Serendipity’s Footsteps

A leitmotif of shoes underpins Nelson’s novel, which unfolds over more than 60 years, jumping from the Holocaust to contemporary orphanage life in Texas, with stops in several other places and eras, including long sections in 1940s New York. The book opens in November 1938 in Berlin, when 15-year-old Dalya, daughter of a Jewish cobbler, and her family are taken to a concentration camp, leaving behind a precious pair of shoes. From there, Nelson follows Dalya through her long life while directing a much narrower lens on two runaway orphans, Ray and Pinny. These three prove to be the story’s focus, but many secondary figures are also highlighted; sometimes breaks between individuals’ tales are so long that flipping back to previous installments is necessary. Nelson (The Sound of Munich) ties up all the threads adroitly, if a little too neatly, with a heartwarming conclusion in New York City in 2013. An extensive author’s note explains the inspiration for the book and offers historical background, plus sources for further information on some of the topics explored. Ages 12–up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Nov.)