Using the Mandelkorn family of Hungary, Hart-Green brilliantly captures the sweetness of family love, and the agonizing sadness of loss of family.

Young Artur Mandelkorn survives the Holocaust, but on returning to his home town of Szeda he learns that every member of his family was taken by the nazis and killed. He is devastated. Since he and his younger sister, Manya had left home before the family was captured, he focuses on finding her. He follows any shadow of a clue. He is on an emotional roller-coaster along with thousands of other survivors.

He is directed to Mrs. Kartash, a warm, thoughtful administrator who despite the odds tries to re-connect family members after the war. She suggests Artur head for Israel, to find Emil Lenzner who may have been one of the last people to see Manya alive. On board the ship that carries him and many others to new lives in Israel, he meets the lovely Fanny. Once in Israel, he immerses himself in Kibbutz life, working hard, meeting people who will become life-long friends, and serving in Israel's military.

He retains hope of finding Manya but feels guilt at not doing enough. Frustrated he cannot locate Lenzner, he learns of a man with a similar name. Meeting with this man, Artur is both let down and lifted up when told he never saw Manya. But he does have a cousin, Emil Lenzner who was stopped from entering Israel by the British, now stuck in Cyprus. That explains why Artur could not find him in Israel. Artur writes to the correct Emil, but needs to wait before getting a response. And when Artur finally does hear from Lenzner his hope is shattered.

Please read Come Back for Me to learn what happens to Artur. I’ve found it to be a very strong debut novel; a good balance of human emotion with life’s practical requirements. Looking forward to more novels by Sharon Hart-Green.

Artur came back for Manya but she was gone. A heartbreaking tale of one man's search for his identity and his family in the aftermath of WWII and the Holocaust. As he traveled the world in search of his sister, he found his brother's widow and all the missing pieces of his life came together. ( )