“I’ll Never Cry Again” is a WWII novel by Roberta Kagan. I’ve read a number of Ms. Kagan’s books before and this one is similar both on topic (WWII) and formula. In this story, the reader starts with Adolf Hitler musing at Eagle’s Nest and deciding that there aren’t enough pure Aryans, so he makes a decree that the troops will need to find children fitting the Aryan looks no matter if they’re pure German or not. Then the story goes back into the past and the reader meets Pitor. His background is given and when he sees Mila, he knows she’s the love of his life. Through some family issues, Mila and Pitor do marry and, eventually, have a child. Pitor and Mila end up, unfortunately, in the Warsaw Ghetto where things, to put it mildly, aren’t great, but they try to survive as best they can. Then, their child is taken from them by a Nazi and they don’t know why or where the child is - but they will try to find their child no matter what. This book leaves unresolved, but as it’s the beginning of a new series, this makes sense. I think this book was okay - I didn’t learn anything new (and, in fact, was glad that Ms. Kagan addressed taking a Jewish child to pose as being pure Aryan) and I felt that some of the information was repeated and the language a bit simplistic at times. For new readers of Ms. Kagan’s work, this book might be better appreciate. Ms. Kagan does write with heart - ensuring that the family is the center and heart of her books.

This novel is a love story depicting families in Poland before and after the takeover by the Nazis. To describe this novel as heartbreaking is only partially accurate. It is written in a manner that the reader feels he or she is there and is experiencing exactly what is happening. My only criticism is that this is the first installment in a series and, as an aging senior, I must wait to see the outcome. Ms. Kagan writes stories that undoubtedly actually happened and I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to all readers and thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Another amazing story by Roberta Kagan! I hope there will be more about this family to come and a happy reunion.