Jewish and religiously observant NYU college student, Alma, has an opportunity to do research in Spain for her class genealogy project. Her grandmother, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and intermittent memory loss, hopes Alma can solve a longtime family mystery while she’s there.
The family has roots in pre-Inquisition Spain and a family story, or a diminishing portion of one, has been passed down throughout the years from mother or grandmother to daughter or granddaughter. Along with this story comes a precious artifact, a heavy gold ring with a crest, and a plea to return this ring to its original Spanish owner, who is completely unknown.
Alma’s research partner, Manuel, a young man with Spanish roots who plans to become a priest, also has family history to pursue in Spain in addition to the class project. He and Alma team up to solve their genealogical and historical mysteries as their friendship deepens and blossoms.
Alternate chapters bring the reader back in time to the days of the Spanish Inquisition, where the reader meets one of Alma’s ancestors, Miriam. The reader learns much about the time period and the tribulations of a young Jewish woman and her family as they make fateful choices in order to preserve their Jewish identities and heritage in the face of great danger.
Romance abounds in the past and present. Along with Jewish history and genealogy, lessons learned include the value of charting one’s own course in life, the importance of ethical consistency, and why one must keep a clear sense of values. The plot relies a bit too much on coincidence but there is much to like and much to learn in this historical novel for readers ages 13 and up.
Michal Hoschander Malen is the editor of Jewish Book Council’s young adult and children’s book reviews. A former librarian, she has lectured on topics relating to literacy, run book clubs, and loves to read aloud to her grandchildren.