The Summer of 1974

From the author of The Lonely Tree and the five books of the Olivia Series.

A fascinating look at life in Israel in the 1970s.
Israeli girl meets Afro-American boy. So different - So alike.
Life and love in a tough part of the world. History seamlessly woven into a well-paced story.

Two strangers from opposite sides of the globe, both at a crossroads in their lives, meet in Rome. They could hardly be more different, so why do they feel such an immediate connection? Following the losses and general trauma of the Yom Kippur War, Gavrielle, an officer in the Intelligence Branch of the IDF, is also dealing with a personal crisis. Born an orphan, she recently learned of a man in Florida who may be able to lead her to the father she has never known – and who is unaware of her existence. Should she get on a plane for America? Instead, she boards one for Rome – for a vacation and time to think.

There, she signs up for an Italian language class, where she meets Charlie Freeman (a descendant of Olivia Killion and Mourning Free). Charlie, a young African-American, has just graduated from the University of Michigan and plans to go on to grad school and a career in architecture. But he first has a personal obstacle to be overcome. What better place for a student of art and architecture to take time for reflection than the open-air museum called Rome?
These two strangers – who seem to have absolutely nothing in common – discover they share a basic reality that other people will never understand. Their unexpected friendship takes them together from Rome to Sinai, Jerusalem, and Michigan.

Though set in a specific historical/political context, this book is about personal relationships – love, friendship, and family.

254 Amazon ratings 4.4 average This is what some of them said:

“Compelling, beautifully researched, and beautifully told ... Yael Politis weaves well-researched history into all her books, bringing depth to her characters and settings, and drawing her readers in ... there is wisdom in this story and its people, as well as suspense, mystery, love and fear ... the various story lines come together in the quest for family that turns into a quest for purpose ... As Charlies grandmother says: Anyway, ain’t no matter where you come from, no how. Portant thing is where you going to. God gave your life to you, not your parents. Up to you to do somethin good with it.” – Sheila Deeth, author and Vine voice Reviewer

“Rich and rewarding … the beginning of a new series by one of my favorite authors” – Wilma Letting

“Politis weaves in the research with a deft hand. But research isn't the only thing the author does well – she draws such a lovely portrait of Gavrielle, that you're rooting for her to succeed, to be happy.” An Avid Reader

“The mark of a really good book, I think, is the number of times you find yourself thinking about the characters, and the events, long after you read it. All of the books by Yael Politis have had this quality, but in my opinion The Summer of 1974 surpasses even the rest ... A number of times I have been confused for a moment, trying to recall who told me of certain events or experiences and then realizing that they came from this book. The characters are that real – and that human. I also was amazed to realize just how much was packed into this book (and that summer) without it feeling the least rushed or that something had been inserted just to move the plot along. Looking back, I had to marvel at all the different worlds I experienced right along with Gavrielle. This is just a very good book and very much worth your time.” – Elizabeth Sommers