John F. Kennedy’s assassination is a defining moment in history, and, as Bronka Lubinski astutely comments, “Nothing will ever be the same again.” The novel illustrates the effects of the societal changes and upheavals of the 1960s and 70s.
Judy and Aron Lubinski, both Holocaust survivors, and their fraternal twin daughters, who were born in a DP camp, all carry deep family secrets from their past lives as they struggle to assimilate to American life in Queens, NY.
Both sisters attend Queens College, but that is perhaps where their similarities end.
The novel reaches beyond just one family. The extended Jewish families of the neighborhood, friends, coworkers, activists, Catholic priests, and ex-Nazis and Nazi hunters all have a role to play.
In this well-researched, character-driven story, Ain examines many themes and issues with insight and compassion. She folds topics such as feminism, antisemitism, gay rights, abortion, and second-generation Holocaust survivor concerns into the characters’ lives. Because Ain thoughtfully interweaves numerous historical events, significant nostalgic details, and cultural and geographic references, the characters’ stories will resonate deeply with those who experienced the era.
