The Night of the Burning: Devorah's Story

Set against the upheavals of post-World War I Europe, this novel follows twelve-year-old Devorah Lehman and her younger sister as they survive the gas poisoning, famine, and disease that ravage their small Polish town. The arrival of the Night of the Burning a violent pogrom incited by Cossacks and Christian Poles forces them to flee, and they join a group of Jewish orphans on a harrowing journey to South Africa under the care of philanthropist Isaac Ochberg. The story blends historical detail with personal loss, capturing Devorah's struggle to hold onto hope while confronting the aftermath of massacre and displacement. Through resilience and community, the characters begin to rebuild their lives in a new land.