Looking to escape her traumatic childhood, Klara Lieberman has been teaching anthropology at a small liberal arts college in Southern Maine. She’s tried to put as much distance as possible between her and her mother, Bessie, in New York City. Then, an unexpected letter arrives from the Polish government offering reparations to Jewish families whose land was taken from them during World War II. Interested in the inheritance, Bessie finally admits that Klara’s father died years ago and that he may have some living relatives in Poland who are also entitled to the money.
Though her mother is only in it for the money, Klara wants to find out about the father who left home when she was six years old. Her mother has always been extremely secretive about what happened. Klara has had attachment and trust issues all her life; she’s never been able to have a long-term relationship or get married. There is a little bit of mystery as the novel flashes back and slowly reveals details about Klara’s childhood.
Now she packs her bags and heads to Poland to meet the family she never knew. Connecting with her father’s relatives in Poland gives her the chance to learn who her father really was. As she becomes more involved with her extended family, she lets down the barriers she has built to protect her emotions. She learns about her family heritage and Jewish history, comes to terms with her mother’s difficult personality, and makes peace with her past, allowing her to look forward to the future. Klara’s work as an anthropologist who examines ancient sites has led her to a new mission: to repair the hundreds of forgotten and damaged prewar Jewish cemeteries in Poland.
First-time author Susan Weissbach Friedman has created an intriguing, character-driven plot. Readers will appreciate the clarity with which the author describes the broken, overgrown jumble of Polish Jewish cemeteries — as well as the work people are doing today to refurbish and rebuild them.
