Genres: Historical, Fiction, War, World War II, Adult Fiction, Germany | My summary: Sixteen-year-old Noa is disowned after being impregnated by a Nazi soldier and forced to give up the baby. One day, Noa find baby in a boxcar being sent off to a concentration camp and is reminded of her baby. She decides to take one of the babies and flee. My opinion: This book is about a character going through a hard time, hitting rock bottom, and then making a change in their life that will benefit them. If you enjoy historical fiction on different aspects related to the holocaust you will enjoy this book.

Genres: Historical, Fiction, War, World War II, Adult, Romance | My summary: In 1931, Max Beissinger meets Hanna Ginsberg and they fall in love. Five years later war puts their lives to the test as Hanna is Jewish and Max isn’t. In 1946, Hanna wakes up with no memory of the past 10 years and doesn’t know what happened to Max. My opinion: This book is recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction, love stories, and exploring different aspects of history.

Genres: Historical, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Jewish, LGBT | My summary: In 1919, Rachel Rabinowitz is a four-year-old living with her family in New York City. Tragedy separates Racheal from her brother Sam, and she is sent to an orphanage where Dr. Mildred Solomon is doing medical research. Rachel is subjected to X-ray treatment that leaves hers disfigured. When she is fifteen, she runs away to Colorado in hopes of finding her brother. Years later Rachel becomes a nurse at Manhattan's Old Hebrews Home and her patient is Dr. Solomon. She becomes obsessed with making him pay for what he’s done to her, but as Rachel spends more time with Dr. Solomon, she begins to question her morality. My opinion: if you like books that deal with morality and the complexity of human nature – choosing between an eye-for-an-eye or forgiveness – then you will enjoy this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography, Jewish, Religion | My summary: Deborah Feldman is a Hasidic Jew in New York City. She knows little to nothing about the outside world, but it doesn’t matter because of her religious beliefs. Her only purpose is to get married, support her husband, and bare a lot babies to make up for all the Jews lost in the Holocaust. Deborah decides she doesn’t want that life so she creates a plan to escape. My opinion: If you like books on growing up in a cult or women taking a stand to get control of their lives, you will enjoy this book.

Genres: Classic, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Politics | My summary: The year is 1984 - Big Brother is always watching you and controls everything. Everything you do is monitored and individuality is criminalized. There is no real truth, only what the State says is true. War is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength. My opinion: It is interesting to read about the predictions Orwell made in 1948 and see how much relate to today. We see how different the world could have been if a dictatorship taken over, implemented their ideologies, and then created methods to make sure the people follow these rules at any cost. If you are interested in books on dystopian futures, this book is for you.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Feminism, Law and Women | My summary: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the second female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a Jewish feminist, and one of the leading voices on gender equality, women's interests, and civil rights and liberties. This book discusses her early life and the struggles she endured to receive an education as a woman. My opinion: This book is recommended to those that enjoy reading about women’s interests, gender equality, and how strong independent women overcome struggle. In this book we see how people can change as a result of their situation and use that situation as a way to promote change.