Jewish were kidnapped, "Germanized", and given to pure Aryan , childless couples. How convenient that though Pitor's son, though Jewish, was not circumcised. How convenient that Pitor, though Polish, could speak perfect German. I'm debating whether I want to read the next book to see what happens.

[Debbie Cox Schwalbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely enthralled in this story! It's storyline is one that attracts the reader because of it's heartfelt history of love. resilience, and the nuances of what makes each character react in the manners in which they do. I can honestly say that I have been completely captivated by all Roberta's series and stories. She ranks very high in my "gold standard" of authors of this genre. What a gift she has to both entertain and educate the reader!