Brief

A middle-aged career woman thinks she has it all figured out, until she decides to search for a holocaust survivor that she finds over an original letter from the war. Their newfound, unexpected friendship will change both their lives.

What We Liked

It's a feel-good drama, if possible. Among the Branded is a sweet, albeit highly emotional story about Stephanie, a strong female lead who decides to learn more about the meaning of war and the effect of the Holocaust on modern civilization. Her new relationship with Izzy, a survivor who leans on her to convey the importance and the impact of his horrific war experiences, is immediately relatable and, soon enough, both characters feel like part of the reader/viewer’s family. While the circumstances that brought them all together are tragic, the resulting relationships are priceless. The book has an intriguing concept and touches on important themes; such as the bonds of family, the overlooked horrors of history, and the lessons they can still teach us today. In the hands of remarkable filmmakers, it would be an absolute staple.

Key points: War and History; family relations; the odd friendship between two people who supposedly have nothing in common; a bigger, important message; a meaningful, tearful ending.

Synopsis

Stephanie, a successful Art Director at an advertising agency, finds old, original love letters from the war in a flea market. One of them brings a list of Jewish names. A person on the list shares the same date of birth with Stephany’s late father, which catches her attention. This letter is written in German. With the help of a multilingual co-worker, she finds out that this is not an ordinary letter - it’s a cry for help. The message comes from a concentration camp addressed to some relatives in Boston. In desperation, the person asks for sponsorship, to have them relocated to America.

Stephanie uses her research skills to go over the internet and find out about the man who wrote the letter; Isadore Fisher, also known as Izzy - a lovely old man who still works as a French professor at the local University. Eventually, she reaches out, and a strong bond begins. She lost her father recently, and he is all by himself due to the death of his wife. A friendship starts to develop, and Izzy happily becomes part of the family, being well received by all - including getting really close to Steph’s mother.

Meanwhile, Steph decides to search a little more about his life. At the Holocaust Museum, with the help of the clerk, she locates the woman who saved Izzy’s life when he was a child at the Camp in France. She’s in the US, as well. Steph convinces Izzy to go see the old woman, who took a young Izzy from his mother’s arms while she was embarking to Auschwitz. She worked as a nurse at the camp and had to convince Izzy’s mother that giving the kid up was the only option. The nurse hid Izzy from the Germans for a couple of years, when he was finally sent to Boston to be raised by relatives.

After this emotional meeting, both Izzy and Steph learn that these stories need to be shared not to be repeated. Izzy starts to attend events at the museum, give interviews, and spend time talking to kids at Jack’s - Steph’s son - school. Steph, on the other hand, decides not to take for granted small things in her routine - and remain alert to any kind of prejudicial behavior, something that helps her even in her professional life. Shortly thereafter, when Izzy dies, he leaves everything to Stephanie and her family, grateful for those last realizations.

About The Author

Linda Smolkin always wanted to be a writer; ever since she saw her first TV commercial and wondered how to pen ads. She got her degree in journalism and became a copywriter. She's the author of Among the Branded and The Secret We Lost - and currently working on her third novel.