The Good:
Before this book, I knew nothing about Krakow, Yiddish, and the majority of events regarding the Soviet involvement in Poland.

Regarding Krakow: the author brings to life how local Jews lived before the German invasion. The realities of how they felt during the invasion. And then life within the Ghetto after the German invasion. I learned about individuals who helped Jews during the Holocaust, including Joseph Schindler. I learned about Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp. Though I was aware of multiple concentration camps, Auschwitz gets the main focus in history books.

I learned multiple Jewish religious tenants and mutliple Yiddish words..

In the US, we are taught the 3 Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and we are taught the Allies (US, UK, Russia). However, growing up in the Cold War, I was also taught Russia was a bad guy. As an adult, I was taught about the atrocities caused by Lenin, that I forgot they were an "Allied Power". It was interesting to learn how the Polish Jews lived in Soviet controlled Poland v. German controlled Poland.

The Bad (or at least, the confusing):

Things I didn't think I would feel about the Holocaust:

1) That I could become aroused from someone writing about events happening during the Holocaust. The vivid details of the sexual activities in Reuven's life just led to my own internal confusion. Why am I feeling this reading a book regarding the Holocaust? I also wondered how someone living in that scenario could also identify with those feelings. However, multiple people still had children born during this time period.

2) That I would want more description about the struggles of the people. How did Reuven survive during the time period he lived in the Ghetto? After his meals with Mr. Manikowski, there seemed to only be another single reference to his food during that time. How was he surviving? Did he start to become gaunt? Was he developing marks? Was he subject to lice? Was he smelling similar to the other people? This seemed to be omitted. He somehow had strength to get through the day, and then some more strength to try to attend to Zelda.

Overall assessment: I would not have had the same strength as Reuven. Emotionally I would be dead. Physically, I would want to be dead. However, it was interesting to read about Reuven's adventures and the strength he had to overcome the atrocities of WWII.

Overall, I would give this book a 4 out of 5.

Reuven works in the family business making umbrellas in Poland. When the Nazis invade, they are forced to stop working, and the Nazis confiscate their business. The family is evicted, and their rights are taken away.

Reuven's girlfriend, Zelda, and her family disappear. Reuven and his father are forced to do work doing physically laborious work.

They need to escape. Reuven runs to the forest and is wounded. He meets a farmer who needs help on the farm. The farmer's wife betrays them, and Reuven flees to the Polish countryside and hopes to reach the Krakow ghetto to find Zelda.

The Umbrella Maker’s Son is a painful story about Reuven, a Polish Jew, and his family. Reuven worked in his father’s umbrella shop. He was very much in love with Zelda. Life seemed good until one day it all changed. Poland was invaded by the Nazis, and it did not take long for them to take over Krakow where Reuven and his family lived. Zelda and her family left Krakow to stay with relatives. Each day, everything got worse. The Nazis took over the umbrella shop and demanded that Reuven and his father do manual labor by helping to rebuild the railroad tracks. Reuven, at times, looked at his father’s reactions to the Nazis as weakness. As time went on, he changed his mind and knew that it was really strength.

Reuven’s father committed a crime, and he knew his family must leave before the Nazis find out what he did. Their dangerous journey begins as they try to flee.

Reuven ends up working for a farmer. The farmer is happy to have him helping with the farm; however, for the farmer’s wife it is a different story. Reuven must make another decision.

What is really amazing is Reuven’s determination to find Zelda.

Will Reuven find Zelda? Will they all survive?

I loved this author’s writing style. His descriptive writing is magical and filled with so much clarity and detail when describing someone or something. It is obvious the author did a great deal of research to write this book.

This story will fill you with many emotions. We have all read many true stories about the attack of the Nazis and how the Polish Jews suffered. Even though this story is fiction, the terrible atrocities about what happened to the Jews during WWII are portrayed in a superb manner. If I had to sum up this story about Reuven’s family in one word, it would come down to “resilience”. The Umbrella Maker’s Son is not only a story about the terrible things that happened to the Polish Jews, but it is also a love story.

This book is filled with memorable characters who each play an important role. One other thing…be sure to have some tissues by your side as you read this book because many parts of the book will bring tears to your eyes.

The Umbrella Maker’s Son is a fascinating and memorable read!

17 year old Reuven works with his father in their umbrella shop and spends his time with his love Zelda. The Nazis start taking over Poland little by little until Reuven and his family are forced to flee. His family’s journey to safety was heartbreaking. I found myself crying so many times throughout. The story is told through Reuven’s perspective, and it was beautifully written.

His love for Zelda kept him alive and kept him going. His strength was beyond words. I was so upset with the ending because I felt like enough is enough. Leave my Reuven alone 😭 If you love historical books, then this is the story of you.

Thank you Harper Collins for this ARC. Happy Release Day! I can’t believe this is your debut novel.

The Umbrella Maker's son is an emotional look at World War II through the eyes of a 17 year old man. Reuven leads a comfortable life and lives with his parents, grandmother and sisters in a very nice home. He works with his father at a shop that makes custom umbrellas and is in love with Zelda and they have plans to marry in the future. Life is comfortable and happy until 1939 when the German troops begin their invasion of Poland and eventually arrive in Krakow.

The bombing of Krakow began on the first of September, 1939. Reuven had been dreaming of his girlfriend when he woke up to the sounds of bombs and the German planes flying overhead. Zelda and her family left, as did many other families, to stay with relatives in the country but Reuven's family decided to stay because of his father's business. Only 5 days later, German troops began their occupation of Krakow. By December, life had gotten unbearable for the Jewish residents - there wasn't enough food and coal consumption was restricted. With no business and minimal income, the family was forced to move to a smaller apartment and had to leave many of their personal treasures behind. Soon after, there was a horrible crime committed and Reuven's father decides that the family must leave as soon as possible to go to an area controlled by the Russians. The trip is full of danger to the family and ends tragically. I'm not going to discuss the plot further because I don't want to ruin it for other readers. The family's flight from Krakow takes place about 30% into the book and Reuven's quest to find Zelda and his search for safety follow a difficult path full of danger and degradation. It's a journey full of bravery and surprises that show the resilience of this young man. Despite the life altering changes and tragedy, it's a story of survival and unexpected hope in the face of terror and violence.

This novel is beautifully written and very well researched. It's different from many other World War II books because it looks at this tumultuous time through the eyes of a 17 year old who has to grow up fast to help his family and himself. This is a story of love and loss, bravery and resilience and family. Be sure to read the author's Acknowledgements at the end of the book where he explains how parts of this story are from his family's history in Poland. This is a debut novel for Tod Lending and I look forward to his future books.

A wonderful life shattered by the Nazi invasion of Poland has Reuven's family losing their dignity, their umbrella business, and then their home.

Then they had to leave the area after their father killed a Nazi officer - will they be caught? Will they make it into unoccupied territory?

We follow the family as they live through the terrors of escaping and as Reuven worries about the love of his life, Zelda.

You will be affected by the family’s plights and heartbreaking situations throughout the book.

The book is focused ton Reuven’s life and how he kept looking for Zelda as the war raged on.

Reuven was the narrator in this beautifully written book with marvelous descriptions along with the horrors of WWII.

You won’t be able to stop turning the pages and hoping some happiness comes to Reuven’s life instead of all the sadness.

A marvelous debut. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Reading The Umbrella Maker's Son was a journey of tears. The story centers around Reuven and his family as they try to survive in Nazi Poland. With today being International Holocaust Day, reading the book was away of understanding just a miniscule portion of what the Polish people went through. Reading the book was a way to honor those that suffered the horrors of World War 2.

The Umbrella Maker's Son is a story about family. Reuven helps his father in his custom Umbrella shop. He watched as his father had to help an SS officer, a man that thought he was so much beter. The reader learns first had how the German military treated the Jewish people in Krakow. I had never thought about how a family would decide to escape or face an unknown future.

Reuven's fiancé is facing the same. She won't leave her parents, and they won't leave without knowing about their sons. At first Reuven thought they were safe after leaving Krakow, only to find out they were in the Jewish ghetto. I read in fascination as Reuven showed his devotion and love for Zelda. He had escaped. He suffered the unimaginable while making his escape. That didn't stop him from returning to save Zelda. He gave up his freedom to be with the only family he had left.

Reuven returns to Krakow. While others are trying to escape, he is trying to get into the ghetto. His determination to find Zelda was awe inspiring. What he suffered and experienced behind those walls left in shock. I couldn't stop crying. The details were so real. His experience felt so real. I don't know what to say. The horrors the Jewish people suffered should not be experienced by anyone. It must not happen again.

A heartbreaking and emotional novel about resilience and love during WW2- I could not put it down. Well researched historical fiction

This is a read that often had me holding my breath, my heart in my throat, and yes, I know this story is fiction, but the evil that invaded Poland during WWII was real.
The story focuses on two families, both Jewish, and living in Poland when the unthinkable happens, and we journey as the horrific crimes against humanity go on.
Some of the decisions that are made to leave and escape, found myself shaking my head, but we follow the writer.
Do they all survive? Even when I know the answers I would have to say no, but this is a journey with surprises.
I did love the ending, so keep page turning, and yes, answers come!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harper Perennial, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is a heartbreaking tale of a family living in Poland during the Nazi invasion. Reuven is a 17-year-old working with his father in their family owned umbrella making business. When the Nazis strip away their business, their home, and all of their belongings, they must do everything they can to survive.

Every story about World War II is sad and horrifying and this book is no exception. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll just say that this historical fiction is compelling and emotional. The ending took me by surprise too.