Cover Image: The Yellow Bird Sings

The Yellow Bird Sings

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Member Reviews

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. thanks for letting me have an advance copy. I'm new to this author.

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A very difficult but compelling read that offers an important perspective. Some may feel that they are familiar with stories of women and children escaping during the Second World War, but I found this book to add a new dimension to my knowledge of the period. A particularly good read given the contemporary issues and narratives surrounding immigrants and asylum seekers in our modern western societies.

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This is a fictional account of a true event in history.
This book is filled with sadness and horror but it is woven with love.
This book is written so well and stays with you long after you have read the last page

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Lots of emotions reading this from joy to tears. Beautifully written. Could feel the pain, strength, fears of the characters. Beautiful end to such a tragic tale.

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I've read many books of Jews escaping the Nazis in Germany, Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Italy and the Greek islands. And each of them had their own merits to offer in their own captivating way. This one - THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS - however, does not. Although I'm clearly in the minority here since so many others have loved it.

Poland 1941: Roza and her 5 year old daughter Shira are hiding in barn from the Nazis during World War 2. At a time when people are denouncing their Jewish neighbours for something as little as a bag of sugar or flour, Roza and Shira feared they may be next. But Hernyk and Krystyna, despite fearing the Nazis, decide to let them stay. Although it comes at a price.

Rosa and Shira must spend their days, and nights, in absolute silence so as to not alert Henryk and Krystyna's children or their neighbours as to their presence. Their only entertainment are the stories Roza whispers to Shira about their family, their love of music and Shira's imaginary little yellow bird that sings for them. They develop their own form of sign language to communicate without using words.

It's all mundane boredom until one night Henryk comes to the barn loft and Rosa must insist that Shira remain facing the wall and go to sleep, although she can hear the strange noises and grunts that come from behind her. The next day, Henryk allows them to stay longer than the two nights Roza had first pleaded of him. After that, his nocturnal visits become frequent though I'm not exactly sure why, except maybe as some form of payment for allowing them to hide in his barn, as is his greedy ulterior motive for letting them stay.

THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS is only a short read but for me it was a confusing one. To be honest, I found it a little claustrophobic if not boring. I couldn't see much point in what was happening and if the little yellow bird was real or imaginary.

The writing had the feel of a children's book, so simplistic was its style, were it not for the sexual content.

In the end I did not complete the book, despite its short 200 pages, as I really didn't see the point. However, as I seem to be in the minority here, you may well enjoy it as many others have. I would have liked to but I just couldn't.

I would like to thank #JenniferRosner, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan and #Picador for an ARC of #TheYellowBirdSings in exchange for an honest review.

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I requested this before the pandemic started.   The opening chapter has a Polish Jew being raped whilst her small child listened.  All so she could stay hidden.  Poland at the start of word war two was not a good time I know, but after that scene I didn't want to read any more.  I know it was war, and is beautifully written and is probably a very worthy book but it was too much for me.

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This was a great debut novel set in Poland during WWII. It follows a mother and her young child who are hiding in a neighbour's barn to escape the Nazis. If you enjoy historical fiction then this is worth checking out.

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Poland 1941, Roza and her five year old daughter Shira are the only surviving Jew left in their town. They are forced to hide in the barn of a neighbouring farm. Roza suspects that he has an ulterior motive for allowing them to stay, and it doesn't take long for her suspicions to be proven, for Roza will do anything to keep her daughter safe.

Shira is too young to understand the danger that they are in and doesn't understand why they are cramped into the smallest of spaces and forced into silence for most of the time. Shira has a musical mind, and misses the music her family played around her before the others were taken from the family home.

Inspired by her Mother's whispered stories to her, Shira imagines that she has a small yellow bird, an imaginary pet that she must take care of. This helps her to keep silent, as she must to avoid discovery. Several months pass without incident, and Roza almost believes that they could make it to the end of the war, but that sadly is not to be.

As the Nazi's begin to acquire barns for storage, the Farmer is forced to put his own life and family first. But his wife knows of a hidden network to help Jewish children. And Roza is forced to make the heartbreaking decision to send Shira to a convent school, where Shira will be disguised as just another Catholic girl, and looked after by the Nuns.

Shira doesn't understand, and believes that her Mother will come for her. However, she eventually settles in to life at the Convent school, and is looked after and looked out for by a few kind Nuns who are risking their own lifes to keep children like Shira hidden.

The Yellow Bird Sings is a beautifully written novel, about the heartbreaking decisions that sometimes have to be made to protect those what we love, particularly during war time. I don't want to spoil anything, so I can't say too much more, but I highly recommend this wonderful novel.

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The farmer is a neighbour and while he is performing an act of kindness, he also has ulterior motives. His wife enjoys taking the little girl for short walks round the farm, introducing her to the animals. He takes advantage of his position to abuse Roza, who does whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe. The events of the book occupy only this small space and short time between the years 1941-44. Even though we don’t move away from this one space, until right at the end of the novel, it is clear that the atrocities of the Nazis are never far from Roma’s mind. We are told of a violin maker who is handed a violin for rebuild and repair, with the ashes from the concentration camp still present inside it.

Early in the novel, Roza devises a system of gestures so that she and gene daughter can communicate, when it becomes too dangerous even for whispers. A hand clutched to the chest as if holding a gun, means soldiers. A brush of the fingers across the eyelids means to rest. I was interested to see that the author’s daughters are deaf so I’m sure they were the inspiration behind this moving detail of survival. The farmer is a neighbour and while he is performing an act of kindness, he also has ulterior motives. His wife enjoys taking the little girl for short walks round the farm, introducing her to the animals. He takes advantage of his position to abuse Roza, who does whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe. The events of the book occupy only this small space and short time between the years 1941-44. Even though we don’t move away from this one space, until right at the end of the novel, it is clear that the atrocities of the Nazis are never far from Roma’s mind. We are told of a violin maker who is handed a violin for rebuild and repair, with the ashes from the concentration camp still present inside it.

It’s hard to find a way to to review that truly honours the terrible things people in Poland suffered during WW2. I had in-laws, both gone now, who came through terrifying ordeals to settle in this country after the war, my mother-in-law was not much older than Shira when she was transported out of the Warsaw Ghetto through the sewers of the city by herself. I can’t imagine what her parents went through just making that decision, never mind the sleepless nights worrying whether she would make it. The enormity of this choice hit me while reading Roza’s story and her eventual decision to leave Shira at the Catholic convent. It is the hardest choice to make, to completely focus on the welfare of the child and not your own need. To know that separation gives them a better chance of survival than staying by your side. For Roza, it is the safest choice for her daughter, plus she will always have music in her life. I defy anyone to read this book and not be moved by this beautiful story. Despite the horrors of the war and their confinement and fear, this mother and daughter have carved out a small space and created beauty, safety and trust. This is a bond that will never be broken and I had no doubt in my mind that Roza would do everything in her power to return to her daughter.

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A beautiful and haunting tale of surviving Nazi occupied Poland, having to rely on the generosity of others (who are also fearful for their lives but some abuse their position sometimes). This is a brutal telling of the horror that Roza and her daughter Shira have to go through to evade capture by the soldiers; living in near-silence when hiding in a farmer’s barn and how the danger worsens they’re forced to separate (hopefully making their chances of survival much better) and that’s when the real heartache begins. You see both their stories as they struggle in their new lives and they’re not easy. I really felt for both characters; the heartache, the fear and the danger they experience - pretty much at all times. The power of a mother’s love knows no bounds.

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Thank you to Picador Books for a digital review copy via NetGalley - my thoughts are my own.

This is a beautifully written book about a mother wanting to keep her daughter safe during WW2 in German occupied Poland. As a mother myself, the thought of having to endure what Roza does to protect her daughter is heartbreaking.

They are in danger, not only from the Nazi Germans but also their neighbours, who could 'sell' them at any time. This is a historical fiction book that should also be read to remind people why we need to ensure that 'ethnic cleansing' must not be allowed to happen.

I loved how music was woven into the storyline - how it was so important to Roza and her daughter.

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I had a chance to get a copy of The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner to read and review. I loved this book so much I had to get the audio and I was not disappointed again. This book/audio took my breath away several times. Just beautifully written throughout and with so much Passion throughout. A few tears were shed when read and listened to it.

This book is set in Poland 1941, it tells of a mother's love for her only child and what she would do to make sure she is safe. Roza and her daughter Shira who is 5 years old, are hiding in a neighbours barn hoping and praying they are not found by the Germans or someone tells the Germans they are there. They have to be very quiet and hide from the outside world. This is very hard especially as its no place for a 5 year old to be. Roza has to keep her daughter safe however, the owner of the barn has other ideas and takes sexual advantage on Roza. However, he does bring them food. His wife feels sorry for the little girl and starts to take her out for little short walks on the ground of their home so she is getting some exercise and also brings food for them both. Roza knows they can not stay in the barn for ever and they need to think about the future.......

Do they leave the barn?

Do they get caught by the Germans?

Well, you will have to get this brilliant book to find out. I highly recommend this book. But you may need some tissues handy!!!
If you get the audio the Narrator was just perfect for this wonderful book.

Highly recommend.

Big Thank you to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review "The Yellow Bird Sings".

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A beautiful, heart wrenching book, which really gets to you deep down. The writer leaves us readers feeling totally exposed to the horrors and hardships that Roza and Shira faced. I found this quite harrowing in places which surprised me as I'm usually not overly affected by these types of books and at times, wondered if I was actually enjoying it - I think for me I would of preferred more of a story either side of Roza's time in hiding to give the book more context and depth, to balance out the horrors that we read. I would very much recommend this for book clubs.

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Absolutely heart-wrenching. Rosner simply tore my heart out with this novel.

The novel is based at the time when Poland was being invaded by the Germans during World War 2. The first chapter opens straight into a frightening experience of a mother protecting her child from the dangers beyond the barn in which they have to hide.

The story follows the pair as they live throughout the first few months in the barn, enduring horrific environment and how deep a mother's love is for her to endure such hardships.

I love the way in which the story delves into each character, giving thought to how they feel at that precise moment and bringing it to life throughout the novel.

I had more personal moments with Roza as a mother and it reduced me to tears to acknowledge what it could have been like. The small intimacies between a mother and child are the ones which cling onto then anything else and Rosner brought that to life in the most intensive way.

This book will leave you in tears, in wonder and in awe of how these individuals are able to survive such a horrific time.

Thankyou Rosner for bringing us back to history and may we forever live with them in our hearts.

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It sounds strange to say that I really enjoyed a book about such a harrowing subject but I did.

The Yellow Bird Sings is beautifully written and Rosner never trivialises or glamourises the harsh realities that her protagonists face. The narrative is split between Róza and Shira, so the reader sees the perspective of the mother desperately trying to keep her daughter safe and the five-year-old child struggling to understand the complexities of her circumstances.

The relationship between Róza and Shira is obviously the heart of the book. But, its portrayal never strays into saccharine melodrama - the necessity for love to be harsh in these times and for Róza to make hugely difficult decisions for her daughter are never ignored. Rosner's writing really excelled in these scenes.

The choices and sacrifices women had to make in these times are treated with equal candour. Róza gives up her body to men who are able to hide and/or protect her and her daughter, and there is a particularly visceral scene where she must deal with the physical consequences of that alone.

It's difficult to discuss the book in much more detail without divulging spoilers so I'll stop. What I will say, though, is that The Yellow Bird Sings is resoundingly uplifting and loving and is well worth a read.

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This is the story about a Jewish mother, her six year old daughter and their relationship during World War II. They are hiding from the Nazis in Poland. Her husband had been executed by the nazis and her parents had been taken to a ghetto. Roza is a talented musician and Shira is a child protege. Roza makes the hard decision to let Shira go into hiding in an orphanage. Shira makes up stories about a yellow bird that's free to fly away. She also makes up violin music in her mind.

This is a moving Holocaust story. A portrayal of a mothers love and just how far she would go to keep her daughter safe. A story of tragedy, grief, hope and survival. The book alternates between Roza and Shira's point of view. It tells us about their experiences whilst being separated. Thenstory is beautifully written. The plotline is gripping. This 8s a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author Jennifer Rosner for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This was such a beautiful book. It’s tells the story of Róża, a Jewish mother living in Poland at the start of WWII and of her young daughter Shira. They go into hiding and eventually Róża makes a decision that will keep Shira safe but causes much heartbreak for the both of them.

This story is so beautifully written and the ending had me shedding some tears. The author as an end note states that the novel is ultimately about longing and you definitely feel that here. Longing for each other and the reconnection of a bond that can never be broken. I’d definitely recommend. 5🌟

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This book held a lot of promise for me, I was so drawn to the setting and I love historical fiction set in the era. It really was everything I had hoped it would be.

I loved the characters of Shira and Roza and the other characters we meet along their journey, but what gripped me more than anything was the use of music throughout the story. As a musician myself this really resonated with me and the way Rosner used this to tie the two stories together was beautiful - It became the main thread weaving through the story.

If I had to find something to improve, I just wish the story was told at a slightly slower pace. There were a number of times that I wished she’d taken her time in describing the scene (Roza’s time at the Camp in the woods) or building the tension (Shira and the German roll calls). But I think this ultimately shows how much I enjoyed the story, that I just wanted more of it!

A really fantastic debut novel and I will definitely be keeping a look out for Rosner’s future books.

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Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy. Moving novel about wind between mother and daughter

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