Inspired by his own grandmother, the novel follows Pearl Kahn and her sister Frieda as they escape their shtetl in Poland after WWI and try to get to America. Immigration laws keep them out of the country, however, so they are forced to bide their time in Cuba. It’s a fresh look at the immigrant experience, and Pearl is a vibrant, resilient, humorous protagonist.
-Shannon, Tech Services
This title was featured in our “Summer Reads 2023” list.