Jewish Book Club discussion

Has your work won an award? Let us know here!

"Jacob's Rescue: A Holocaust Story", Random House. Michael Halperin & Malka Drucker. ABA Best Book, Children's Book Council; Notable Children's Trade Book, Int'l. Reading Assn. Teacher's Choice.

Michael wrote: ""Jacob's Rescue: A Holocaust Story", Random House. Michael Halperin & Malka Drucker. ABA Best Book, Children's Book Council; Notable Children's Trade Book, Int'l. Reading Assn. Teacher's Choice."

👍

My narrative nonfiction biography of Barbara Reichmann: Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust. Published by Farrar Strauss Giroux, won the Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Award upon publication in 2018. Professor of Holocaust Education, David Lindquist, said: "Claiming My Place expands the view of the Diary of Anne Frank for one critical reason. Anne Frank's story is told within an isolated cocoon. In Barbara's story however, the Holocaust is in the full view as her experience unfold" FSG, and Barbara's daughter Helen West, (who wrote the Afterward) and I decided to publish it as YA to get it into school Holocaust curricula. Alas, that has yet to happen; but FGS says the book is "evergreen" and to have patience. Claiming my Place is a totally unique telling of the Holocaust as 1/3 of the book depicts, in detail, Barbara's happy Polish childhood, teenage years, and university before the war. Then, her fleeing of the ghetto TO Germany, surviving for 3 years as a disguised Polish gentile. Helen, then tells the rest of the story of their family life as Jewish immigrants in America until Barbara's death at 92. As Lindquist said: "The Holocaust in full view."

Jan wrote: "Has your work won an award? Let us know
My book, I Am Meir's Brother came in #1.


"https://bookauthority.org/books/best-...
6 Best Israeli Biography Books of All Time
As featured on CNN, Forbes and Inc – BookAuthority identifies and rates the best books in the world, based on recommendations by thought leaders and experts.

Ellen wrote: "Jan wrote: "Has your work won an award? Let us know
My book, I Am Meir's Brother came in #1.


"https://bookauthority.org/books/best-...
6 Best Israeli Biography Books of All T..."

Congrats to you!
I enjoyed two of your other books.

"Jacob's Rescue: A Holocaust Story"
International Reading Assn., “Teachers’ Choice”
Children’s Book Council/National Council for Social Studies, “Notable Children’s Trade Book”
American Bookseller’s Assn., Best Book

Great Book Michael.
I read it twice and saw your international interviewed re this.
Congrats to you.

I'm delighted to announce that my novel Come Back for Me has been chosen as winner of the Firebird Book Award for Historical Fiction!

Sharon,
Congrats!!!
Thats great news. I read your book awhile ago- quite deserving.!
Enjoy Cloud 9

Thanks so much, Stacey!

I am pleased to announce that my book Broken Promises has been awarded the Bronze Medal in the Non-Fiction – Genealogy category at the 2022 International Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. The International Readers’ Favorite Book Award Contest featured thousands of entries from over a dozen countries and is one of the largest award contest sites on the Internet. Broken Promises tells the history of German Jews through the triumphs and tragedies of the Heppenheimer family, from the seventeenth century through the Holocaust. Here is the link to my book on the contest website: https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi....

Bonnie wrote: "I am pleased to announce that my book Broken Promises has been awarded the Bronze Medal in the Non-Fiction – Genealogy category at the 2022 International Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. The Internat..."

Hi Bonnie,
Congrats to you.... on winning the Bronze Medal.
What a wonderful honor and feeling this must bring to you and your family. Keep up the great work.

Hello everyone,

I didn't realize this thread existed until today. So humbly, I am grateful for the opportunity to share the honors The Assignment has received since 2020:

Lincoln Award nominee
Georgia Peach Book Award nominee
State of Illinois Read for a Lifetime Book
Little Free Library “Read in Color” Recommended Read
TAYSHAS Recommended Read (Texas Library Association)
Sakura Medal Award nominee (Japan)
Sydney Taylor Notable YA Novel
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
YALSA Best Fiction for YA nominee
Milwaukee County Teen Honor Book
Wisconsin State Reading Association Recommended YA Novel
Nerdy Book Club Best Young Adult Novel winner

Liza wrote: "Hello everyone,

I didn't realize this thread existed until today. So humbly, I am grateful for the opportunity to share the honors The Assignment has received since 2020:

Lincoln ..."

Wow, Liza, this is impressive. I love this book, read it and listened to the audio, and these are all deserved!

Liza,
Ok, I must be related to Betsy; I didn't see this until just now. I too read the book and listened to it on audio for the first time.
You earned each honor. Congrats to you!!

Stacey B wrote: "Liza,
Ok, I must be related to Betsy; I didn't see this until just now. I too read the book and listened to it on audio for the first time.
You earned each honor. Congrats to you!!"

Thank you so much, Stacey! This means the world to me. I really appreciate you reading and listening! 😍

I am excited to announce that my novel The German Dressmaker is a 2023 Winner of the Firebird Book Award for Fiction.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Susan wrote: "I am excited to announce that my novel The German Dressmaker is a 2023 Winner of the Firebird Book Award for Fiction.

Susan, congratulations on winnng the award for The German Dressmaker: A WWII Historical Novel.
I enjoyed reading your statement about yourself on your home page and looking up the Firebird Book Award; kudos for your auspicious plunge into fiction.

Thank you!

Liza wrote: "Hello everyone,

I didn't realize this thread existed until today. So humbly, I am grateful for the opportunity to share the honors The Assignment has received since 2020:

Lincoln ..."

I just received my copy in the mail Friday, so I plan to tear into it this week. Congratulations!

Susan wrote: "I am excited to announce that my novel The German Dressmaker is a 2023 Winner of the Firebird Book Award for Fiction.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."


Congratulations!

Shana,
You are such a kind soul re your comments to other authors.
Love to see posts like these.

You and Jan do an admirable job encouraging all the authors, Stacey. Some days, just one good review or one word of encouragement is what it takes to keep on writing instead of feeling like you'll forever be lost in an ocean of great authors. You always point out the strengths of the work in your reviews, and in the end, that's what matters, that we write because of something compelling inside us.

Not that awards aren't great, they are definitely rewarding, but if readers can identify with that magic passage that they've somehow lived, feared, or loved, too, then that's a writer's kiss on the cheek.

Shanah wrote: "You and Jan do an admirable job encouraging all the authors, Stacey. Some days, just one good review or one word of encouragement is what it takes to keep on writing instead of feeling like you'll ..."

Thank you Shanah.
Agree with your thinking. I believe seeing a good review is equivalent to a compliment. Many people are so quick and so used to the art of criticism. They forget what just one single compliment can do for someones day, week or year.

I agree ladies. Not an author, but I try to review every book I read. I admit that during busy times it might be no more than a paragraph but - I let the author know what worked and what didn’t. It’s the least I can do reading a book. Do I want comments on my reviews, yes, I’d appreciate it, but I’ve come to learn that I’m doing it for myself, not for comments and likes. The book is the author’s baby not mine.

Brina wrote: "I agree ladies. Not an author, but I try to review every book I read. I admit that during busy times it might be no more than a paragraph but - I let the author know what worked and what didn’t. It..."

Brina,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you as well. Constructive criticism is not necessarily a negative. Books are subjective as are reviews which you know.
There have been books that received awards I personally don't agree with.
I was alluding to the mean spirited reviews we have all seen at some point. Reading some of them make me cringe Im of the belief that not every authors develops thick skin.

With the best of intentions.. I know I started this by a reply- but it doesn't belong here in this space. Im going to stop it here as well so it doesn't take away the limelight of our authors and their Awards.

Stacey B wrote: "Brina wrote: "I agree ladies. Not an author, but I try to review every book I read. I admit that during busy times it might be no more than a paragraph but - I let the author know what worked and w..."

I think it's just fine to discuss here, Stacey, and not really a problem. These dedicated author discussions are the one place to talk with authors about their work and matters of interest to them. If we wander, we'll always get back on target when the next author posts about their latest award etc! 👍

Ok then, -
Let's hope this spurs more interest.

Brina wrote: "I agree ladies. Not an author, but I try to review every book I read. I admit that during busy times it might be no more than a paragraph but - I let the author know what worked and what didn’t. It..."

Brina, before I became a published author, I had no idea how important the reviews are. I want to thank you, on behalf of all authors, for taking the time to write a review. Even if it's just a sentence, it lets us know that people are reading what we've written. And for some like me, that book represents more than a decade of work. So it's nice to know we're being read and appreciated. Mightily grateful to you.

It helps I enjoy writing reviews lol but you deserve knowing that people read and hopefully enjoyed your books. I’ll have to look at your books, Sarah, but I’m a teacher and day 1 is tomorrow so it might not be any time soon.

Brina wrote: "It helps I enjoy writing reviews lol but you deserve knowing that people read and hopefully enjoyed your books. I’ll have to look at your books, Sarah, but I’m a teacher and day 1 is tomorrow so it..."

I hope your transition from summer time to back-to-school is an easy one. May all your students be respectful and attentive!

Mel Laytner
As a new author, I am fortunate to have found such a caring, invested community of bibliophiles. To me, every rating, every thoughtful review is a victory. I'm sure other authors feel the same.

Mel wrote: "Mel Laytner
As a new author, I am fortunate to have found such a caring, invested community of bibliophiles. To me, every rating, every thoughtful review is a victory. I'm sure ot..."

Mel, beautifully said.
I have the ultimate respect for authors.
They have entertained me and taught me plenty. I hope newer readers recognize the amount of time, sweat, and energy it takes to pen a book. The non-creative part of publishing and PR is not. Again bc books are subjective I don't want to influence a reader not to read it. It's for that reason I can't rate a book I feel is below a 3* unless it falls under the auspice of "hurtful" ;meaning against humankind.
Many readers have told me they disagree with this thinking, yet I think I see a point regarding any book read is a victory.
Admittedly, I am negligent in writing/rating every book I read. Going to put in more effort.
And this Mel.. is "documented history". :)

Delighted that my book, Good for a Single Journey is a finalist in the 2023 NGIBA first novel category. Honoured also to have been invited to present my book at London's Jewish Book Week.

What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Publisher Weekly included What They Didn't Burn in its November "Opening Lines" post, which features the notable opening lines of books. Books are listed in alphabetical order, so you have to scroll down a bit, but it's there.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...

Mel wrote: "What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Publisher Weekly included What They Didn't Burn in its November "Opening Lines" post, which features the notable ope..."

No doubt its there Mel- well deserved. Congrats.

Mel wrote: "What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Publisher Weekly included What They Didn't Burn in its November "Opening Lines" post, which features the notable ope..."

Congratulations!

Great news Mel.

Mel wrote: "What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Publisher Weekly included What They Didn't Burn in its November "Opening Lines" post, which features the notable ope..."

I enjoyed reading those first lines, Mel, and yours is right up there with the best of them.

I am delighted to announce that my novel The Evil Inclination has been honored with the 2023 Grand Prize for fiction by the prestigious North Street Book Prize. The novel was selected for the Grand Prize from among 1,862 books submitted from around the globe.
In conferring the $10,000 award, The North Street Book Prize said of The Evil Inclination: “Daniel Victor's The Evil Inclination is a sensitive, tragic love story between a modern-day Romeo and Juliet who transgress religious boundaries. It's a brilliant novel that works on many levels—theological, personal, cultural—with high stakes and sharply observed humorous moments that make the characters achingly real.”
See more about the North Street Book Prize: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...

The author is available to attend your book club session either in person or via Zoom.

The Evil Inclination can be purchased online at Amazon https://a.co/d/9Qw0t6V or Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
The Evil Inclination

Daniel wrote: "I am delighted to announce that my novel The Evil Inclination has been honored with the 2023 Grand Prize for fiction by the prestigious North Street Book Prize. The novel was selected for the Grand..."

Congratulations on your award, Daniel. That's fantastic and I hope will provide support for your work.

I thought maybe I saw you on Literary Modiin, and when I checked, sure enough, you spoke in December. I remember being taken by your presentation and that title but I can't remember the details. Maybe I'll have to watch again. Anyway, that's a great award!

Daniel wrote: "I am delighted to announce that my novel The Evil Inclination has been honored with the 2023 Grand Prize for fiction by the prestigious North Street Book Prize. The novel was selected for the Grand..."

Amazing! Well done!

Thank you, Helen and Jan! My novel is the first work of Jewish fiction to win the Grand Prize since inception of the North Street Book Prize in 2015 (and trust me, you won't find a work of fiction in the English language that is more grounded in Jewish texts and themes than The Evil Inclination!).

Congratulations Daniel, a great outcome.

Daniel wrote: "I am delighted to announce that my novel The Evil Inclination has been honored with the 2023 Grand Prize for fiction by the prestigious North Street Book Prize. The novel was selected for the Grand..."

Daniel, I'm quite taken with your book based on the description and the impressive award. Not sure when I can read it, but what I did do right away was request that my library get it.

By the way, that's something anybody can do if they like the looks of a book they learn about here. It won't hurt to ask.

I am humbled and honored to share that my debut fiction Finding Home (Hungary, 1945) has received the 2024 Independent Press Award for Judaism, is a finalist for this year's Goethe Late Fiction Award and has been nominated for the ALA Sophie Broder Award for Jewish Literature. Finding Home (Hungary, 1945) is the first novel to explore the complex emotional, moral and economic dynamics when Jewish concentration camp survivors tried to return to their homes in Eastern Europe following liberation, only to find their homes and businesses owned by their former neighbor and friends. POVs of the returnees and the townspeople make the book absolutely unique in our genre. The novel is the result of four years of research in Eastern European archives, interviews with academicians, survivors and townspeople in Hungary, Poland and the US. It was incredibly difficult for me to write, especially in the current fraught atmosphere, and I had to stop several times because the research was giving me nightmares and deep sadness. Even so, the novel does allow for hope based in the healing power of music, faith and our Jewish community. Sterling editorial reviews by Jane Yolan, Jennifer Rosner, David Gillham, Ilan Stavans and others.

Dean wrote: "I am humbled and honored to share that my debut fiction Finding Home (Hungary, 1945) has received the 2024 Independent Press Award for Judaism, is a finalist for this year's Goethe Late Fiction Awa..."

Congrat's Dean on your award. I can only imagine the stress of research triggering the nightmares you suffered from penning this book.
I hope that as finished and awarded, you find only synphonic
delightful dreams.

Thanks, Stacey. The most helpful thing has been giving talks and readings st synagogues, bookstores and libraries where I can dig deeply into the themes and the research. Processing all of this with the reading community has been wonderful. And all good preparation for my new project about the persecution of conversos during the Spanish Inquisition. Think I will do a romcom after that!

Dean wrote: "Thanks, Stacey. The most helpful thing has been giving talks and readings st synagogues, bookstores and libraries where I can dig deeply into the themes and the research. Processing all of this with the reading community has been wonderful. And all good preparation for my new project about the persecution of conversos during the Spanish Inquisition. Think I will do a romcom after that!"

You will be due for a romcom after that! ☺️