BookBrowse Reviews The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner

BookBrowse:

In her emotionally powerful debut, Jennifer Rosner evokes the beauty of music alongside the tale of a mother-daughter relationship during the Holocaust.

29 out of 32 First Impressions reviewers have given Jennifer Rosner's The Yellow Bird Sings 4 or 5 stars for an overall rating of 4.4.

What the book is about:

What if you were a happy five-year-old girl in Poland, surrounded by the sounds of music your family makes, and suddenly you were whisked away from your home and forced to live inside hay bales, forbidden to make the slightest sound? This is the story of The Yellow Bird Sings, the debut novel of Jennifer Rosner. It's told through the voices of Shira and her mother Róza, Jews who are forced into hiding when the Germans invade their village, killing Róza's husband and parents. As Shira is too young to understand what has happened, her mother invents stories of a magical garden to keep her entertained and press upon her the need to remain absolutely still and silent. In order to hold onto her identity when sound is denied her, Shira invents a little yellow bird, and it is through the bird's songs that she expresses herself (Naomi B).

Readers loved the musical qualities of Rosner's writing…

I loved the musicality of the novel. The author's words through the story are like a concert with somber and sad chords and others joyful and hopeful (Mary Anne R). So many books have been written about the Holocaust. So many compelling stories have been told; some even based on factual occurrences. What makes this book stand out is the beautiful, almost lyrical way it is written (Shelley C). Rosner seamlessly weaves the lives of Róza and her daughter Shira together like a beautiful piano concerto (Ann B).

...and appreciated the insights it offers into WWII and the Holocaust.

I always ask for books concerning the Holocaust as I learn new facts about the war with each book I read. This book did an amazing job highlighting the terror and distress that a parent would have relinquishing their children even if it were for their safety (Colleen L). I really enjoyed Rosner's creative and beautifully written novel. She gives us a new window concerning female survival during the hardships of WWII (Lois P).

Some didn't feel the story was entirely believable, even if they still thought it was valuable overall.

The main concept behind the narrative was based on a solid idea. What didn't work for me was the implausibility of some of the plot lines and the personal behavior of the characters driving the narrative (Nancy G). The ending may have seemed a bit contrived, but overall a worthwhile read especially if you like WWII historical fiction (Julie M).

However, reviewers found the mother-daughter relationship inspiring…

Although the story revolves around a horrific time in history, it mainly centers on the beautiful relationship between a mother and her daughter. The story captivated me. Through difficult situations, separation and heartbreak, it remained sweet, hopeful and powerful (Sally D). The story tells of the bond between mother and child, their love of music, and their efforts to survive during the most dire of circumstances. In some ways, I found it reminiscent of The Pianist (Shelley C).

...and remarked that the book presents multiple topics for thought and discussion.

The book explores the themes of silence, creative expression and identity and how they intertwine to shape our character (Naomi B). This book would be a good book club choice. There are so many topics to discuss: survival, relationships, characters, the role of the nuns in wartime, the resistance, treatment of the Jews, to name a few (Cynthia S). This is an amazing book. I loved it. It took me a while to start another book after it because this one stayed on my mind for quite a while. I applaud Jennifer Rosner for her writing skills. The book moves the reader and I predict it will be a best seller and a great book club selection (Colleen L).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in March 2020, and has been updated for the March 2021 edition. Click here to go to this issue.