Eavesdropper - by Alexandra Kivowitz (Paperback)

About the Book

An intimate literary historical fiction coming-of-age story that asks what happens when personal values and moral beliefs collide with the political?

Book Synopsis

It's 1953. Soviets have the bomb and fear of communist influence in the US government and society at large is at its peak. In the quiet, rural town of Goshen, one family learns hiding in plain sight isn't as easy as it seems.

Eavesdropper is the story of 14-year-old Sara, an inquisitive girl who lives with her progressive parents in a conservative New England small town, where they moved to avoid city life, polio, and surveillance. Sara faces the usual challenges of adolescence-friendships, hormones, and boys-amidst the backdrop of the isolated yet beautiful forest and the air raid drills at school. Partly by eavesdropping, Sara becomes increasingly aware of a protective veil of secrecy her parents have drawn around their past. As Sara's curiosity grows, so does the persecution of the Red Scare, which infiltrates her small town, threatening to expose her family.

Review Quotes

"Eavesdropper is a tender exploration of identity, courage, family dynamics, and the complexities of growing up in the tumultuous era of McCarthyism and the Rosenberg case. With a deft hand, Kivowitz draws upon her skills as a psychotherapist, raising themes that resonate powerfully in today's political landscape, reminding the reader that, despite seemingly insurmountable hurdles, standing up against injustice is timeless. In an era where activism is again vital, this engrossing novel inspires readers to reflect on their own roles in the ongoing fight for truth and equality."

-Dora Levy Mossanen, bestselling author of Harem, The Last Romanov, and Love and War in the Jewish Quarter