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On the night of November 6th, 1941, the life of Isaac Gochman, a 16-year-old Polish Jew, changes tragically and profoundly. Over 20,000 Jews from Rovno, Poland, are marched into the Sosenki Forest by the Nazis, stripped and shot to death, then buried in an endless, unmarked ravine. All of Isaac's family and friends die in the massacre. But Isaac miraculously survives the slaughter, and so begins his incredible and harrowing journey through the Polish forest, facing unimaginable hardships and the constant threat of death from the Nazis and their sympathizers. To save himself, he adopts a new identity, Sergei, a Russian Christian, and joins the Russian Partisan Brigade, to become a demolition "miracle man." As a Partisan, he falls passionately in love for the first time in his young life with Ducia, a Russian nurse. Near the end of the war, he turns his back on his homeland, heroically saves the lives of American soldiers, and finds a new home in America. Isaac is a true coming-of-age story of miraculous survival, courage, and love.… (more)
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"Isaac" by Robert Karmon is based on a true story of a young man as he grows into manhood at a terrible time in history. The genres of this story are Historical Fiction, and Fiction. This is based on the life of Isaac Gochman. The timeline of the story is from
The character are complex and complicated and trying to survive in a war. Robert Karmon weaves his story around a 16 year old Isaac, as he is coming of age. Unfortunately the Germans invade Rovno, and tell the Jewish people they have to leave with them for their safety. The Germans walk the Jewish people to trenches two miles away, and start shooting them. Isaac is witness to the bravery of some people, and unfortunately the deaths of his whole family and community. Isaac is shot, but survives .
The author describes his dangerous and treacherous journey, and the unusual cast of characters he meets in his attempts to survive. To keep his Jewish identity secret , he becomes Sergei. He joins different groups fighting for survival. Isaac also discovers his first love.
The author discusses the devastation and loss of a tragic war. He also talks about friendship, loyalty, hope and love. I would recommend this novel to those readers that are drawn to this period in history. I received an ARC of this novel for my honest review.