The Yellow Bird Sings

By Jennifer Rosner,

Book cover of The Yellow Bird Sings

Book description

'Prepare to have your heart broken' - Good Housekeeping
Woman & Home Book Club Pick

Poland, 1941. A mother. A child. An impossible choice.

After the Jews in their town are rounded up, Roza and her five-year-old daughter, Shira, seek shelter in a local farmer's barn. They spend their days…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Yellow Bird Sings as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

It’s Poland 1941, and Roza and her 5-year-old daughter Shira are hiding in a neighbor’s barn, and hoping beyond hope that they will remain safe, because the rest of their family has all been taken away. This is a lyrical read which many musical analogies since Shira is a musical prodigy. I loved this book because you are right there, staying silent, while trying to create a life with your daughter.  This was inspired by the true stories of hidden children during WWII and stayed with me long after. 

The Yellow Bird Sings opens in Poland in 1941, a novel based on a real-life story. Roza and her five-year-old daughter Shira stay in a farmer’s barn, but to survive, they can’t make a sound. So they invent sign language, and they play silent games. But then the day comes when the barn is no longer safe, and Roza must make an impossible choice. The Yellow Bird Sings is an extraordinary, deeply moving novel – one that I couldn’t put down. It explores the trauma of the Holocaust, but it also manages to be a beautiful book that shows the…

From Karen's list on World War II that may surprise you.

Want books like The Yellow Bird Sings?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Yellow Bird Sings.

Browse books like The Yellow Bird Sings

Book cover of Khaki Town
Book cover of The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor
Book cover of Wolfram: The Boy Who Went to War

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in imagination, Poland, and the Holocaust?

Imagination 106 books
Poland 118 books
The Holocaust 416 books