One of Them - by Kitty Zeldis (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar sophomore - one of a popular group of privileged WASP friends. None of the girls in her circle has any idea that she's Jewish, or that her real first name is Miriam. Pretending to be a Gentile has made life easier - as Anne, she no longer suffers the snubs, snide remarks, and daily restrictions Jews face. She enjoys her college life of teas, late-night conversations, and mixers. She turns a blind eye to the casual anti-Semitism that flourishes among her friends and classmates - after all, it's no longer directed at her. But her secret life is threatened when she becomes fascinated by a girl not in her crowd. Delia Goldhush is sophisticated, stylish, brilliant, and unashamedly Jewish - and seems not to care that she's an outcast among the other students. Knowing that her growing closeness with Delia would be social suicide if it were discovered, Anne keeps their friendship quiet. Delia seems to understand - until a cruelty on Anne's part drives them apart and sends them scattering to other corners of the world, alone and together"--

Book Synopsis

The beloved author of Not Our Kind and The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights returns with a story of secrets, friendship, and betrayal about two young women at Vassar in the years after World War II, a powerful and moving tale of prejudice and pride that echoes the cultural and social issues of today.

Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar sophomore--one of a popular group of privileged WASP friends. None of the girls in her circle has any idea that she's Jewish, or that her real name is or that her real first name is Miriam. Pretending to be a Gentile has made life easier--as Anne, she no longer suffers the snubs, snide remarks, and daily restrictions Jews face. She enjoys her college life of teas, late-night conversations, and mixers. She turns a blind eye to the casual anti-Semitism that flourishes among her friends and classmates--after all, it's no longer directed at her.

But her secret life is threatened when she becomes fascinated by a girl not in her crowd. Delia Goldhush is sophisticated, stylish, brilliant, and unashamedly Jewish--and seems not to care that she's an outcast among the other students. Knowing that her growing closeness with Delia would be social suicide if it were discovered, Anne keeps their friendship quiet. Delia seems to understand--until a cruelty on Anne's part drives them apart and sends them scattering to other corners of the world, alone and together.

Review Quotes

"Alternating the narration between Anne and Delia from 1946 through 1949, Zeldis vividly portrays the postwar period as it follows the women from Vassar to Paris to Palestine and back. Each woman has a different relationship to her Judaism, and through family upheaval and romantic entanglements, each grows into a new appreciation for her religion and her sense of self. Historical-fiction book groups will find much to discuss here." -- Booklist

"[A] nuanced story of friendship and heritage . . . . Zeldis adds depth to the brisk story in her portrayal of the characters' complex feelings about their Jewish heritage. It's an appealing historical." -- Publishers Weekly

"Zeldis explores a friendship between two students at Vassar College just after World War II . . . . The milestones of first loves, the agony of family secrets, and a hunger to find their place in the world guide each woman in a different direction until the fitting and satisfying ending. VERDICT A strong story of women's friendship set against a dynamic historical era. The journey Anne and Delia undertake will inspire plenty of fruitful book club discussions." -- Library Journal

"This is a profound and compelling read for anyone who appreciates character-driven stories and a rich historical backdrop. The emotional weight of Anne and Delia's journey will stay with you long after you've finished the final page. Check this book out!" -- MSN.com

"An enthralling portrait of a woman daring to defy convention in the face of rigid social confines. Lively period details of the bustling city breathe life into Not Our Kind, a story capturing issues of discrimination, the marginalization of women and class disparities. Often veering in unexpected directions, the novel is filled with thought-provoking turns that explore timely subjects in a gripping light. . . . The book's greatest strength is exploring how the building of relationships can help dissolve ignorance. . . . its themes linger long after the final page is read." -- USA Today on Not Our Kind

"A richly layered assimilation story set in post-WWII Manhattan . . . chapters that alternate between Patricia's and Eleanor's point of view enable these co-protagonists to be defined by more than their stance on a Jewish question that's both urgent and on the wane in the post-WWII era. . . . an historical novel that resonates in contemporary Trumpian America. . . . A very good novel." -- Washington Independent Review of Books on Not Our Kind

"The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights is a page-turner about dreams dashed and rediscovered, secrets kept and revealed, and the redemptive power of love. The three women at the core of this unforgettable journey--from early 20th century Russia and New Orleans to 1920s New York, and from loneliness to belonging--will work their way into your heart." -- Meg Waite Clayton, bestselling author of The Postmistress of Paris and The Last Train to London, on The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights

"The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights by Kitty Zeldis is gripping historical fiction at its very best. Three women whose lives are bound by a secret history are forced to make irreversible choices in order to survive. Moving from nineteenth-century Russia to the brothels of New Orleans in 1910, and landing in New York City in the 1920s, Zeldis doesn't miss a beat. She weaves an exquisite tale filled with love, loss, despair, and forgiveness, as her richly developed characters tackle the difficult decisions one must make and the repercussions of those that are made for you." -- Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire, on The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights