This was an unforgettable true story. I was brought to tears reading what Elide and her family have been through and am just honored to have read such a story. thank you NetGalley for the copy!

In this powerful, complex, World War II story, readers discover Elida Friedman, born in Lithuania’s Kovno ghetto when Nazi law forbade Jewish women from giving birth. Elida’s birth parents, Dr. Jonah and Tzila Friedman, however, bravely smuggle infant Elida out of the ghetto to a non-Jewish family farm for her survival. As she grows up, Elida lives with several families and travels between other countries and continents with biological and adoptive relatives, seeking a sense of permanent love and belonging. A powerful, moving, and complicated memoir, this incredible story of defying constant odds and the powers of found and chosen family is a fascinating perspective on the Lithuanian Holocaust. Elida’s life story is fascinating and complex, but the tragic elements of her story are poignant and deeply emotional. Jakob’s writing style is clear, emotional, and straightforward, and she weaves pertinent historical context and information into this biography for reader comprehension. Through this powerful memoir and the incredible personal and historical detail present in this biography of a Holocaust survivor, Jakob brings Elida and her family’s story to life and highlights the sacrifices that her parents -- birth and adoptive alike -- made for her time and time again in this fascinating biography.

This story was completely heartbreaking from beginning to end. How do you write a review of someone's worse tragedies in life? More people should know this story. I'm grateful to the author for taking the time to put it out into the world. The photos at the end were an especially nice touch.

Elida wasnt supposed to be born. Back in Nazi Germany women that were Jewish were told to not have children. But she was born anyway. Her parents hid her for a period of time but they realized she would need to leave the country in order to survive. Through a time period of moving and switching families she was able to get out and is able to grow up and discover herself. Even with her parents gone she is able to find her path and discover who she is as a person.

This was a hard book to read because there were some pretty bad things that occurred. It made me cry at times because the raw feelings of death was hard in the book. The author did a great job at giving credit where credit was due in how ugly that time period really was.

A beautifully told story of a Jewish woman's life. Through turmoil of war, family moves, and all that that entails.
I did enjoy the book, though I felt some parts were a tad simply worded.
Overall I'd rate it 3.5 stars, but will give it a 4 on Goodreads and Amazon.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

I received an ARC of “The Forbidden Daughter: The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor” by Zipora Klein Jakob from NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t lie. This book was an extremely difficult biography to read. After the first few chapters, I had to set this book aside for weeks so that I could focus on my own emotions—emotions that the author was able to pull out of me. Elida aka Rita aka Gita suffered unbelievably.

Born clandestinely in Lithuania during the Holocaust and secreted out of the ghetto, raised until just after the war by gentiles, then redeemed by unrelated Holocaust survivors, and later adopted by people she ***was*** related to, Elida’s life was one giant, uncontrollable roller coaster of grief. Added to all of this, her tragic death at such a young age—and the circumstances surrounding her death—made me angry. How is it that a newborn can lose her parents to Nazi’s only to lose her own life to later to terrorists? I don’t have the answer to that.

Compounding all of this is the fact that I found many of the so-called adults in young Elida’s life were simply disgusting. Yes, the gentile Lithuanian family took her in, saving Elida from death. But this woman, Stanislava, believed she was “entitled” to payment for caring for Elida for three years (she was indeed paid for her “services”). And yes, the Holocaust survivors who cared for her afterwards had suffered unspeakable tragedies of their own. But does that give a green light to physical and emotional abuse, including when they told Elida’s blood relative to quit visiting them?

Elida was a brilliant child, and later became a brilliant woman. Elida could have earned a PhD in Slavic Languages, and had already been accepted to Harvard. But, like many women prior to the Women’s Movement, she chose her husband’s career over her own academic aspirations. Yes, Elida suffered. But so did all of the people who loved her, including her adopted father and relative, Lazar, who it seems became inconsolable after her death.

And yet, this story is also a tale of triumph: Elida lived. She excelled academically. She found peace with her adoptive parents. And she gave birth to three children who in turn brought five additional children—Elida’s grandchildren—into this world. Klein Jakob showed how many simple acts of bravery loosely woven together enabled an entire lineage to survive. Although Elida’s life and that of her husband and her parents were cut short, she lives on, as do all of her descendants and relatives.

Klein Jakob did a ***fantastic*** job of laying out Elida’s life from prior to Elida’s birth until her death, meticulously piecing the story together. I heartily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This is a story about survival, strength, redemption, and love. And how, in the end, love won.

The Forbidden Daughter
The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor
by Zipora Klein Jakob
Pub DateApr 23 2024
Harper Perennial and Paperbacks |Harper Paperbacks
Biographies & Memoirs| History| Nonfiction \(Adult\)



I am reviewing a copy of The Forbidden Daughter through Harper Perennial and NLegally:



It wasn't supposed to be Elida Friedman who was born. In the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, Nazi law prohibited Jewish women from giving birth. In spite of their fear of death, Dr. Jonah Friedman and his wife Tzila choose to have a daughter, a daughter they name Elida-meaning non-birth in Hebrew.


When Elida is only three months old, the Friedmans smuggle her out of the ghetto and into the arms of a non-Jewish farm family. It marks the beginning of a life marked by constant change. Jonah and Tzila are among those killed when the Nazis raze Kovno Ghetto. Their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the .As a result, their only child is left orphaned and alone, dependent on the kindness of strangers for survival.



Elida grows up despite her circumstances, changing families, countries, continents, and even names countless times. Despite the war and Holocaust that took her parents, the young woman never gives up hope. Her lifelong quest for love and belonging has led her to rebuild her identity and triumph over terrible circumstances.



One unforgettable woman and her will to survive are the true stories behind Elida, the Forgotten Ghetto Girl, a compelling memoir about overcoming impossible odds.


I give The Forbidden Daughter five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I love reading any and all books about history, especially World War 2. This one didn't disappoint. I am hoping to be able to read more.

me. Holocaust stories are always so heartbreaking, and I have great respect for Elida’s biological parents. They were so brave and selfless.

The rest of Elida’s story kept my attention most of the time, and I’m glad her cousin was able to research the history of her life. I know I’d love to do that with some of my ancestors, especially ones I know have special untold stories or were known for their character.

I waited and waited for Elida to grow/change/mature. I really wanted to like her, and I know she had a LOT of childhood trauma and confusion. I also know this isn’t fiction, so the plot is what it is. It’s pretty well written (except that I had a hard time keeping track of how old she actually was at various points!), but the story of Elida herself was not really inspiring. It was just sad 😞 and truly sobering.

The majority of the time i prefer to read about individuals who inspite of odds and difficulties care and make a difference, even in small ways. I especially love reading about how Jesus Christ changes lives, because He truly does make the difference. So this was definitely not my normal read. Elida’s personal choices (disclaimer: I’m NOT speaking of all the terrible things that happened in younger childhood, but rather her personal decisions, especially when she was given love and true family) give a stellar example of what NOT to do. This is a story of a lost and lonely soul searching for fulfillment.

The end caught me off guard and was very sad.

Conclusion: So, was I glad I read this book? Yes. It was engaging, heart rending, and made me think. I’d like to read another bio on a Jewish child from that era. I’ve seen and read other WW2 holocaust stories, but this was the first I’ve read about a child born in the middle of such horrific events.

**I don’t personally recommend this for those under 18 due to a few random inappropriate moments/unnecessary details and the lack of character growth.

I recieved an ARC copy of this story from Netgalley These thoughts are my own.

The Forbidden Daughter was an engaging, thought provoking and emotional story! The story follows Elida through her life from the beginning to the end and it's a heartbreaking story! I can't even imagine everything she lived through. The book is beautifully written and you do learn a lot about Elidas life but I do wish I could have learned more about her as a person but other than that it was a great read!

The Forbidden Daughter is an incredible story of love and survival. Though it was definitely out of my comfort zone, I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance.

The Holocaust was such a dark time for humanity and Elida’s story of loss is unfortunately not an uncommon one. Elida’s story is so incredible and heartbreaking. The love her parents had for her to risk everything they had to bring her into this world despite living in fear each day is a beautiful thing. There were parts of this that were devastating and hard to read, but I do really believe that the only way we can improve the future is to learn from the past.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Zipora Klein Jakob for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

A true story of a girl born in the Kovno Ghetto during WWII. Her parents were afraid she would be killed, so they gave ner to a farm family. Her parents were killed, which left her at odds with the world. Such a touching story. Very well written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read this in two days. I really loved this memoir.

It reads fast. Elida's story is one of the best post-WWII Holocaust Survivor stories I have read in a long time. The way the story is written and told, it is just fascinating.
Thank you Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and Netgalley for the free advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Very well done book! The author really did his research! The Nazis never fail to horrify me. I am very glad for all of the true accounts we have. They should never be forgotten!

he Forbidden Daughter, by Zipora Klein Jakob, is an account of a Holocaust survivor born in the ghetto, contrary to the Nazi prohibition of Jewish women giving birth. Her parents managed the impossible task of having her transported out of the ghetto and into the care of a Lithuanian couple. Both parents died when the Nazis destroyed the ghetto. Written by her cousin, this is the story of the infant's life from birth until her untimely death. She was brilliant, and in my amateur opinion, emotionally damaged as a consequence of her experiences. I wish I had liked her more. I wanted so much for her to have more sympathy, understanding, and gratitude for the many people who tried and did help her. And yet, I know that unless you walk in another person's shoes, you never really grasp their perspective. The author is to be commended for her exhaustive research. I think this account adds to the vast library of Holocaust biographical accounts in that it provides an unusual perspective. Nonetheless, if you are just beginning to learn about this period of history, there are better places to start. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennials for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

3.5 ⭐️

this is the incredible true story of elida's journey from being born in secret during the holocaust through the end of her life. elida lived an extraordinary life and i'm so glad her cousin, Zipora, did the extensive research into her family history to write this book. definitely recommend if you enjoy reading about history, but of course it deals with a lot of heavy themes.

thank you to harper perennial and netgalley for my advance copy of the forbidden daughter by zipora klein jakob. all opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This was a different kind of Holocaust story, and that is an area I have read a LOT in. Once upon a time when I was a kid my mom thought I was too obsessed. Anyway, this is the story of a young woman who never ended up in a concentration camp, but suffered so much anyway that it of course affected her life. The young girl was given to a Polish family as a baby, and they kept her until after the war ended, and then a childless Jewish couple took her in but it was not a great fit--they did not all get on well and the girl felt like she did not fit. She ended up in Israel, which was also hard, and then a cousin of her father's who ran a business in America adopted her--and this was also hard for her for many reasons.

Thank you Netgalley & Harper Paperbacks for an eARC ♥️

“The Forbidden Daughter" is a soul-crushing, yet ultimately uplifting true story of unwavering hope and resilience in the face of unspeakable horrors. Elida Friedman's journey, from her secret birth in the Kovno Ghetto to her precarious childhood, is a testament to the unbreakable human spirit that will leave you shattered and inspired.

As I read about Elida's parents, Jonah and Tzila, risking everything to bring their daughter into the world, I am struck by their courage and selflessness, and my heart is shattered into a million pieces at the thought of them being brutally torn from her life. The inhumane cruelty of the Nazi regime snuffed out their lives, leaving their precious child to navigate a treacherous and unforgiving world alone.

But Elida's story is more than just a tale of survival - it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit that refuses to be extinguished. Despite being uprooted and renamed multiple times, she never loses sight of her identity or her determination to thrive, even in the face of unimaginable loss and trauma. Her unwavering belief in the power of love and belonging propels her forward, like a beacon of light in the darkness.

Every page of this book is a reminder of the unspeakable horrors that humanity is capable of, but also of the boundless capacity for love, hope, and resilience that exists within every human soul. You'll read of Elida's struggles to find her place in a world that seems determined to reject her, and of the miraculous moments of kindness and connection that sustain her.

"The Forbidden Daughter" is a book that will leave you changed, like a piece of clay that's been broken and remade into something stronger and more beautiful. It's a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome even the darkest of circumstances, and a reminder that love and hope can bloom in the most barren of landscapes. ♥️🥹

I've read a lot of books about WWII, but none from the perspective of the child given away at birth by Jewish parents ... who chose to "break the Nazi law" not abort their child. Their little girl was smuggled out of the ghetto in a basket and given to a family on a farm in Lithuania; when Germans visited, the young girl was smuggled out the back door and hid in the barn ... as her dark curls she looked nothing like the woman that was raising her.

The GoodReads blurb says "A moving, powerful chronicle of overcoming impossible odds"; I would agree with that. I don't want to provide any additional spoilers. Definitely a "must read".

Many thanks to Zipora Klein Jakob for writing this "story" (memoir) and working with the publisher for it to be translated and released in America. Definitely a story that needs to be told.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for approving my request to read the advance read copy of The Forbidden Daughter in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 23 Apr 2024. GoodReads lists at 288 pages.

I really enjoyed getting to learn about this story, it was beautifully written and was able to tell the story and I appreciated getting to read this. Zipora Klein Jakob writes a great book and hope they write more.