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The Yellow Bird Sings
Poland, 1941. After the Jews in their town are rounded up, Roza and her five-year-old daughter, Shira, spend day and night hidden in a farmer's barn. Forbidden from making a sound, only the yellow bird from her mother's stories can sing the melodies Shira composes in her head.
Roza does all she can to take care of Shira and shield her from the horrors of the outside world. They play silent games and invent their own sign language. But then the day comes when their haven is no longer safe, and Roza must face an impossible choice: whether to keep her daughter close by her side, or give her the chance to survive by letting her go . . .
The Yellow Bird Sings is a powerfully gripping and deeply moving novel about the unbreakable bond between parent and child and the triumph of humanity and hope in even the darkest circumstances.
Roza does all she can to take care of Shira and shield her from the horrors of the outside world. They play silent games and invent their own sign language. But then the day comes when their haven is no longer safe, and Roza must face an impossible choice: whether to keep her daughter close by her side, or give her the chance to survive by letting her go . . .
The Yellow Bird Sings is a powerfully gripping and deeply moving novel about the unbreakable bond between parent and child and the triumph of humanity and hope in even the darkest circumstances.
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First published March 3, 2020
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December 30, 2020
*4.5 STARS *
“A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.
-The Last Seance (from The Hound of Death and Other Stories, also Double Sin and Other Stories)”
― Agatha Christie, The Hound of Death
Poland 1941, and Roza and her 5 year old daughter Shira are hiding in a neighbour’s barn, and hoping beyond hope that they will remain safe, because as the only remaining Jews in the town, they know only too well what will happen to them if the Germans discover their whereabouts. Roza has already lost her husband and parents, all taken by the Nazis, and she will do anything to save Shira from that fate. Shira is a musical prodigy but she isn’t allowed to make a sound just in case anyone hears, and informs the Germans, so Roza makes up stories, one of which is about an imaginary yellow bird who sings whatever Shira composes in her head, and can make the sounds that Shira can only dream about.
Inspired by the true stories of hidden children during WWII, this is another of those books that leaves a silence in its wake long after you’ve turned the very last page. How do I write a review that honours the people for whom this scenario was a real and terrifying experience? I also ask myself, how can a novel that is so distressing, be so beautiful at the same time? I suppose it’s because in the midst of all the horror, the one thing that stands out is that the love for one’s child never dies, even in the darkest of times, that love remains solid, unchanging, because mankind at its most desperate, is often at its best. Heartbreaking but beautifully written, don’t miss this one!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan, Picador for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
“A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.
-The Last Seance (from The Hound of Death and Other Stories, also Double Sin and Other Stories)”
― Agatha Christie, The Hound of Death
Poland 1941, and Roza and her 5 year old daughter Shira are hiding in a neighbour’s barn, and hoping beyond hope that they will remain safe, because as the only remaining Jews in the town, they know only too well what will happen to them if the Germans discover their whereabouts. Roza has already lost her husband and parents, all taken by the Nazis, and she will do anything to save Shira from that fate. Shira is a musical prodigy but she isn’t allowed to make a sound just in case anyone hears, and informs the Germans, so Roza makes up stories, one of which is about an imaginary yellow bird who sings whatever Shira composes in her head, and can make the sounds that Shira can only dream about.
Inspired by the true stories of hidden children during WWII, this is another of those books that leaves a silence in its wake long after you’ve turned the very last page. How do I write a review that honours the people for whom this scenario was a real and terrifying experience? I also ask myself, how can a novel that is so distressing, be so beautiful at the same time? I suppose it’s because in the midst of all the horror, the one thing that stands out is that the love for one’s child never dies, even in the darkest of times, that love remains solid, unchanging, because mankind at its most desperate, is often at its best. Heartbreaking but beautifully written, don’t miss this one!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan, Picador for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
February 11, 2020
This is a beautifully written debut novel that moved me in so many ways. It a story of the Holocaust, of hidden children, of the courage and determination of the resistance, of the horrific things Jews endured - cold and starvation and fear and loss and death. Yet, there are moments of joy and beauty, lovely stories and music and so much love between a mother and daughter that helps sustain them through these times, and an imagined yellow bird that brings solace to a little girl.
Five year old Shira, a music prodigy must keep totally silent holding the music in her head, unable to speak most times to her mother Roza as they hide from the German soldiers in a neighbor’s barn. Roza is forced to endure abuse from the farmer in order to keep them safe and hidden. They have been forced to flee their home when Roza’s mother and father and husband are victims of horrific acts as the Nazis take over Poland and they have no where else to go. The narrative follows Shura and Roza, spaning several years from 1941 - 1944, and then moving abruptly in the end to 1965. I’m not going to talk about what happens during these years because it’s a story that I highly recommend people read for themselves. Instead, I want to mention a particular passage that touched me early on in the novel and how after reading the author’s note, it became so much more meaningful as I learned of her inspiration for the book.
“When it is too dangerous even for whispers, Shira and her mother gesture. A simple finger near the ear means I hear someone...A neighbor (palms facing, held near). Soldiers (fists clenched at the chest, as if around a gun). A stranger, they don’t know who(eyebrows raised). Taps on different parts of the body show hunger, thirst, pain, a full bladder. A band on a clump of hair, Do you want a braid. It passed a bit of time. A brush of the fingers over closing eyelids, Try to rest now. Shira watches her mother’s lips shape prayers in Hebrew before falling off to sleep. This more than anything calms Shira, for in her mind she hears her mother’s silent chants as music.” (This quote is from an advanced copy and I suppose maybe subject to change, but I hope not.)
In her note at the end, Jennifer Rosner mentions her daughters who are deaf and I realized why this passage resonated so much. Her inspiration was a story relayed to her by a woman who was hidden with her mother in an attic “where she needed to stay silent nearly all the time. I imagined the mother’s experience of trying to keep her young child hushed, an effort exactly opposite of mine , which focused on encouraging my children to vocalize as much as possible. ...Soon I found myself immersed in a new project involving silence, separation, loss, and above all, love. “ She also tells of the music in her life and then how she was further inspired by meeting a luthier, “who was asked to rebuild a violin recovered from a Nazi death camp, ashes still inside it.” This is one of those stories that I know will stay with me because I woke up thinking about Roza and Shira and because we cannot forget what happened during the Holocaust.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Flatiron Books through NetGalley.
Five year old Shira, a music prodigy must keep totally silent holding the music in her head, unable to speak most times to her mother Roza as they hide from the German soldiers in a neighbor’s barn. Roza is forced to endure abuse from the farmer in order to keep them safe and hidden. They have been forced to flee their home when Roza’s mother and father and husband are victims of horrific acts as the Nazis take over Poland and they have no where else to go. The narrative follows Shura and Roza, spaning several years from 1941 - 1944, and then moving abruptly in the end to 1965. I’m not going to talk about what happens during these years because it’s a story that I highly recommend people read for themselves. Instead, I want to mention a particular passage that touched me early on in the novel and how after reading the author’s note, it became so much more meaningful as I learned of her inspiration for the book.
“When it is too dangerous even for whispers, Shira and her mother gesture. A simple finger near the ear means I hear someone...A neighbor (palms facing, held near). Soldiers (fists clenched at the chest, as if around a gun). A stranger, they don’t know who(eyebrows raised). Taps on different parts of the body show hunger, thirst, pain, a full bladder. A band on a clump of hair, Do you want a braid. It passed a bit of time. A brush of the fingers over closing eyelids, Try to rest now. Shira watches her mother’s lips shape prayers in Hebrew before falling off to sleep. This more than anything calms Shira, for in her mind she hears her mother’s silent chants as music.” (This quote is from an advanced copy and I suppose maybe subject to change, but I hope not.)
In her note at the end, Jennifer Rosner mentions her daughters who are deaf and I realized why this passage resonated so much. Her inspiration was a story relayed to her by a woman who was hidden with her mother in an attic “where she needed to stay silent nearly all the time. I imagined the mother’s experience of trying to keep her young child hushed, an effort exactly opposite of mine , which focused on encouraging my children to vocalize as much as possible. ...Soon I found myself immersed in a new project involving silence, separation, loss, and above all, love. “ She also tells of the music in her life and then how she was further inspired by meeting a luthier, “who was asked to rebuild a violin recovered from a Nazi death camp, ashes still inside it.” This is one of those stories that I know will stay with me because I woke up thinking about Roza and Shira and because we cannot forget what happened during the Holocaust.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Flatiron Books through NetGalley.
August 13, 2020
A beautiful story of survival of a Jewish girl and her mother during the Nazi madness. Imagination required in the lengthy hours spent in hiding for months and facing the brutality of what has been done to their family; their people.
The violin symbolic of her family, of the past and of the future. And a little yellow bird which flits and flutters reuniting their memories.
5⭐️
The violin symbolic of her family, of the past and of the future. And a little yellow bird which flits and flutters reuniting their memories.
5⭐️
September 9, 2024
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. a GR friend's favorable review made me click that WTR button; and,
2. September 2024 is my self-appointed "Fauna Titles" Month.
Praises:
1. a quick read/listen but a riveting story throughout as Roza and her 5-year-old daughter, Shira, hide from the Nazis in a farmer's barn;
2. so descriptive in the day-by-day events, the changes of the seasons - all contributing to the tensions felt as Roza tried to keep her daughter safe while Shira clings to the imaginary yellow bird's melodies from her mother's stories; and,
3. author Jennifer Rosner convincingly wove various stories from Jewish Holocaust survivors, from hiding in people's outbuildings, living in the deep forests of Poland (much more believable than The Forest of Vanishing Stars), to converting to Christianity, all in the hopes of staying alive for another day.
Overall Thoughts:
Moving me to tears, it is a deeply moving story about the strong bond between mother and child; of love, hope, and sacrifice, all within the safe confines of music.
NOTE: Many readers have chosen to forego reading WWII books, because "there's so many out there". I say ... keep reading them! For every Holocaust survivor (or victim), there's a story that must be shared.
And based on current world events, specifically with the rampant anti-Semitism that abounds, we cannot allow history to repeat itself.
1. a GR friend's favorable review made me click that WTR button; and,
2. September 2024 is my self-appointed "Fauna Titles" Month.
Praises:
1. a quick read/listen but a riveting story throughout as Roza and her 5-year-old daughter, Shira, hide from the Nazis in a farmer's barn;
2. so descriptive in the day-by-day events, the changes of the seasons - all contributing to the tensions felt as Roza tried to keep her daughter safe while Shira clings to the imaginary yellow bird's melodies from her mother's stories; and,
3. author Jennifer Rosner convincingly wove various stories from Jewish Holocaust survivors, from hiding in people's outbuildings, living in the deep forests of Poland (much more believable than The Forest of Vanishing Stars), to converting to Christianity, all in the hopes of staying alive for another day.
Overall Thoughts:
Moving me to tears, it is a deeply moving story about the strong bond between mother and child; of love, hope, and sacrifice, all within the safe confines of music.
NOTE: Many readers have chosen to forego reading WWII books, because "there's so many out there". I say ... keep reading them! For every Holocaust survivor (or victim), there's a story that must be shared.
And based on current world events, specifically with the rampant anti-Semitism that abounds, we cannot allow history to repeat itself.
January 14, 2020
When The Yellow Bird Sings is a novel about mothers and daughters, love and loss, cruelty and kindness all against the background of Poland in 1941 through 1944 and then New York City in 1965.
The novel opens with Roza along with her 5 year old daughter Shira hiding in a barn during the time that Nazi’s were everywhere. They have tortured and killed many Jewish people and Roza saw her parents murdered and lost her husband as he fought against the Germans. She fled to the countryside and has been hiding here for quite a while, it is the summer of 1941. Roza is determined to keep her daughter, Shira, safe at all costs.
Roza and Shira are forced to hide in the extremely tight space of the barn loft, burrowing into the hay at any noise heard. This is particularly hard for a 5 year old and especially for Shira who has music always in her heart and loves to sing. Roza’s grandfather made violins, she herself is a cellist and her husband a violinist. They had already suspected that Shira had a gift for music even at this early age.
To help Shira cope with the confines within the barn along with hunger, heat and then cold, she imagines a small yellow bird which she holds in her hands. She takes care of her imaginary pet, silently sings to it and imagines where they will one day go. Roza encourages this mind play as it seems to help calm her daughter.
The man who owns the barn has let them stay but he has other motives besides kindness driving his decision. He occasionally brings them food and then later his wife begins to feel sorry for the little girl. She takes her out for short walks in the farmyard and lets her pet the cows, she brings food for them but Roza insists that Shira eat most of it.
At a later point in the story it is no longer safe to stay in the barn as the Nazi’s have been burning down the barns of any farmer known to be helping or hiding Jews in any way. She makes a decision that she will question for the rest of her life. She allows Shira to be taken to a convent and she herself makes her way in the countryside.While she knows that Shira will have music in her life “The mother, too, hears music in her head. The melody is discordant and accusatory. When she covers her ears with her hands, a different tune asserts itself, more painful for its sweet, rocking lyricism. The lullaby tells of a hen who sets out for glasses of tea to bring to her waiting chicks. It is the girl’s favorite, and it is accompanied by the lilt of a kept promise. The hen returns.” Roza constantly questions her decision to leave Shira at the convent.
As in most stories of this terrible time we are reminded of the conditions that the hideouts in the countryside faced, starvation, cold, constant moving, isolation, etc. Shira, though kept safe, has huge adjustments to make while living as a hide out in the Catholic convent, all is not easy for her.
This novel is well written and flows well. I found the use of expressive imagery in the form of the little yellow bird both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I think any readers of WWII historical fiction will want to read this book, the characters are very well described and I felt very connected to them.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It is set to publish March 3, 2020.
The novel opens with Roza along with her 5 year old daughter Shira hiding in a barn during the time that Nazi’s were everywhere. They have tortured and killed many Jewish people and Roza saw her parents murdered and lost her husband as he fought against the Germans. She fled to the countryside and has been hiding here for quite a while, it is the summer of 1941. Roza is determined to keep her daughter, Shira, safe at all costs.
Roza and Shira are forced to hide in the extremely tight space of the barn loft, burrowing into the hay at any noise heard. This is particularly hard for a 5 year old and especially for Shira who has music always in her heart and loves to sing. Roza’s grandfather made violins, she herself is a cellist and her husband a violinist. They had already suspected that Shira had a gift for music even at this early age.
To help Shira cope with the confines within the barn along with hunger, heat and then cold, she imagines a small yellow bird which she holds in her hands. She takes care of her imaginary pet, silently sings to it and imagines where they will one day go. Roza encourages this mind play as it seems to help calm her daughter.
The man who owns the barn has let them stay but he has other motives besides kindness driving his decision. He occasionally brings them food and then later his wife begins to feel sorry for the little girl. She takes her out for short walks in the farmyard and lets her pet the cows, she brings food for them but Roza insists that Shira eat most of it.
At a later point in the story it is no longer safe to stay in the barn as the Nazi’s have been burning down the barns of any farmer known to be helping or hiding Jews in any way. She makes a decision that she will question for the rest of her life. She allows Shira to be taken to a convent and she herself makes her way in the countryside.While she knows that Shira will have music in her life “The mother, too, hears music in her head. The melody is discordant and accusatory. When she covers her ears with her hands, a different tune asserts itself, more painful for its sweet, rocking lyricism. The lullaby tells of a hen who sets out for glasses of tea to bring to her waiting chicks. It is the girl’s favorite, and it is accompanied by the lilt of a kept promise. The hen returns.” Roza constantly questions her decision to leave Shira at the convent.
As in most stories of this terrible time we are reminded of the conditions that the hideouts in the countryside faced, starvation, cold, constant moving, isolation, etc. Shira, though kept safe, has huge adjustments to make while living as a hide out in the Catholic convent, all is not easy for her.
This novel is well written and flows well. I found the use of expressive imagery in the form of the little yellow bird both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I think any readers of WWII historical fiction will want to read this book, the characters are very well described and I felt very connected to them.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It is set to publish March 3, 2020.
February 25, 2020
"The girl is forbidden from making sounds so the yellow bird sings...the girl, music trapped inside, buries herself under hay...the barn loft...no larger than three strides by four...pitch too low...to stand anywhere but in the center...".
Poland, 1941. Roz's husband, Natan, shot after a week of hard labor, her parents, rounded up and herded onto a cattle truck, Roz and five year old daughter, Shira, hidden in the closet. An altercation down the hall distracts the Germans. Grabbing a few possessions, including Natan's watch and compass, Roz and Shira escape.
Roz begs a farmer, Henryk, to hide them for a night or two. Henryk used to frequent Roz's family-owned bakery. Her Uncle Jakob, a doctor, nursed Henryk's son to health during a bout of rubella. Through the loft boards, Roz sees Henryk, inside the farmhouse, arguing with his wife, Krystyna. "There were prizes for denunciations: a bag of sugar per Jew".
Staying in the barn loft required silence. Roz and Shira must "...mute the sound of every movement.... Shira practiced being invisible and staying silent." Roz and Shira were not asked to leave. Henryk, repeatedly, had his way with Roz while Shira, yellow bird in hand, quietly faced the wall. The price exacted for safe haven.
"Shira's imagination flutters and darts and her body pulses with song". She came from a musical family. Grandpa was a luthier, crafting violins in his workshop. Roz played cello and Natan played violin. Roz invented "silent counting contests...Shira [was] tapping out her music, what seem like full-blown symphonies she can hardly keep contained". Roz constructed a sleepy time routine. Each night, she would whisper their nighttime story about a five year old girl who tended an enchanted, silent garden. The girl was helped by her imaginary, bright, yellow bird. "Some giants don't like flowers, and because they believe the music in our voices helps the flowers grow, we must never let the giants hear our songs...[a bird can sing] so long as we stay silent."
Fifteen months have passed in Henryk and Krystyna's barn, however, the Germans decide they need to requisition it. Krystyna suggests that Shira would be better off in a convent (part of a network that hides children). In Krystyna's words, "In God's eyes your child is no different than mine. She deserves every chance to live." Roz and Shira shared an unbreakable bond, one that time and distance could not erase. They longed to be together. They must survive.
The musical, imaginary, yellow bird and the violin provide Shira with "occasional" shelter from the storm of the Holocaust. Music was her segway into "a place of peace" despite the chaos and confusion. She doesn't understand why she was whisked away from her mother under cover of darkness and why her name was changed to Zosia. "The Yellow Bird Sings" by Jennifer Rosner is a melancholy, heartfelt, musical tome of historical fiction written with hope including the kindness of strangers. Highly recommended.
Thank you Flatiron Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Yellow Bird Sings".
Poland, 1941. Roz's husband, Natan, shot after a week of hard labor, her parents, rounded up and herded onto a cattle truck, Roz and five year old daughter, Shira, hidden in the closet. An altercation down the hall distracts the Germans. Grabbing a few possessions, including Natan's watch and compass, Roz and Shira escape.
Roz begs a farmer, Henryk, to hide them for a night or two. Henryk used to frequent Roz's family-owned bakery. Her Uncle Jakob, a doctor, nursed Henryk's son to health during a bout of rubella. Through the loft boards, Roz sees Henryk, inside the farmhouse, arguing with his wife, Krystyna. "There were prizes for denunciations: a bag of sugar per Jew".
Staying in the barn loft required silence. Roz and Shira must "...mute the sound of every movement.... Shira practiced being invisible and staying silent." Roz and Shira were not asked to leave. Henryk, repeatedly, had his way with Roz while Shira, yellow bird in hand, quietly faced the wall. The price exacted for safe haven.
"Shira's imagination flutters and darts and her body pulses with song". She came from a musical family. Grandpa was a luthier, crafting violins in his workshop. Roz played cello and Natan played violin. Roz invented "silent counting contests...Shira [was] tapping out her music, what seem like full-blown symphonies she can hardly keep contained". Roz constructed a sleepy time routine. Each night, she would whisper their nighttime story about a five year old girl who tended an enchanted, silent garden. The girl was helped by her imaginary, bright, yellow bird. "Some giants don't like flowers, and because they believe the music in our voices helps the flowers grow, we must never let the giants hear our songs...[a bird can sing] so long as we stay silent."
Fifteen months have passed in Henryk and Krystyna's barn, however, the Germans decide they need to requisition it. Krystyna suggests that Shira would be better off in a convent (part of a network that hides children). In Krystyna's words, "In God's eyes your child is no different than mine. She deserves every chance to live." Roz and Shira shared an unbreakable bond, one that time and distance could not erase. They longed to be together. They must survive.
The musical, imaginary, yellow bird and the violin provide Shira with "occasional" shelter from the storm of the Holocaust. Music was her segway into "a place of peace" despite the chaos and confusion. She doesn't understand why she was whisked away from her mother under cover of darkness and why her name was changed to Zosia. "The Yellow Bird Sings" by Jennifer Rosner is a melancholy, heartfelt, musical tome of historical fiction written with hope including the kindness of strangers. Highly recommended.
Thank you Flatiron Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Yellow Bird Sings".
December 11, 2019
A simply told tale about a dark time in history. The Holocaust, a horrendous happening that cost millions of innocent people their lives. Can a story written during this time, about this event be both brutal and tender? Both horrific and lovely. In this, her debut novel, I feel Rosner did just that. A Jewish mother, Rosa, her young daughter, Shira forced to hide in a farmers barn, share a profound love of music. It is their background, and it and their love of stories are the way they communicate when silence means safety. Terror and quiet against their love for each other, the music balancing the two. It is the music, the beauty of the songs that both will lean on in the times to come. A time of sacrifice and discovery.
I remember the book, She Rides Shotgun because of a little bear, that personal item inserted and the role it played, for me, made the book unforgettable. In this book it will be a small yellow bird, a bird of friendship and love. A bird that signifies the freedom they no longer have. It will be the beauty of the music, and a mother, daughter love that can not be broken.
Ultimately I felt both devastated and hopeful reading this, as if there was something the Nazis could not steal, destroy. Hard to do, and the author uses the magic and power of storytelling, within and without, to do the near impossible. Melancholy, bittersweet, hopeful and sad, all emotions I felt while reading.
I look forward to Rosners next fictional rendering.
ARC from Bookbrowse.
I remember the book, She Rides Shotgun because of a little bear, that personal item inserted and the role it played, for me, made the book unforgettable. In this book it will be a small yellow bird, a bird of friendship and love. A bird that signifies the freedom they no longer have. It will be the beauty of the music, and a mother, daughter love that can not be broken.
Ultimately I felt both devastated and hopeful reading this, as if there was something the Nazis could not steal, destroy. Hard to do, and the author uses the magic and power of storytelling, within and without, to do the near impossible. Melancholy, bittersweet, hopeful and sad, all emotions I felt while reading.
I look forward to Rosners next fictional rendering.
ARC from Bookbrowse.
April 30, 2020
4.5
This is a beautiful debut novel set in World War ll Poland.
A mother’s love and the risks she endures for her child.
Silence and music and imagination become symbols of hope and survival.
This is a beautiful debut novel set in World War ll Poland.
A mother’s love and the risks she endures for her child.
Silence and music and imagination become symbols of hope and survival.
February 21, 2020
Inspired by the true stories of Jewish children being hidden during WWII. Could you bear to part with your child? What if that meant the only way for your child to survive war?
Poland, 1941. Roza and her five year old daughter Shira hide in a neighbor’s barn. Shira, a musical prodigy, is told to keep quiet, but struggles with it as any child would. Her mother invents elaborate stories to keep Shira engaged with her mind and not words. One of those stories is an imaginary bird who sings the songs she composes in her head.
But when the risks become too much to bear and the food supply is very low, Roza considers her neighbor’s offer to part with her daughter for her protection.
Zosia, as she is named now, lives at a convent. She is even encouraged to play violin, which makes loud noises. Zosia is afraid to make that loud noise at first. But under a tutelage of Sister Nadzieja, Zosia blossoms as violin player.
Roza is hiding in the woods. She needs to make sure that her shoes leave misleading direction if any. There are berries, mushrooms, leaves, roots and such to help her survive in the woods. But when cold winter freezes the grounds, even wood for fire is very sparse.
Touchingly developed characters. When Roza encounters a mother and a child surviving in the woods, her heart bleeds. How could she have thought that separating from her daughter was the right thing to do? Even though, Shira/Zosia thrives in her violin lessons, her heart bleeds for her mother. If only she kept quiet…
Your heart goes to the five year old girl, who doesn’t understand why she needs to hide and be silent, why her father and grandparents are gone, why she can’t go to school like the other kids. She doesn’t mind learning in Polish instead of Yiddish, if only she could go to school.
Deeply moving story weaves human tragedy and triumphs with elegant prose. And the cultural background of music gives this story a rich texture.
Due to plethora of books set in WWII, if you are one of those readers who hesitates to pick another book set in this time period – this book doesn’t involve historical details. Instead it focuses on mother –daughter relationship and longing to be connected again. On a personal note, I usually prefer books with rich historical background, but this story is so deeply moving, it may squeeze some tears out of you at the very end.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Poland, 1941. Roza and her five year old daughter Shira hide in a neighbor’s barn. Shira, a musical prodigy, is told to keep quiet, but struggles with it as any child would. Her mother invents elaborate stories to keep Shira engaged with her mind and not words. One of those stories is an imaginary bird who sings the songs she composes in her head.
But when the risks become too much to bear and the food supply is very low, Roza considers her neighbor’s offer to part with her daughter for her protection.
Zosia, as she is named now, lives at a convent. She is even encouraged to play violin, which makes loud noises. Zosia is afraid to make that loud noise at first. But under a tutelage of Sister Nadzieja, Zosia blossoms as violin player.
Roza is hiding in the woods. She needs to make sure that her shoes leave misleading direction if any. There are berries, mushrooms, leaves, roots and such to help her survive in the woods. But when cold winter freezes the grounds, even wood for fire is very sparse.
Touchingly developed characters. When Roza encounters a mother and a child surviving in the woods, her heart bleeds. How could she have thought that separating from her daughter was the right thing to do? Even though, Shira/Zosia thrives in her violin lessons, her heart bleeds for her mother. If only she kept quiet…
Your heart goes to the five year old girl, who doesn’t understand why she needs to hide and be silent, why her father and grandparents are gone, why she can’t go to school like the other kids. She doesn’t mind learning in Polish instead of Yiddish, if only she could go to school.
Deeply moving story weaves human tragedy and triumphs with elegant prose. And the cultural background of music gives this story a rich texture.
Due to plethora of books set in WWII, if you are one of those readers who hesitates to pick another book set in this time period – this book doesn’t involve historical details. Instead it focuses on mother –daughter relationship and longing to be connected again. On a personal note, I usually prefer books with rich historical background, but this story is so deeply moving, it may squeeze some tears out of you at the very end.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2020
**REPOST FROM YESTERDAY (Nov 23rd). For some reason, after posting this review it DISAPPEARED. How does that happen?
Poland was occupied by the German forces from 1939-1945. During this period the Nazis carried out their racist propaganda and genocidal policies against the Jewish population and others deemed to have no contribution worthy enough for humanity.
This is the backdrop used by Jennifer Rosner to tell THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS.
It is the summer of 1941 and Róza and Shira, mother and daughter, are on the run after escaping the Germans that come to take away Róza’s parents. Róza’s husband never returned from his assignment of digging trenches; so, it is just the two of them. They must find a place to hide and wait for the Polish Army to defeat the Germans.
Róza’s only concerns are where to go, where to get food, and, above all, how to keep Shira safe. Shira is a precocious 5-year-old music prodigy. Róza must keep Shira silent and teach her how to be sly without telling her the bare truths of what is happening all around them. They are forced into dangerous and desperate situations; but Róza is steadfast in her commitment to Shira’s protection. Every waking moment must be spent evading capture.
Róza’s whispered storytelling and music memories keep Shira distracted when they need to be silent. The Yellow Bird sings the music in Shira’s imagination and is the tenuous thread that bonds her to Róza. The Yellow Bird allows hope to take flight in the midst of stark desperation.
Both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, The Yellow Bird sings a song of hope for humanity in its darkest moments.
This is a poignant debut novel for Ms Rosner and I rate it 4 stars.
Poland was occupied by the German forces from 1939-1945. During this period the Nazis carried out their racist propaganda and genocidal policies against the Jewish population and others deemed to have no contribution worthy enough for humanity.
This is the backdrop used by Jennifer Rosner to tell THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS.
It is the summer of 1941 and Róza and Shira, mother and daughter, are on the run after escaping the Germans that come to take away Róza’s parents. Róza’s husband never returned from his assignment of digging trenches; so, it is just the two of them. They must find a place to hide and wait for the Polish Army to defeat the Germans.
Róza’s only concerns are where to go, where to get food, and, above all, how to keep Shira safe. Shira is a precocious 5-year-old music prodigy. Róza must keep Shira silent and teach her how to be sly without telling her the bare truths of what is happening all around them. They are forced into dangerous and desperate situations; but Róza is steadfast in her commitment to Shira’s protection. Every waking moment must be spent evading capture.
Róza’s whispered storytelling and music memories keep Shira distracted when they need to be silent. The Yellow Bird sings the music in Shira’s imagination and is the tenuous thread that bonds her to Róza. The Yellow Bird allows hope to take flight in the midst of stark desperation.
Both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, The Yellow Bird sings a song of hope for humanity in its darkest moments.
This is a poignant debut novel for Ms Rosner and I rate it 4 stars.
February 25, 2020
A Jewish mother and her five year old daughter hide from the Nazis in a barn. Absolute silence is required which is difficult enough for a young child but is compounded by the fact that this child is a musical genius. The mother tells tales about a yellow bird in an effort to keep her daughter quiet. The imaginary yellow bird allows the child to fly freely and express her musicality albeit in silence. This is a bleak novel of silence, survival, separation, starvation, rape and a bond between a mother and a daughter that does not break.
November 4, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5/5
As a Polish woman, I'm always subconsciously on the lookout for books with Polish characters/history/culture; therefore, getting an ARC of this book was a pleasant surprise. I knew it was about WWII, but I didn't know just how heavily Polish traditions/names/etc played in this. So, I was pleasantly surprised.
Now, this isn't a kind story. It's about war, so that's to be expected. However, the bond represented between the mother and daughter is lovely. I myself am quite close to my mother and continously envisioned my mom being as protective as Roza - it was difficult, at times, to stomach.
An odd thing was how while I read this, I couldn't help but feel as though I was reading a past story of mine. I had a similar idea years ago, which I never finished, and because I'm always incredibly harsh when it comes to my own writing, I wonder if that's why I couldn't give this a full four stars.
Either way, this is a touching story filled with melodic writing and realistic, corrupt, and broken characters. I think many of you will enjoy this story and should keep an eye out for it in 2020!
As a Polish woman, I'm always subconsciously on the lookout for books with Polish characters/history/culture; therefore, getting an ARC of this book was a pleasant surprise. I knew it was about WWII, but I didn't know just how heavily Polish traditions/names/etc played in this. So, I was pleasantly surprised.
Now, this isn't a kind story. It's about war, so that's to be expected. However, the bond represented between the mother and daughter is lovely. I myself am quite close to my mother and continously envisioned my mom being as protective as Roza - it was difficult, at times, to stomach.
An odd thing was how while I read this, I couldn't help but feel as though I was reading a past story of mine. I had a similar idea years ago, which I never finished, and because I'm always incredibly harsh when it comes to my own writing, I wonder if that's why I couldn't give this a full four stars.
Either way, this is a touching story filled with melodic writing and realistic, corrupt, and broken characters. I think many of you will enjoy this story and should keep an eye out for it in 2020!
November 3, 2020
A beautiful story set in the darkest of times in history. A young Jewish girl and her mother hiding in a barn from the German invaders in war torn Poland in 1941. To keep her daughter quiet, the mother tells her elaborate stories about a special garden and her daughter invents an imaginary yellow bird who sings to her the music she composes in her head. When it becomes impossible for them to stay any longer in the barn, the mother must send her daughter away to a safer place with the hope of reclaiming her when the war is over. A poignant and heart-rending story told in elegant prose.
November 16, 2025
This is a Historical Fiction that takes place in Poland during World War II. In this book it follows a Jewish mother (Róza) and her daughter (Shira). This book covers the hard topics like death, lies, and horrific things Jews endured. This book hit me right in the heart and made me want to help all the characters in the book. This books is well-written and made you not want to put it down. I love historical fiction books that covers hard hitting topics if it is written well, and this one is done so right. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, and this review is 100% my own opinion.
June 25, 2023
It was 1941 in Poland when Roza and Shira's life changed. Hiding in the closet as the Germans took her grandparents in their round up of Jews, Roza knew she and five year old Shira needed to leave the area. A farm where Roza knew the owners, and a barn with plenty of hay to hide under became their refuge. As Roza marked the days on a piece of wood, she found inventive ways to keep Shira quiet. Shira loved music - she came from a musical family - and she could compose tunes in her mind. The yellow bird kept her company while her mama whispered stories to her at bed time. The owners of the farm gave them what they could spare, but it wasn't much. While hunger gnawed at their stomachs, the Germans continued their rampage.
After more than a year and a half in the barn, Roza was forced into making a decision. Packing Shira away to a convent where nuns were caring for children misplaced by the war, broke Roza's heart. But at least she knew the address of the orphanage, and also knew Shira was safe. As Roza spent her days hiding in the forest, digging bunkers to hide in, stealing food, she wondered if she'd ever see her daughter again...
The Yellow Bird Sings is an exceptional read by Jennifer Rosner which I devoured over a few hours. Centred solely around Roza, Shira and the yellow bird for the majority of the book, narrated first by Roza, then by Shira once she's at the convent, then back and forth between the two as their lives changed, I was captivated. The unbreakable bond between parent and child shines from this moving and poignant novel, and I recommend it highly.
After more than a year and a half in the barn, Roza was forced into making a decision. Packing Shira away to a convent where nuns were caring for children misplaced by the war, broke Roza's heart. But at least she knew the address of the orphanage, and also knew Shira was safe. As Roza spent her days hiding in the forest, digging bunkers to hide in, stealing food, she wondered if she'd ever see her daughter again...
The Yellow Bird Sings is an exceptional read by Jennifer Rosner which I devoured over a few hours. Centred solely around Roza, Shira and the yellow bird for the majority of the book, narrated first by Roza, then by Shira once she's at the convent, then back and forth between the two as their lives changed, I was captivated. The unbreakable bond between parent and child shines from this moving and poignant novel, and I recommend it highly.
October 23, 2019
Poland 1941, mother and daughter are hiding in a barn, silenced and afraid… The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner is filled with heartbreak, hope and music.
Emotional, heartbreaking and hopeful, The Yellow Bird Sings touches the music of your soul. It is 1941 Poland; Roza and Shira, mother and daughter are Jews, hidden in a barn by farmers. Henryk, the husband, ensures their safety while violating Roza in the night, and his wife Krystyna, provides extra food for Shira; she believes all children deserve an equal chance. Roza and Shira, silenced and afraid, lay quietly in the barn’s hay for more than 15 months. After their family was violently taken from them, they have no choice but to go into hiding. They revisit their cherished memories, whisper stories, use their imagination, and create music in their heads to soothe themselves and pass the time.
When the Germans announce plans to use the farmer’s barn for storage, mother and daughter must find a new safe space right away. TO READ MORE OF THE REVIEW AND REVEALING Q & A WITH THE AUTHOR....https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/10/2...
Pre-order book today - available March 2020.
Emotional, heartbreaking and hopeful, The Yellow Bird Sings touches the music of your soul. It is 1941 Poland; Roza and Shira, mother and daughter are Jews, hidden in a barn by farmers. Henryk, the husband, ensures their safety while violating Roza in the night, and his wife Krystyna, provides extra food for Shira; she believes all children deserve an equal chance. Roza and Shira, silenced and afraid, lay quietly in the barn’s hay for more than 15 months. After their family was violently taken from them, they have no choice but to go into hiding. They revisit their cherished memories, whisper stories, use their imagination, and create music in their heads to soothe themselves and pass the time.
When the Germans announce plans to use the farmer’s barn for storage, mother and daughter must find a new safe space right away. TO READ MORE OF THE REVIEW AND REVEALING Q & A WITH THE AUTHOR....https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/10/2...
Pre-order book today - available March 2020.
September 17, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, WWII historical fiction novel which is inspired by actual events. It has likable, courageous female protagonists, loss, heartbreak, horror, strength, resilience, hope, and the beauty and magic of music. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Anna Koval, has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job voicing the characters. The author's note, in her own voice, is interesting and informative, and is truly appreciated. Many thanks to Goodreads friend, Debbie W., whose glowing review encouraged me to read this gem.
July 21, 2023
Poland 1941, Roza and her daughter Shira hide in a hayloft in a neighbor’s barn, they’re desperate, they don’t know what else to do or where else to go? Shira is five, she’s confused, and her dad Natan has disappeared, her grandparents as well and she now she can’t go home?
They stay hiding in the cold dirty barn for over a year, they are given food by the farmer’s wife Krystyna and the owner of the farm Henryk wants much more from Roza so they can stay. How far would you go to save your child, keep them safe and quiet? Roza invents a made up story based around a little yellow bird to keep Shira occupied, it’s has a musical element and Shira's family comes from a musical background and she loves the tale.
It gets too dangerous for the mother and daughter to stay in the barn. It’s arranged for Shira to be hidden in a convent, her name is changed to Zosia and her hair is bleached blond to make her look less Jewish.
Roza decides her only option is to hide in the woods, Henryk has explained what mushrooms, roots and berries are safe for her to eat. He also shows her how to hide her foot prints; soon she’s cold, filthy, hungry, gaunt and lonely and misses Shira. The one thing that keeps Roza going is her plan to be reunited with Shira as soon as she can and the knowledge her daughter is safe and she knows where she is.
Zosia is safe at the convent the nuns are nice to her, she misses her mother desperately, she starts having violin lessons and she’s extremely talented. Of course it’s dangerous times during a war and nothing lasts forever. Between the German soldiers constantly searching the convent for hidden Jewish children and the Russian army arriving in town, the convent is forced to evacuate when the town is bombed.
Roza and Shira are separated by war, but nothing can break the bond between a mother and her daughter. Based around true stories of Jewish children being hidden during WW II, The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner is an inspiring, heart breaking and beautifully written book. I read it in a day, thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for my copy and five stars from me.
They stay hiding in the cold dirty barn for over a year, they are given food by the farmer’s wife Krystyna and the owner of the farm Henryk wants much more from Roza so they can stay. How far would you go to save your child, keep them safe and quiet? Roza invents a made up story based around a little yellow bird to keep Shira occupied, it’s has a musical element and Shira's family comes from a musical background and she loves the tale.
It gets too dangerous for the mother and daughter to stay in the barn. It’s arranged for Shira to be hidden in a convent, her name is changed to Zosia and her hair is bleached blond to make her look less Jewish.
Roza decides her only option is to hide in the woods, Henryk has explained what mushrooms, roots and berries are safe for her to eat. He also shows her how to hide her foot prints; soon she’s cold, filthy, hungry, gaunt and lonely and misses Shira. The one thing that keeps Roza going is her plan to be reunited with Shira as soon as she can and the knowledge her daughter is safe and she knows where she is.
Zosia is safe at the convent the nuns are nice to her, she misses her mother desperately, she starts having violin lessons and she’s extremely talented. Of course it’s dangerous times during a war and nothing lasts forever. Between the German soldiers constantly searching the convent for hidden Jewish children and the Russian army arriving in town, the convent is forced to evacuate when the town is bombed.
Roza and Shira are separated by war, but nothing can break the bond between a mother and her daughter. Based around true stories of Jewish children being hidden during WW II, The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner is an inspiring, heart breaking and beautifully written book. I read it in a day, thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for my copy and five stars from me.
August 13, 2020
I was surprised to read that The Yellow Bird Sings is a debut novel by Jennifer Rosner. I listened to the audiobook read by Anna Koval, with the author's note read by the author.
The audio was 5/5, and so was the writing.
"In Poland, as World War II rages, a mother hides with her young daughter, a musical prodigy whose slightest sound may cost them their lives.
As Nazi soldiers round up the Jews in their town, Roza and her five-year-old daughter, Shira, flee, seeking shelter in a neighbour's barn. Hidden in the hayloft day and night, Shira struggles to stay still and quiet as music pulses through her and the farmyard outside beckons. To soothe her daughter and pass the time, Roza tells her story about a girl in an enchanted Garden:
The girl is forbidden from making a sound, so the yellow bird sings. He sings whatever the girl composes in her head: high-pitched trills of piccolo; low-throated growls of contrabassoon. Music helps the flowers bloom.
In this make-believe world, Roza can shield Shira from the horrors that surround them. But the day comes when their haven is no longer safe and Roza must make an impossible choice: whether to keep Shira by her side or give her the chance to survive apart.
Inspired by the true stories of Jewish children hidden during World War II, The Yellow Bird Sings is [a story of longing and] a testament to the triumph of hope– a whispered story, a bird's song – in even the darkest of times."
- Quote from back of cd case
5 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
The audio was 5/5, and so was the writing.
"In Poland, as World War II rages, a mother hides with her young daughter, a musical prodigy whose slightest sound may cost them their lives.
As Nazi soldiers round up the Jews in their town, Roza and her five-year-old daughter, Shira, flee, seeking shelter in a neighbour's barn. Hidden in the hayloft day and night, Shira struggles to stay still and quiet as music pulses through her and the farmyard outside beckons. To soothe her daughter and pass the time, Roza tells her story about a girl in an enchanted Garden:
The girl is forbidden from making a sound, so the yellow bird sings. He sings whatever the girl composes in her head: high-pitched trills of piccolo; low-throated growls of contrabassoon. Music helps the flowers bloom.
In this make-believe world, Roza can shield Shira from the horrors that surround them. But the day comes when their haven is no longer safe and Roza must make an impossible choice: whether to keep Shira by her side or give her the chance to survive apart.
Inspired by the true stories of Jewish children hidden during World War II, The Yellow Bird Sings is [a story of longing and] a testament to the triumph of hope– a whispered story, a bird's song – in even the darkest of times."
- Quote from back of cd case
5 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
December 31, 2019
It’s so hard reading stories about WWII & the ones involving children are even tougher. I fell in love with Shira. I think the difficulty of her situation was conveyed very realistically. I loved that music played such an integral part in this novel. I wish I could use musical terms to express the flow of this story. It started off slow and built as it went along. By the end I could really feel how this story could be translated into a musical piece.
‘ Only in this music, wistful and defiant, can she find something of her own without giving herself away. Find her family, her home.’
‘ Only in this music, wistful and defiant, can she find something of her own without giving herself away. Find her family, her home.’
February 21, 2023
Being aware that Jennifer Rosner, a Jewish author I had not read until now, has a new book coming out next month (March 2023) — “Once We Were Home” — with outstanding early reviews—
I took the time to read her debut Holocaust historical fiction novel……
“The Yellow Bird Sings” …. Published in 2020 (also many reviews with high praise).
There are over a thousand 4 and 5 star reviews — for valid reasons.
Yet for me personally—it’s more like a 3.5 rating.
I’m aware of being somewhat jaded from having read many Holocaust stories with ‘mama’ and or ‘papa’s love for their children- hiding them - protecting them from the evils of war.
It’s well written —
I honestly appreciate this novel….inspired by true stories of children, but I had to deal with my own inner voice (feeling a little bored)….
Even with a five year old child musical prodigy — I found myself judging descriptions like ‘blue-and-white’ china, ‘the feel of warm water’, ‘pink wallpaper’, ‘time-for-lessons-of-learning-to count’ and other enhanced flowery child-oriented descriptions.
At an earlier time in my life — I’m guessing I would have rated this book higher.
However … I will read the author again.
The ‘Author’s Notes’ at the end ‘was’ inspiring about her own two children who were born deaf … it felt more direct -honest and passionate in some ways than the overall storytelling of the novel itself to me.
I’m interested in Rosner’s family story with her own children…..
and she ‘has’ written a memoir: “If The Tree Falls”….which I’d like to read or perhaps audio-listen to it.
So…. 3.5 free me…..rating up!
I took the time to read her debut Holocaust historical fiction novel……
“The Yellow Bird Sings” …. Published in 2020 (also many reviews with high praise).
There are over a thousand 4 and 5 star reviews — for valid reasons.
Yet for me personally—it’s more like a 3.5 rating.
I’m aware of being somewhat jaded from having read many Holocaust stories with ‘mama’ and or ‘papa’s love for their children- hiding them - protecting them from the evils of war.
It’s well written —
I honestly appreciate this novel….inspired by true stories of children, but I had to deal with my own inner voice (feeling a little bored)….
Even with a five year old child musical prodigy — I found myself judging descriptions like ‘blue-and-white’ china, ‘the feel of warm water’, ‘pink wallpaper’, ‘time-for-lessons-of-learning-to count’ and other enhanced flowery child-oriented descriptions.
At an earlier time in my life — I’m guessing I would have rated this book higher.
However … I will read the author again.
The ‘Author’s Notes’ at the end ‘was’ inspiring about her own two children who were born deaf … it felt more direct -honest and passionate in some ways than the overall storytelling of the novel itself to me.
I’m interested in Rosner’s family story with her own children…..
and she ‘has’ written a memoir: “If The Tree Falls”….which I’d like to read or perhaps audio-listen to it.
So…. 3.5 free me…..rating up!
October 1, 2022
The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner I have a very hard time connecting with this book. I know it was a good read. Taking place in Poland 1941 Roza and her daughter Shira are hiding. Roza decides it is best to hide her daughter with nuns in order to save their lives. Shira is so quiet. Making imaginations with her yellow bird in her head. She is a musical prodigy. Roza searches for her. As the child moves she gets further from Roza. Roza doesn’t give up looking for her. A mother’s love never dies. She will never give up hoping and looking….
February 15, 2020
I am always fascinated by an author’s ability to write about an abhorrent time in history and turn it into something of beauty and this is just what Jennifer Rosner has accomplished in her latest novel.
A Jewish mother and her 5 year old daughter find themselves seeking shelter in a barn in the Polish countryside. Luckily for them, the farmer and his wife agree to let them stay for a time in as long as they remain quiet and hidden. Of course, it does come at a cost, but it is not as great as what they would face on the run.
Having had a background in music, the mother keeps her daughter entertained by telling her lyrical stories. From these stories, the daughter creates a make believe world in which she has a yellow bird as her companion.
As time goes on it becomes too dangerous for them to be hiding in the barn, so the mother makes an agonizing decision to separate them and send her daughter to live in safety with some nuns at an orphanage.
It is there that the child’s talent is brought forth, and in a sense, becomes her safety net. Throughout their time of separation, the mother is facing her own struggles as she tries to find her daughter while the war is coming to an end.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction and beautiful, descriptive writing will find their sweet spot with this novel. Others will be happy to hear there are no concentration camps featured in the story. I rate this a solid 4.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
A Jewish mother and her 5 year old daughter find themselves seeking shelter in a barn in the Polish countryside. Luckily for them, the farmer and his wife agree to let them stay for a time in as long as they remain quiet and hidden. Of course, it does come at a cost, but it is not as great as what they would face on the run.
Having had a background in music, the mother keeps her daughter entertained by telling her lyrical stories. From these stories, the daughter creates a make believe world in which she has a yellow bird as her companion.
As time goes on it becomes too dangerous for them to be hiding in the barn, so the mother makes an agonizing decision to separate them and send her daughter to live in safety with some nuns at an orphanage.
It is there that the child’s talent is brought forth, and in a sense, becomes her safety net. Throughout their time of separation, the mother is facing her own struggles as she tries to find her daughter while the war is coming to an end.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction and beautiful, descriptive writing will find their sweet spot with this novel. Others will be happy to hear there are no concentration camps featured in the story. I rate this a solid 4.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
March 30, 2020
Emotional, heartbreaking and hopeful, The Yellow Bird Sings touches the music of your soul. It is 1941 Poland; Roza and Shira, mother and daughter are Jews, hidden in a barn by farmers. Henryk, the husband, ensures their safety while violating Roza in the night, and his wife Krystyna, provides extra food for Shira; she believes all children deserve an equal chance. Roza and Shira, silenced and afraid, lay quietly in the barn’s hay for more than 15 months. After their family was violently taken from them, they have no choice but to go into hiding. They revisit their cherished memories, whisper stories, use their imagination, and create music in their heads to soothe themselves and pass the time.
When the Germans announce plans to use the farmer’s barn for storage, mother and daughter must find a new safe space right away. They are encouraged to separate so Shira can go to a convent to have lessons and be with other children, allowing her a better chance of surviving. Filled with sadness, regret and fear, Roza is on her own and heads to the forest.
The Yellow Bird Sings will rip your heart out as you feel the emotional and physical struggles of both mother and daughter; at first stifled, secluded and living in silence with the burden and horrific fear of the unknown, with only what is inside their minds and their hearts to comfort and sustain them as they live day by day in hiding. And then separated, longing to be together, doing everything possible to survive.
Author Jennifer Rosner tells an extraordinary story with beautiful use of language; her words and phrases are visual and powerful….
“Words to Zosia (Sofia) are like glass beads around her neck. If one were to break loose, they would all clatter to the floor and scatter, shatter the quiet that kept her and her mother alive, entwined beneath hay.”
When referring to understanding loss; “What is whole does not comprehend what is torn until it, too, is in shreds.”
When seeing other mothers with their children, “Something breaks loose inside Roza and skitters down the stairs of her heart.”
We follow Roza and Shira on their separate journeys, holding out hope that they will be reunited after the war. With a blanket from the past, a magic yellow bird, cherished memories in their minds and soulful music in their hearts, The Yellow Bird Sings delivers a powerful story of Roza and Shira’s incredible survival, their unbreakable connection, their will to be heard, and the celebration of music that, through the generations, links us to each other. Emotional, heartbreaking and hopeful, I could not put this book down and highly recommend it! AUTHOR Q & A at https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/10/2...
When the Germans announce plans to use the farmer’s barn for storage, mother and daughter must find a new safe space right away. They are encouraged to separate so Shira can go to a convent to have lessons and be with other children, allowing her a better chance of surviving. Filled with sadness, regret and fear, Roza is on her own and heads to the forest.
The Yellow Bird Sings will rip your heart out as you feel the emotional and physical struggles of both mother and daughter; at first stifled, secluded and living in silence with the burden and horrific fear of the unknown, with only what is inside their minds and their hearts to comfort and sustain them as they live day by day in hiding. And then separated, longing to be together, doing everything possible to survive.
Author Jennifer Rosner tells an extraordinary story with beautiful use of language; her words and phrases are visual and powerful….
“Words to Zosia (Sofia) are like glass beads around her neck. If one were to break loose, they would all clatter to the floor and scatter, shatter the quiet that kept her and her mother alive, entwined beneath hay.”
When referring to understanding loss; “What is whole does not comprehend what is torn until it, too, is in shreds.”
When seeing other mothers with their children, “Something breaks loose inside Roza and skitters down the stairs of her heart.”
We follow Roza and Shira on their separate journeys, holding out hope that they will be reunited after the war. With a blanket from the past, a magic yellow bird, cherished memories in their minds and soulful music in their hearts, The Yellow Bird Sings delivers a powerful story of Roza and Shira’s incredible survival, their unbreakable connection, their will to be heard, and the celebration of music that, through the generations, links us to each other. Emotional, heartbreaking and hopeful, I could not put this book down and highly recommend it! AUTHOR Q & A at https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/10/2...
July 17, 2020
Just had to give this 5 stars. Outstanding debut novel. The writing is eloquent, the story compelling. You feel Roza’s anguish at the choice she felt she had to make; you can hear the mournful, beautiful sound of the violin her daughter plays; you grimace at some of the things Roza had to endure; you are amazed at the amount of time Roza and Shira spend in the barn; you desperately hope they survive. It’s just a gripping read from start to finish. Highly recommended to lovers of WWII historical fiction.
February 28, 2020
Any book that takes place during WWII will undeniably break my heart and keep me emotional long time after finishing it. The Yellow Bird Sings is no different. This is a historical fiction at its best! Captivating, heart wrenching but at the same time hopeful. A story of love, loss, courage, and unbreakable bond between mother and daughter. Written in a beautiful prose with wonderfully developed characters, The Yellow Bird Sings is a must read for all historical fiction lovers.
Thank you NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 31, 2020
This story is about a Jewish mother, her six year old daughter and their relationship during World War II. They are hiding from the Nazis in Poland. Her husband had been executed by the Nazis and her parents had been taken to a ghetto. Roza is a talented musician and Shira is a child protege. Roza makes the hard decision to let Shira go into hiding in an orphanage. Shira makes up stories about a yellow bird that's free to fly away. She also makes up violin music in her mind.
This is a moving Holocaust story. A portrayal of a mothers love and just how far she would go to keep her daughter safe. A story of tragedy, grief, hope and survival. Th3 book alternates between Roza and Shira's point of view. It tells us about their experiences whilst being separated. Th3 story is beautifully written. The plotline is gripping. This is a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author Jennifer Rosner for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a moving Holocaust story. A portrayal of a mothers love and just how far she would go to keep her daughter safe. A story of tragedy, grief, hope and survival. Th3 book alternates between Roza and Shira's point of view. It tells us about their experiences whilst being separated. Th3 story is beautifully written. The plotline is gripping. This is a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author Jennifer Rosner for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
This WWII Historical Fiction tells the story of Roza, a Jewish mother and her young daughter Shira. They have been hiding in a barn successfully for a long time. But with danger lurking closer than ever before it becomes clear just how hard it is to keep a small child still and quiet. After being given the opportunity, and being convinced that it would help save them both, Roza sends Shira to assume a new identity and live at a convent.
April 11, 2022
The Yellow Bird Sings is the book of the year for me. I love it so much! I love every chapter, every page, everything in this book!
March 12, 2020
Have you ever sat down to start a new book, only planning to read for an hour or so and ended up devouring the entire thing in one sitting? That happened to me the other night with The Yellow Bird Sings. I literally could not put it down. There is no way my review will do justice to just how incredible this book it.
The Yellow Bird Sings is an emotional & heartbreaking read. It follows the life of a Jewish woman Roza and her young daughter as they hide from the Nazis. At a time when people are turning in their Jewish neighbors for a bag of sugar, they are lucky to have a sympathetic neighbor family to help them. Though it does come at a price. They spend their days in absolute silence, not daring the make even the slightest noise to alert others to their presence, hiding in a pile of hay in the attic. Their only entertainment are the stories that Roza tells her daughter Shira about their family, their shared love of music and the little yellow bird that Shira has with her.
When the opportunity comes for Shira to escape to a better life with people that help Jewish children, her mother Roza must make the most difficult decision in her life to either let her go or stay together and hope for the best.
The author's writing is phenomenal and the book instantly grabs you. It's not an easy read but an important one and it's one that I know I will never ever forget.
Have tissues at the ready because you're gonna need them!
The Yellow Bird Sings is an emotional & heartbreaking read. It follows the life of a Jewish woman Roza and her young daughter as they hide from the Nazis. At a time when people are turning in their Jewish neighbors for a bag of sugar, they are lucky to have a sympathetic neighbor family to help them. Though it does come at a price. They spend their days in absolute silence, not daring the make even the slightest noise to alert others to their presence, hiding in a pile of hay in the attic. Their only entertainment are the stories that Roza tells her daughter Shira about their family, their shared love of music and the little yellow bird that Shira has with her.
When the opportunity comes for Shira to escape to a better life with people that help Jewish children, her mother Roza must make the most difficult decision in her life to either let her go or stay together and hope for the best.
The author's writing is phenomenal and the book instantly grabs you. It's not an easy read but an important one and it's one that I know I will never ever forget.
Have tissues at the ready because you're gonna need them!
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