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Rachel Zolotov
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The Girl with the Silver Star: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Rachel Zolotov (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,656 ratings
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For the readers of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls, inspired by the true story of the author’s great-grandmother’s journey during World War II, The Girl with the Silver Star is the extraordinary story of a mother’s love and will to survive during one of history’s darkest time periods.

As a hailstorm of bombs begins to shatter the city of Minsk in Belarus, Raisa and her family run through the darkness of night to take cover. When Raisa, Abraham, and their daughters, Luba and Sofia, emerge from the bomb shelter, they find an unfamiliar city before them; chaos and terror burn in every direction. Fearing for their lives, they must leave at once to find the rest of their family. But before they are able to escape, Abraham is conscripted into the Russian Army and the family is forced to part ways. Raisa’s love and strength are put to the ultimate test as she finds herself on her own with her two young daughters in tow. How will she manage alone without her soulmate by her side?

Relying on hope, resourcefulness and courage, they walk, hitch hike and take trains heading for Uzbekistan, over 2,500 miles from home. Along the way they run from bombs, endure starvation, and face death.

Raisa finds solace in the women around her. Her mother, sisters, old friends and new help carry her through the difficult war years, but Raisa’s longing to reunite with Abraham still rages inside her heart. Will they ever see each other again? Will Raisa and her family find their way back to their homeland?

The Girl with the Silver Star is a captivating journey through war-torn Soviet Union as it illuminates a unique part of WWII history, the female heroes. Raisa’s journey is a tribute to the nameless women, their determination, bravery, grief and unwavering love during impossible times. Their stories shouldn’t be forgotten.

What readers are saying about The Girl with the Silver Star



⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Reviewer
The Girl with the Silver Star is a heartfelt, tense, and moving story of one family’s journey through Russia during WWII. It recounts the author’s great-grandmother‘s struggle to keep her children and parents safe while her husband is fighting on the front lines.

The author’s admiration for her great-grandmother comes through on every page, as well as the power of family ties and the strength that carries through generations.

While I’ve certainly never gone through anything like them, I could completely relate to Raisa and the hardships she endured. I felt her struggles and heartbreaks. Her strength and that of the women around her poured through the pages. I loved this book! And I highly recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Reviewer
A story of love, loss, family and lasting friendships. This story is beautifully written and it will make you laugh, cry, get angry and want to love and be loved; hallmarks of a great story. The main character Raisa and her necklace are symbols of purity and reflect the themes of: good vs. evil, love and heroism…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Reviewer
The Girl with the Silver Star follows the story of an innocent family who are thrust into terror during WWII.

Its a fight for survival when mother Raisa and father Abraham are forced to fight for the safety and lives of their two young children, when the family are forced to flee from their home from the bombs, chaos and destruction.
[…]
This book had me in tears with the heartbreaking trials the family were made to overcome and the atrocities they witnessed in order to stay alive. It is a stark reminder that humanity is equal despite our different races and religions and that we should always treat each other with kindness and love.

With real handwritten letters between husband and wife interwoven throughout the book, The Girl with the Silver Star is a story that will stand the test of time. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it!
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  1. Print length
    278 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 17, 2020
  5. File size
    1980 KB
  6. Page Flip
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  7. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"So many books are written about concentration camps and Jewish ghettos, but there are very few accounts that show the Soviet side of Jewish refugees' tragic history, and meanwhile, such stories shed light on the events that definitely need to be studied and discussed. Eye-opening, meticulously researched, and so very inspiring, The Girl with the Silver Star is a true must-read. Highly recommended!" -Ellie Midwood, USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08GYJTKDF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (November 17, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 17, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1980 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B08NF334YM
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,656 ratings

About the author

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Rachel Zolotov

Rachel Zolotov

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Rachel Zolotov’s writing journey began after a conversation with her mother about her family history. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she had a story that was worth sharing, and after years of research and writing, The Girl with the Silver Star was born.

Rachel has a background in Jewelry and User Experience Design and enjoys being creative. In her free time, you can find her snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea. Rachel lives in St. Louis, Missouri with her husband and two daughters. If you would like to learn more, please visit RachelZolotov.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,656 global ratings
A TREASURED STORY WE SHOULD ALL READ
5 Stars
A TREASURED STORY WE SHOULD ALL READ
Have you ever read a book in which you find yourself saying, “One more page, just one more chapter”? This will be that story for you. It felt rather impossible to put this book down.The author beautifully draws us into the depth of each character. We feel rather intensely the deep love between Raisa and Abraham, as well as the close knit nature of their family. Our hearts are connected to them with every turn of the page.I am so grateful Rachel Zolotov shared her family’s harrowing experiences with the world. What a great honor and privilege to in part be given the opportunity to witness the bravery, fear, determination, courage, love, admiration, sacrifice and steadfastness of a family fueled by love through the absolute darkest of days.This story will leave a lasting impression on your heart, mind and soul and it’s imprint has the ability to bring change in us that can be reflected in the world. In the words of the author, “It is incredibly important that we keep history alive, so that past mistakes won’t ever repeat themselves.”Real people suffered atrocities our minds have the inability to fully comprehend. The human spirit is so strong and this treasured story reminds us and begs us to never forget.
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Top reviews from the United States

Marina Osipova
5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous story despite the heartbreaking subject!
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
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I don’t remember reading a book about war that is so filled to the brim with love, light, and optimism. There is something magnetic about this novel based on real events. Is it the story itself or the people who are in the center of the events? Is it the author’s voice? Or something ephemeral this reader cannot describe? All along the way, I had that warm feeling as though the people (the author’s relatives) populating the novel were my good friends or family or I wished they were. Their way of life touched the deepest, most tender corners of my heart. The atmosphere of love, devotion, hope, and happiness despite all odds permeates every page. It was healing. For me, it was magical. Raisa (what personality!), the central character from whose POV the story is related, seems to look at everything through spectacles of kindness and nonjudgmental reflection. In the face of unimaginable difficulties—no wining or angry outburst, no blaming others and never complaining, but every day infused with hope—her positive attitude makes the story unforgettable and special. The author put me right there next to Raisa and I didn’t only feel for her, I felt with her.
The atmosphere of love and care for each other in her family and for friends enveloped the reader from the very first page despite the fear, destruction, and loss of the war. In Raisa’s words, “No matter what we endured, our mere presence in this life was beautiful, and I was thankful that our journey had brought us to this moment together…” How could she find the positive in any situation, I wondered? As I read about her life journey, I got goosebumps. I cried, I smiled, I was astounded.
Rachel Zolotov’s language, enchanting and easy to read, left me in awe of the author; the descriptions are so vivid, I felt inside the scenes.
The story’s appeal provides optimism for the time we now live through.
Highly recommended with no age reservation.
3 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Touching love story.
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2021
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How can a love story take place under this horrific time in history? So much happens whomever least expect it. This story will show you how love can keep you going.
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Elena Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful story. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2020
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What a beautiful, heartwarming story this is! It is a story of true love and perseverance of a Jewish family, which takes place in Soviet Russia during World War II. Growing up in Russia, I was surrounded by war stories since childhood. Countless Russian books and movies about the war always extolled the heroism of the Russian soldiers. Little, however, was said about the plight of Russian Jews and other families who were trying to escape Nazi occupation. What sets the Girl with the Silver Star apart, is the focus on quiet every day heroism of Raisa, an ordinary wife and mother who overcomes extraordinary hardships to keep her family safe.
Raisa’s husband is drafted to the army in the early days of Nazi’s invasion of Belarus, and Raisa is forced to flee Germans across the USSR with her young daughters and extended family. Suffering and chaos are everywhere – death, starvation, disease. Raisa’s fear and anxiety are raw and palpable, yet they’re overshadowed by the love she feels for her family, which keeps her focused one thing – to keep her family safe and together.
This book is meticulously researched and is full of priceless Yiddish sayings and little vignettes that makes it both historically accurate and easy to relate to. The poignant human moments permeate the book and make it a must read.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshingly old-fashioned protagonist
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021
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It would not be entirely accurate to file this novel under Russian Literature or Russian History category. Eastern European Jews comprise a unique and enduring sub-culture. The characters of "The Girl With the Silver Star" speak Yiddish in addition to Russian and they retain elements of their religion at a time when atheism was sweeping through the newly formed Soviet Union. It would be more appropriate to file this novel under Jewish literature. Believe me, I am of mixed Judeo-Slavic heritage myself, so I know the cultural nuances. Jews and Russians do not appreciate being referred to interchangeably. Even though the Soviet influences had softened some of their differences, they are two very distinct cultural universes.

What I found refreshing about this novel is the fact that the speaker/protagonist is not a talking head for "progress". Raisa is a sincere, demure, domestic, feminine, wholesome and in some ways childlike. It seems like historical fiction abounds with female characters that push some left wing agenda. You expect to have some female artist trying to assert herself in a man's world. If you want to take a break from that, try looking at WWII through the eyes of a humble housewife, whose only ambition is to ensure survival for herself and her loved ones. She is not motivated to "change the world" or "improve the lot of women". As matter of fact, Soviet propaganda strove to minimize the differences between men and women. Women were encouraged to ditch the "bourgeois" gender roles, roll up their sleeves and toil side by side with men. In that regard, Raisa is outside the mainstream. It was not common for Soviet women in the 1930s and 40s to stay at home and take care of their children. Raisa is more Jewish than Soviet. Her husband Abraham is equally meek. He never abuses his role as sole provider for the family. That makes the reader all the more concerned for this soft-spoken family man who is hurled into the world of violence that his traditional Jewish upbringing did not prepare him for.

I also found it surprising that the characters spent so little timing thinking and talking about the obvious - the Nazis. There is very little room for rage and hatred in the hearts of the characters. They barely talk about Hitler. It's almost like he is this foggy, distant bogeyman whose name they dare not utter. Or maybe they do not fully understand the enemy's motivation.

Ultimately, we have to remember that his novel is Rachel Zolotov's recreation of her great grandmother's story. This is not a straight up memoir. It's a fictional reconstruction of family history.
2 people found this helpful
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N. Rich
3.0 out of 5 stars The girl with the silver star
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
I have a great deal of empathy for those persecuted during WW II and their suffering, however this story seems like a repeat of so many others on the same topic.
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Margaret Como
4.0 out of 5 stars Admired the courage.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021
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I enjoyed reading of the courage of the people at the time,at the same time I was very angry at those causing the pain,wondering how could human beings turn into beasts. Pray we will never see it again
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Top reviews from other countries

Kim Rhead
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in Canada on April 9, 2021
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Love books that take place during real historical events! This is a beautiful story of love and sacrifice! Could hardly put the book down!
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Jennifer Anton
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, touching and important. A new POV on WWII.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2020
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I just finished The Girl with the Silver Star. What a beautiful novel and a fresh perspective I had never read before on WWII in Russia. Recently, I saw information showing how many Russian lives were lost in WWII and I was shocked. It was new information for me. But looking at information only gives numbers, it doesn't go into the lives that were lived and the loves that were lost. Numbers don't tell of the women who bonded together while their men were off at war to save families and try to survive acts beyond our comprehension. This novel touched me deeply. I suggest it for anyone who enjoyed Cilka's Journey or loves historical WWII fiction.
One person found this helpful
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Daniel N.
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in Germany on December 20, 2020
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It's a really great read. I couldn't put the book down. Deeply moving and touching, written with so much love! I highly recommend it!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Survival
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2021
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Just finished this book and I found it sad and happy at the same time sad that war destroys lives and how hard it was for them but they were happy as well loving each other as they did .It was a good read and I enjoyed it look forward to her next book
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Christine Boos
4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual true story about a Jewish family fleeing Minsk.
Reviewed in Germany on February 24, 2021
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Here is the true story of the author's Jewish family during WWII and set in the Soviet Union. This is an unusual story since for once her family has not been deported! They fled Minsk in 1941 and the reader follows their long journey on foot and on packed trains to reach their destination south more than 4000 miles away from home. This is an intimate memoir written as a novel. What particularly struck me here is that all through their journey till the end of the war, the focus bears on the tight knots that tie this family together (9 members, sometimes more). They did have to face nasty events, nevertheless they manage to survive through the sheer togetherness and the strength of love for one another. That is mainly what I felt while reading and what will stay with me. (I also learned a lot about the Soviet side of the war which was very interesting!)
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