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Sirens
Not yet published
Expected 23 Sep 26Hiding in a coffin beneath barn floorboards, a sixteen-year-old Roma boy named Gabriel evades Bulgarian and German marauders in wartime Greece. Phoebe, a Greek girl his age, keeps him alive by bringing him provisions, and the two inevitably fall in love. Their union is opposed by her family—especially by her father, who works in the Greek underground resistance.
Although they are caught in the violent currents of war and history, Gabriel and Phoebe remain enchanted by the small miracles around them and the possibilities of love and redemption. Sirens is Gabriel’s diary of his days in hiding and the weeks after. It is an indelible, deeply moving story of youth, love, and loss.
Although they are caught in the violent currents of war and history, Gabriel and Phoebe remain enchanted by the small miracles around them and the possibilities of love and redemption. Sirens is Gabriel’s diary of his days in hiding and the weeks after. It is an indelible, deeply moving story of youth, love, and loss.
312 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 23, 2026
About the author
Joseph Kertes
11 books62 followersJoseph Kertes was born in Hungary (1951) but escaped with his family to Canada after the revolution of 1956.
He studied English at York University and the University of Toronto, where he was encouraged in his writing by Irving Layton and Marshall McLuhan.
Kertes founded Humber College's distinguished creative writing and comedy programs. He is currently Humber's Dean of Creative and Performing Arts and is a recipient of numerous awards for teaching and innovation.
His first novel, Winter Tulips, won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour. Boardwalk, his second novel, and two children's books, The Gift and The Red Corduroy Shirt, met with critical acclaim.
His novel, Gratitude, won a Canadian National Jewish Book Award and the U.S. National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Kertes has also been a finalist for a National Magazine Award and the CBC Literary Award.
His latest novel, The Afterlife of Stars, has been described by Anne Michaels as “unforgettable and deeply moving,” and by Richard Bausch as “brilliant, radiant.”
He studied English at York University and the University of Toronto, where he was encouraged in his writing by Irving Layton and Marshall McLuhan.
Kertes founded Humber College's distinguished creative writing and comedy programs. He is currently Humber's Dean of Creative and Performing Arts and is a recipient of numerous awards for teaching and innovation.
His first novel, Winter Tulips, won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour. Boardwalk, his second novel, and two children's books, The Gift and The Red Corduroy Shirt, met with critical acclaim.
His novel, Gratitude, won a Canadian National Jewish Book Award and the U.S. National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Kertes has also been a finalist for a National Magazine Award and the CBC Literary Award.
His latest novel, The Afterlife of Stars, has been described by Anne Michaels as “unforgettable and deeply moving,” and by Richard Bausch as “brilliant, radiant.”
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this one overall, but it was definitely more of a slow, reflective historical fiction read than I expected going in.
Sirens follows Gabriel, a young Roma boy hiding during WWII in Greece, and Phoebe, the girl risking everything to help him survive. I’ve always been drawn to love stories set during wartime, especially ones that feel a little different from the usual WWII fiction, and I really liked the Greece setting here. It gave the story a different atmosphere than a lot of historical fiction I normally pick up.
The relationship between Gabriel and Phoebe was probably my favorite part of the book. There’s this quiet tenderness between them that felt believable considering the circumstances, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time. I also appreciated that the story focused on a perspective I don’t see often with the Roma representation.
That said, this book moved slower than I personally prefer at times. The diary-style writing worked in some places for me, but in others it made me feel a little emotionally removed when I wanted more depth or urgency. I kept wanting just a little more from certain moments emotionally.
Still, I’m glad I read it. I had a good time with it, enjoyed the writing style, and I’d definitely try another book by Joseph Kertes in the future.
Sirens follows Gabriel, a young Roma boy hiding during WWII in Greece, and Phoebe, the girl risking everything to help him survive. I’ve always been drawn to love stories set during wartime, especially ones that feel a little different from the usual WWII fiction, and I really liked the Greece setting here. It gave the story a different atmosphere than a lot of historical fiction I normally pick up.
The relationship between Gabriel and Phoebe was probably my favorite part of the book. There’s this quiet tenderness between them that felt believable considering the circumstances, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time. I also appreciated that the story focused on a perspective I don’t see often with the Roma representation.
That said, this book moved slower than I personally prefer at times. The diary-style writing worked in some places for me, but in others it made me feel a little emotionally removed when I wanted more depth or urgency. I kept wanting just a little more from certain moments emotionally.
Still, I’m glad I read it. I had a good time with it, enjoyed the writing style, and I’d definitely try another book by Joseph Kertes in the future.
Displaying 1 of 1 review