Dark Shadows Hover: (Holocaust Books for Young Adults)

A young Bosnian-Jewish boy escapes transport to a WWII death camp, joining Tito's Partisans to fight the Nazi and Axis powers, and faces what no child should ever have to. This biographical fiction based on the early adolescence of Moris Albahari dives into the little-known events in the former Yugoslavia during World War II. Moris's harrowing story takes him from the small city of Drvar, Bosnia, escaping transport to a Croatian death camp, and eventually joining Tito's Partisans. Now, he must face the onslaught of the Nazis and their collaborators. As a Partisan, Moris hides his Jewish identity fearing reprisals. This adds a layer to the hardships he endures as a liberation fighter in a country that has many factions fighting each other, while trying to defeat the fascist invaders. All the while, he doesn't know if his family is alive. He feels alone within his fighting unit, except for a few trusted friends. His is a story of loneliness, grief, heartache, inner conflict, and ultimately the jagged edges of resilience. Moris's traumatic wartime experience will touch you with its heart-wrenching saga during the most heinous event in human history in a region steeped in its own long-standing history of conflict.

About the Author :
A former social worker and teacher, Jordan Steven Sher's work reflects the core values developed in those professions, but also those that underscore his desire to depict the challenges that humanity continues to face, and has yet to reconcile. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Pina. They have two adult children who continue to pursue their life's journeys in their own wonderful ways.

Review :
Dark Shadows Hover is the extraordinarily moving saga of one young man's unending bravery in the face of years of constant danger. Author Jordan Steven Sher masterfully weaves this chronicle of adversity, heartbreak and ultimately, triumph. [...] -Matt Miller, retired foreign correspondent [...] It is a rarity to encounter a Holocaust story that embodies equal measures of sorrow and triumph, yet Jordan Steven Sher has gifted readers exactly this. Dark Shadows Hover is a fictionalized account of a Yugoslavian Jewish boy thrust into manhood when his only chance of survival is to join Josip Broz Tito's Partisan resistance. [...] -Dina Greenberg, author Nermina's Chance Sher's work of accessible biographical fiction deftly blends historical context and the close imaginings of an extraordinary life to captivate us with Moris Albahari's story. Based on personal interviews conducted by Sher and those conducted by the Shoah Foundation, Albahari's private writings, and historical research on wartime Yugoslavia, Sher draws us into the capricious landscape of the Ustasha state. -Rebekah Klein-Pejsova, Associate Professor of History, Co-director, Human Rights Program Purdue University Sometimes the essence of a period of history, or the truth about a person's life, can be reached more effectively through a well-crafted piece of fiction than through dry non-fiction. In Dark Shadows Hover, author Jordan Steven Sher has accomplished this admirably. Filling out what we know about the life of Moric Albahari with historically plausible vignettes, Mr. Sher has created a nuanced and moving illustration of the dramatic early part of Albahari's life. In a thoughtfully developed story, the author has depicted the personalities of the beloved Moric Albahari and his comrades in a rich and believable way. Sher has succeeded in representing the dangers of war and the spirit of liberation that shaped Albahari's formative years. -Peter Lippman, author Surviving the Peace: The Struggle for Postwar Recovery in Bosnia-Herzegovina [...] In Jordan Steven Sher's book, you feel as if you are right there hiding in the hills with Moris and the partisan fighters. You'll follow him through desperate and dangerous times and rejoice in his survival. This is a heartwarming story that will be enjoyed by all. -Phillip Weiner, former prosecutor, war crimes tribunal at the Hague on Yugoslavia during the war in the 1990s, former judge, international War Crimes Court, Sarajevo, Bosnia An enthralling historical fiction that reimagines the world of a young Sephardic Bosnian boy who navigates life prior to, during, and following the Holocaust. Based on the life of Moris Albahari, this powerful narrative weaves a tapestry of adventure, filled with separation, loss, friendship, hope, and the arduous task of rebuilding amidst the ruins of war. Sher carefully reconstructs this journey of survival, exploring Sephardic Jewish life in Bosnia and unveiling a lesser-known chapter in the history of WWII. -Bryan Kirschen, co-producer Saved by Language, Professor of Hispanic Linguistics, Binghamton University (NY) Jordan Steven Sher's biographical fiction Dark Shadows Hover is a superb book. Based on the true story of Sephardic Holocaust survivor and partisan fighter Moris Albahari, it brings to life the often-forgotten Sephardic and Balkan narratives of the Holocaust. -Franz Afraim Katzir, Founding Director Sephardic Heritage International (SHIN DC)