Golden Flight
(Bright One Series, Book #2)
by Lisajoy Sachs
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 554
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction
In 1933, as antisemitism spreads across Europe, fifteen-year-old Berta leaves Czernowitz on a journey that will change her life forever.
Married to a man three times her age, Berta is forced to surrender childhood overnight, stepping into the role of wife before she has fully learned who she is. Marriage was meant to secure her future. Instead, it carries her across borders just as hostility toward Jews intensifies and the ground beneath her people begins to shift.
What was meant to be a quick and safe departure becomes a desperate migration as anti-Jewish persecution grows and escape routes narrow. By 1935, Berta and her husband Solomon are stranded in Istanbul, suspended between continents and consequences. Months pass in suffocating uncertainty. Promised departures collapse without explanation. Funds diminish. Friendships disappear into another ship's wake.
And within the confines of marriage, Berta begins to understand that protection does not always resemble love, and that survival may demand more maturity than she was ever meant to possess. When passage to Palestine is finally secured, relief does not come easily. She has learned how quickly certainty dissolves. Ahead lies open water and the fragile hope of safety.
Behind her, a Europe turning its back on Jews and closing its doors. Between those two realities stands a young woman who must decide which parts of herself she is willing to sacrifice to endure.
Set against the tightening grip of pre-war Europe, this sweeping and intimate second installment of the Bright One series traces Berta's forced coming of age amid exile, identity loss, and the quiet, often invisible costs of survival.
“The world is cruel, but there is always beauty to be discovered, even in the darkest of times.”
Some books tell us about history. Others allow us to walk beside those who lived it. 'Golden Flight' by Lisajoy Sachs is very much the latter. Based on the true story of the author's grandmother, Berta, and inspired by an extraordinary collection of family letters, photographs, and documents preserved across generations, this second instalment in the Bright One series is rich in historical detail and deeply personal in its storytelling. It follows fifteen-year-old Berta as she leaves behind the only life she has ever known in search of an uncertain future.
Set during the turbulent years of the 1930s, the novel explores a world where political uncertainty, rising antisemitism, and changing borders force families to make impossible decisions. Rather than focusing on history's defining moments, Sachs tells an intimate story of one young woman whose life is transformed by circumstances far beyond her control. It is a moving portrait of displacement, courage, and the quiet determination to keep moving forward when the world beneath your feet is constantly shifting.
Berta is an unforgettable protagonist. When we first meet her, she is sheltered, trusting, and still very much a young girl. Watching her mature as circumstances continually challenge her is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Her growth never feels rushed or contrived. Instead, it unfolds naturally through heartbreak, disappointment, perseverance, and the small victories that slowly shape her into a remarkable young woman. I found myself rooting for her from the very first page, celebrating her successes and feeling every disappointment alongside her.
Equally compelling is Solomon. He is a man whose decisions frequently left me questioning his judgement, yet Sachs wisely resists the temptation to make him either wholly admirable or wholly unlikeable. Instead, she presents a deeply flawed individual carrying the weight of grief, responsibility, fear, and regret. At times I sympathised with him; at others I found myself frustrated by him. He is a wonderfully complex character whose strengths and flaws make him feel entirely believable. That complexity makes both Solomon and his relationship with Berta all the more compelling.
The supporting cast is equally memorable. Although some characters appear only briefly, their influence resonates throughout the story. Jetti's wisdom and foresight continue to guide Berta long after they are separated, while Anka's unwavering loyalty provides comfort and reassurance during the darkest stages of her life. As Berta's world gradually expands, the new friendships she forms become just as important to her personal growth. Among them, Rachael is one of the novel's most memorable additions, bringing warmth, compassion, and another layer of emotional depth to Berta's story. Together, these relationships remind us that, even in the darkest of times, it is often the kindness of others that gives us the strength to carry on.
The historical setting is beautifully realised. Sachs effortlessly recreates the atmosphere of 1930s Europe, weaving historical events into the narrative without ever allowing them to overshadow the characters themselves. Political tension, growing prejudice, and increasing instability become part of everyday life, making the story feel authentic and immersive. From elegant homes and bustling cities to isolated villages and uncertain refugee routes, every setting is vividly brought to life through meticulous research and evocative description.
One of the aspects I admired most was the pacing. This is a character-driven novel that allows its relationships and emotional moments to develop naturally. Rather than relying on constant drama, Sachs understands the power of quieter scenes. The result is a story that draws the reader in almost imperceptibly before becoming impossible to put down.
Sachs also has a remarkable gift for sensory description. Whether describing the bustle of a city street, the stillness of the countryside, or the comfort found in familiar possessions, every scene feels tangible. Yet it is often the smallest moments that linger longest in the memory. A treasured keepsake, a carefully written letter, a shared conversation, or a simple act of kindness become powerful reminders that humanity can endure, even when the future seems uncertain.
What impressed me most was the authenticity of Berta's emotional development. She never becomes an implausible heroine, nor does she simply endure hardship without being changed by it. Every experience leaves its mark, making her resilience feel earned rather than inevitable. By the end of the novel, she is a young woman shaped by love, loss, sacrifice, and an unwavering determination to build a future against extraordinary odds.
'Golden Flight' is an emotionally rich, beautifully researched, and deeply moving novel that explores the uncertainty, sacrifice, and resilience of Jewish families seeking a new life in Palestine during the turbulent years before the Second World War. Knowing that the novel is rooted in the author's own family history gives Berta's story an added depth and authenticity, making her experiences all the more affecting. It is a story about family, identity, displacement, hope, and the extraordinary strength required to keep believing in tomorrow when yesterday has been left behind. Both intimate and epic in scope, it reminds us that history is shaped not only by world leaders and political events, but also by ordinary people whose courage, perseverance, and love quietly change the course of their own lives.
Beautifully written and profoundly moving, 'Golden Flight' stayed with me long after I turned the final page. It is a novel I will not soon forget and one I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys thoughtful, character-driven historical fiction.
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Lisajoy Sachs
