Trigger warnings: Anti-semitic scenes, there's a fat character but she thinks poorly of herself, abuse
Synopsis: Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life - even if they've heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.
But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.
Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother's warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods...
The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be - and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer.
Review: Sisters of the Winter Wood was beautiful. I cared about both sisters very much. Liba is a girl who doesn't think much of herself and she helps out a lot with her family. I found a lot of myself in her. Laya is definitely more carefree, but she loves her family very much. They were easy to keep straight because of their personalities, but it was interesting to see Laya's perspective written in verse and Liba's perspective written in prose. Throughout the story, we see both girls as they wrestle with their family history and they try to figure out what's best for themselves.
The story focuses on a small village, but I found myself engaged from the very start. I loved seeing how Rena made such a compelling story in such a small area. Right before their parents leave, the sisters find out that their parents can shift into animals. Soon, a mysterious group of men show up and Laya is quickly swept away. Both girls find themselves in relationships with very different men. They have to learn how to navigate attention from these male characters when it's something so new to them. There's a kind of elegance with this story that I enjoyed quite a lot. I also loved how there's a glossary in the back for Hebrew and Yiddish words/phrases.
Breathtaking story about love and family.
5 howls
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