Daughters of the Occupation A. This item is unavailable.Daughters of the Occupation A

Inspired by true events in World War II Latvia, an emotionally charged novel of sacrifice, trauma, resilience, and survival, as witnessed by three generations of women. 

On one extraordinary day in 1940, Miriam Talan’s comfortable life is shattered. While she gives birth to her second child, a son she and her husband, Max, name Monya, the Soviets invade the Baltic state of Latvia and occupy the capital city of Riga, her home. Because the Talans are Jewish, the Soviets confiscate Max’s business and the family’s house and bank accounts, leaving them with nothing.

 Then, the Nazis arrive. They kill Max and begin to round up Jews. Fearing for her newborn son and her young daughter, Ilana, Miriam asks her loyal housekeeper to hide them and conceal their Jewish roots to keep them safe until the savagery ends.

 Three decades later, in Chicago, 24-year-old Sarah Byrne is mourning the untimely death of her mother, Ilana. Sarah’s estranged grandmother, Miriam, attends the funeral, opening the door to shocking family secrets. Sarah probes Miriam for information about the past, but it is only when Miriam is in the hospital, delirious with fever, that she begs Sarah to find the son she left behind in Latvia.

 Traveling to the Soviet satellite state, Sarah begins her search with the help of Roger, a charismatic Russian-speaking professor. But as they come closer to the truth, she realizes her quest may have disastrous consequences.

 A magnificent, emotionally powerful story of family and the lingering devastation of war, The Daughters of the Occupation explores how trauma is passed down in families and illuminates the strength and grace that can be shared by generations.

Shelly Sanders is the bestselling author of historical fiction celebrating unsung women entangled in underexplored historical events. Her novels include the bestsellers, The Night Sparrow and Daughters of the Occupation, as well as three acclaimed young-adult novels. She is renowned for her authentic portrayal of history, which she attributes to her years as a journalist. Shelly has written essays for Writer’s Digest, LitHub, the Jewish Book Council’s PB Daily, and has been the Scholar-in-Residence at Beth Tikvah in Naples, Florida. She was also awarded a fellowship at the Ventspils International Writer’s and Translators’ House. Born in Canada, Shelly was raised in Chicago and now lives in Ontario.