Books to Read During the Nine Days

While we may not feel the churban in our everyday lives, reading about some of the tragedies of the Jewish Nation can help put perspective on the Nine Days.

We go through the motions: no music, no meat, no swimming… but do we stop and think about what these days mean? Do we begin to understand the calamity that the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash was?

From a distance of so many years, it’s hard to even visualize what was. But through books, we can get a peek into some of the tragedies – with the Holocaust being the most relatable to us because of its relative recent timing, of course – that have befallen our People. Maybe we can be inspired to make changes. Maybe we can experience just a fraction of the sadness we should be feeling. And maybe we can experience more hope for the coming of Mashiach in our days.

All of the books listed below were read and recommended by a member of our team.

by Nechama Birnbaum

The Redhead of Auschwitz

Holocaust

Adults Only.

by Lily Ebert and Dov Forman

Lily’s Promise 

Holocaust

Teen to adult.

by Shterni Rosenfeld

Tuky 

Holocaust

Kids.

by Klein and R. L.

The Scent of Snowflowers

Holocaust

Young teen to adult.

by Chaim Shapiro

Go, My Son

Holocaust

Young teen to adult. Good for bochurim.

by Pinchos Yeshaya Kornbluh

Tatteh Said Run!

Holocaust

Young teen to adult. Good for bochurim.

by Pearl Benisch

To Vanquish the Dragon

Holocaust

Teen to Adult. Good for teen girls.

You won’t be able to put it down!

by Ruth Lichtenstein

Witness to History

Holocaust

Reference style book.
Facts and statistics.

Every Jewish home should have a copy.

by Sarah Schleimer

Far From the Place We Called Home

Holocaust

Young reader to adult.

by A. Romi Cohen

The Youngest Partisan 

Holocaust

Young reader to adult. Good for boys.

by Rabbi Israel Meir Lau

Out of the Depths

Holocaust

Rabbi Lau’s fascinating biography.

Teen to Adult.

by Hanoch Teller

Heroic Children

Holocaust

Young teen to adult.

by Chana Mantel

Lidingo

Holocaust

Young teen to adult. Good for teen girls.

by Shaindy Perl

Tell the World

Holocaust

Story of the Sobibor revolt.

Teen to adult.

by Sara Yoheved Rigler

I've been Here Before

When Souls of the Holocaust Return

Teen to adult.

by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Irena’s Children

Holocaust

Story of a Righteous Gentile.

Teen to adult.

HERE for the young reader’s edition.

by Dovid Feinzeig

Faith & Flight

Holocaust

The Feinzeig’s story of survival in Siberia.

Teen to adult.

by Avraham Netzach

Subbota

Communist Russia

Fascinating story of 20 years of survival in a Soviet prison. 

By Yaakov Astor

The Underground

Communist Russia

The Neustadt Family’s secret missions in the Soviet Union.

by Rabbi Yitzchak Zilber

To Remain a Jew

Communist Russia

Rav Yitzchak Zilber’s story of survival as a Jew in the Soviet Union.

by Rabbi Dovid Hoffman

Torah Tavlin on Tisha B’Av 

Divrei torah, stories, hashkafah and inspiration

by Rabbi Yechiel Spero

Just One More Tear

Kinnos companion

by Zecharya Hoffman

Song of Redemption 

Churban

Historical novel for young teen to adult.

by Leah Gebber

Chains

Historical novel for young teen to adult.

byMarcus Lehmann

The Family Aguilar

Spanish Inquisition

Historical novel for young teen to adult.

by Henye Meyer

The Exiles of Crocodile Island

Spanish Inquisition

Historical novel for young readers.

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Between Carpools is a collaboration between five talented friends who like to get a lot of stuff done “between carpools.” Since 2016, we’ve been sharing home and organizing tips, parenting insights, activities, how-to’s and DIYs, and of course, entertaining ideas, recipes, and inspiring reads both on the site and app.

8 responses to “Books to Read During the Nine Days”

  1. Rose Avatar
    Rose

    Book “Song of Redemption” by Zecharya Hoffman.
    Unreal historical novel taking place during the times of the Churban. It gives you a true feeling of the loss of Bais Hamikdash.
    Highly recommended!!

  2. YM Avatar
    YM

    Thank you for the comprehensive list!
    Just wanted to point out that most books are also available on https://www.shopeichlers.com/ and you can get same day delivery in NY/NJ area.

  3. khr Avatar
    khr

    can u post more teenage geared books?

  4. ER Avatar
    ER

    Can’t believe The Harp, by R’ Meir Uri Gottesman is not on the list!

  5. sari Avatar
    sari

    I second the harp!

    also if this interests you… Jewish History textbook called “History of the Jewish People” the first volume goes over the second beis hamikdash ending with the churban. It’s an easy read with a lot of information if you love Jewish history like I do. And the story of the churban and the antisemitism and infighting between different jewish sects etc. is truly heart wrenching especially seeing world events today

    davening that this year we should celebrate tisha baav as a yom tov.

  6. MS Avatar
    MS

    “I Promise You” by Yael Mermelstein is the first thing I open Tisha B’av night. Brilliantly written in first person, from the eyes of a child as she grows into a teen, with the language developing from childlike to teen-like as the book (and her age) progresses. An easy read for teens and adults.

  7. LM Avatar
    LM

    If you read ONE BOOK over this time (and yes, it should be non-fiction ideally – but if for some reason you can’t) READ THE HARP. (Meir Uri Gottessman) It is raw, wrenching, heartbreaking, and at the same time, an absorbing and beautiful read. Reading this book pulls you into the time period of the Churban in the most vivid way. By the end of the book, i felt like I myself had starved alongside the Jews in Yerushalayim, like i stood and watched the Beis Hamikdash burn to ashes in front of me. READ THIS BOOK. And if you prefer to stay away from fiction on such a special, potential-filled day (which i highly commend) find another time this year to read it. It will change your daily tefilos for geulah.

  8. SG Avatar
    SG

    And Rachel Was His Wife–great book, told from the perspective of Rachel’s fictional best friend, very descriptive of life in Roman-occupied Eretz Yisrael and the historical events leading up to and following the Churban. highly recommend

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