The Girl in the Oil Painting: A heart-wrenching, emotional WW2 historical fiction novel, based on a true story

by Uri Dushy

A heartbreaking saga of hope, family, and longing set in one of the untold parts of war-torn Europe.

Rhodes, 1940. Sixteen-year-old Dora Behar and her cousin Sarah are as close as sisters, planning their future and painting the sunsets that wash over the Mediterranean. But that was before the Nazis rose to power, blackening every corner of their once-peaceful Jewish district. And while some believe the war and discrimination will eventually pass, Dora’s family is about to make an impossible choice that will change her life forever…

2023. The war is long over, and for many, it remains in memory, a story to pass down to the next generation. But for a particular young artist, the war is more than just a memory—it’s a recurring a solemn figure standing on the very edges of an abandoned harbor, watching a ship sailing away, unaware that it will never come back to Rhodes…

With its heart based on real historical events, The Girl in the Oil Painting is an unputdownable story of hope and longing, perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel and Rhys Bowen.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Amazon, Fiction

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2026

About the author

No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author. Uri Dushy writes sweeping World War II historical fiction about extraordinary women who risked everything. His Art of Resistance series, including The Girl in the Oil Painting, The Librarian of Amsterdam, and The Painter of Hidden Children, follows women who used art, forgery, and courage to save lives under Nazi occupation. Inspired by true stories of resistance, his novels are for readers who love Kristin Hannah, Pam Jenoff, and Kate Quinn.
An internationally exhibited artist for over 40 years, Uri brings a visual artist's eye to his storytelling, weaving art, identity, and survival into every page.

Reviews

[Veronique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Dushy
I am writing to you about your book which I finished a couple days ago.
First of all -congratulations on this magnificent little book ! (By the way why is it so cheap on Amazon?)
I cannot get this book out of my mind , for many reasons.
First question - was your family from Rhodes?
Are you now Israeli? Where do you live? Why my interest?

Well both my parents were from Rhodes, they were the lucky ones who left before the war , and ended up in the Congo, where I was born, in 1952.
I grew up speaking French and learning Ladino.
My life’s journey bounced me around from Congo, to Rhodesia , back to the Congo, to South Africa and now I live in Dallas Texas.
I too am an artist , not as well known as and successful as you. However my artistic journey through the years has also bounced around.
My first inkling of my Rhodes heritage was when my mom took me to visit Rhodes when I was 10. At that point Rhodes had not really rebuilt since the WW bombings.
She had never talked about the losses that she had known - but somehow I knew that she lost her mother and father and 6 or 7 siblings.
She wanted to take me to see the house they had lived in - right in the middle of the Judeiria, across from the famous fountain.
She took me by the hand and we climbed the outside steps and she knocked on the door. She explained to the Greek lady that she had lived here before the war with her big family and just wanted to show her daughter where she had lived. ( my mom spoke Greek so that made it easier)
We walked in , looked around in silence - and then we climbed the top floor - it was still roofless as it had been bombed.
Not much explanation to a 10 year old , except repeating « pour doulor, pour doulor » her mom, dad and all her siblings were taken to Auswitz.
The only other interesting thing was sitting on the Rhodes beach , next to us were some folks speaking German… she immediately struck up a conversation about how beautiful it is here, have you been here before… and the man said « yes, I was here during the war » and she said « oh so you came to take the Jews away ? »
And that was that …
No more words, no more « pour doulor »-silence set in about the war. I was too young to question it and understand the silence….
I grew up , Rhodes remained in my psyche, I ended up in Dallas and started painting.
This was my very first painting , at age 30…


http://www.colorofmemory.com/phantoms...

After that , it was a whirlwind of creation…
Rhodes as the centerpiece - I joined with another artist whose family came from Hungary- and we exhibited « the Color of Memory »
I am now 72 , both my parents are long gone , still painting, my Holocaust obsession turned to educating about the Holocaust- I am a docent educator at the Dallas Holocaust Museum.
And then I found your book!
It has touched me so deeply I cannot stop thinking about it - finally I get it ! I get my parents silence, I get my obsession about Rhodes, the island where my youngest daughter got married, in the old synagogue, at the time before they started restoring it - during the ceremony, birds were were flying through the broken windows - our ancestors?
My passion about making bourekitas and rishikas and speaking Ladino with my dear cousin… remembering the beautiful sayings in Ladino.
And now I want my 3 adult kids to read your book because it has opened the door of a silent past.
Now I know why the silence - it was left for me to discover and explore through reading, learning about the Holocaust and expressing that knowledge with art.
I am eternally grateful to you for this gift .
Sincerely
Veronique Jonas Soriano

[Kim Ullrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have heard stories and read other books that touched on the plight of the Jews of Rhodes. I wasnt sure I knew many of the specifics. Here we uncover painful revelations. This was a heartbreaking tale of the fascist and Italian controlled island that fell to Nazi occupation during WWII. This novel describes the very picturesque and beautiful Mediterranean landscape where many people Iived and thrived until the war broke out across Europe. Jews lived in fear as their rights and livelihood eroded. Many of them setting sail seeking asylum in foreign ports only to be denied entry. As one family makes a decision to leave and escape, they also leave behind other family members who do not. The story is about the unbreakable bond of family, perseverance and longing. In a second timeline we meet a young artist with memories on paintings that dont belong to them. Only a compulsion to paint beautiful long lost memories they dont understand. Overall, it's a beautiful memoir paying respect and homage to a difficult time in history and the memories we try to hold on to.

[Marilyn G. Ticknor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girl in the oil painting

I read the book in one day. I did not realize before reading this book that Rhodes even had a Jewish population. The story opens on Rhodes wit Dora and Sarah, cousins who were the same age and could have almost been twins. Dora leaves Rhodes with her family while Sarah's family stays to care for aging parents. The story is told by Dora's daughter who paints painting that she can not explain. I won't spoil the story by revealing more. However, it is well worth reading for insite to the Holacost, and its effect even on future generations.

[Barry Tobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five Stars for Historical Fiction

I give 5 stars for what I learned about the history of Rhodes. I am always searching for WWII Historical Fiction that is seldom written about.
But I did get frustrated with the volume of repetitive prose. If something was repeated for a second, third or fourth time I just skipped over those pages.
So overall I give ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

[Neva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hoped for more to the story,

I hoped for more to the story, Never the less it did finish. I was hoping that someone had survived and come to the exhibition.
I was drawn into the story quickly and felt part of it. Perhaps what I feel is a smidgen of what the people who made it through felt..wanting and hoping for someone to have survived.

[Mary Sue Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good

As a lover of WW2 historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written novel it the story of s Jewish family who survived the Holocaust. It is a book about family. I highly recommend.

[Wilda Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!

This was a very interesting read. I could hardly put it down. I felt bad for the way the Jews were treated in WWII. Hitler was a monster. I read where he was almost killed in WWI. If that had happened maybe WWII would not has happened.

[Mary Ocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anxious to read book 2

[Melaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was ok. I learned a lot but the story felt unfinished.

[Sharon Golding · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF too depressing, and not enough happening. I wanted to finish it, I really did, but at 35% I just could not go on. Not for me.

[Pamela Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

I am so glad i came across this outstanding book, that i had the opportunity to read this heartfelt story and feel emotions of sadness and bravery.

[Laura Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deep Introduction into the wrenching emotional wounds of generations of Jewish communities

This novel connected me to the horror’s visited upon Jewish communities like a brand on my heart. It forces us to acknowledge that the same searing hatred continues in our world today.

[Lore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holocaust survivers

The only book I ever read about the fate of Jews from the Mediterranean and how they suffered, even though they were not on camps

[Alison Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

Well written holocaust survivor story. Thoroughly recommend. The persecution continues today . Will the Jewish community ever be free of it?

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent book

This is a tremendous story. One that everyone should read. We must never allow what happened During WWII be forgotten. The story is so poignant and well written.

[Marge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Heart

My heart broke on every page, even the beginning, as I knew what happened in Italy to the Jews during WWII. It was a tough read, but we must never forget.