Rachel's Secret

By Shelly Sanders

Book Overview

Rachel is a Jew living in Kishinev, Russia. At fourteen, she has dreams of being a writer. But everything is put on hold when a young man is murdered and Rachel is forced to keep the murderer's identity a secret. Tensions mount and Rachel watches as lies and anti-Jewish propaganda leap off the pages of the local newspaper, inciting many to riot against the Jews. Violence breaks out on Easter Sunday, 1903, and when it finally ends, Rachel finds that the person she loves most is dead and that her home has been destroyed. Her main support comes surprisingly from a young Christian named Sergei. With everything against them, the two young people find comfort in their growing bond, one of the few signs of goodness and hope in a time of chaos and violence.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1926920376
• ISBN13: 9781926920375
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Second Story Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Wonderful though difficult book

This story tells the story of Jews in Russia experiencing pogroms. The life of the people is described in detail and the Jews and Gentiles live in separate areas and the Jews are poor but have strong families. My grandma came from this era and country and it was painful to read about the injustice and violence. But there's hope. I needed to know what really happened in Russia and now even more appreciate the courage of my ancestors coming to America.