Rebel Daughter

By: Lori Banov Kaufmann

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

National Jewish Book Award Winner • Christy Award Finalist

A young woman survives the unthinkable in this stunning and emotionally satisfying tale of family, love, and resilience, set against the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Esther dreams of so much more than the marriage her parents have arranged to a prosperous silversmith. Always curious and eager to explore, she must accept the burden of being the dutiful daughter. Yet she is torn between her family responsibilities and her own desires.

Meanwhile, the growing turmoil threatens to tear apart not only her beloved city, Jerusalem, but also her own family. As the streets turn into a bloody battleground between rebels and Romans, Esther's journey becomes one of survival. She remains fiercely devoted to her family, and braves famine, siege, and slavery to protect those she loves.

This emotional and impassioned saga, based on real characters and meticulous research, seamlessly blends the fascinating story of the Jewish people with a timeless protagonist determined to take charge of her own life against all odds.

Critic reviews

“[A] carefully researched and well-crafted narrative. . . .HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.” —Jewish Book Council

“Highly readable . . . WILL HOLD YOUR INTEREST FROM THE FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST.” —Blu Greenberg, author and founder of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance

“RIVETING.” —Allegra Goodman, author of National Book Award Finalist Kaaterskill Falls

“Esther’s remarkable, mysterious, and METICULOUSLY RESEARCHED story is one that demands to be told.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An ENGAGING story for historical fiction fans.” —SLJ

“A VERY GOOD READ INDEED.” —The Jerusalem Post

“BRINGS ANCIENT JERUSALEM ALIVE.” —The Times of Israel

“[A] COMPELLING tale of family, love, and resilience.” —The Jewish Women’s Archive

"ALL THE MAKINGS OF AN ACTION MOVIE." —All Israel News

Inspiring and gripping

I loved this book and would stay longer in my car to listen to the end of a chapter. The subject is intriguing and we have so little written about this period and the historic research behind the story added a deep layer of authenticity and interest. That alone makes it a book everyone should read. The book drew me in from the very first chapter and kept my interest because the story is told through the eyes of a strong young woman. We often read historic fiction in Biblical times only from the perspective of a man. The story was inspiring. A book I will never forget.

Making history real

An engaging story based on rich historical detail bringing to life a period of history that has not received enough attention .

Fantastic historical fiction!

Well written and fascinating story based on real people and events in 1st Century Judea. well researched by the author and beautifully rendered. narrator was excellent as well. Nice use of scripture and Jewish rituals to add color and meaning to the story!

Highly recommended!

Rebel Daughter

It was my intention to give this book 5 stars across-the-board, but I could not get the stars next to the story to fill in all the way. Particularly the story and the resource it was done was most impressive!

Engaging story brings history to life

I love this story for so many reasons! The characters and storyline are well-crafted and fit neatly on known historicsl facts, making the story believable from beginning to end. I also love the rich details about daily life and culture in Jerusalem and Rome that the author imbued in the story. I also love that I have gained a deeper and different understanding of this important chapter of history. More nuance, more insight into recurring human conflicts through time, more lessons for us to heed today. Excellent, simply excellent.