Marina Raydun’s historical novel V Immigratsii is an engaging tale that recounts the story of a Jewish family’s “time in migration” from the Soviet Union.

The story plays out as three generations of a family are in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Great-grandson Benjamin decides to ask his elders about their immigration to Israel for a school paper he’s writing. The narrative follows his great-grandparents, Iliya (who suffers from dementia) and Frida; grandparents Sergey and Raya; Benjamin’s mother Rita, and his Aunt Marianna and Uncle Luca.

Benjamin learns that to secure their departure from the Soviet Union for repatriation to Israel, the family (great-grandparents, grandparents and Benjamin’s mother, aunt and uncle) lied about having relatives in the country. The story recounts their stops first in Austria and Italy before relocating to their final destination and the many confrontations (questioning by border guards as they go through customs, confiscation of personal items, etc.) and setbacks they endure.

As chapters, told through various viewpoints, move between the past and present, Benjamin continues to ask questions, and family members explore their memories. The story eventually brings an unexpected twist as all family members are not afforded equal refugee status and the journey leads them in unexpected directions.

Raydun’s use of the pandemic to confine these characters is an interesting premise, and although the characters are fiction, they ring with authenticity. The author’s real experiences —she immigrated to America after the Soviet Union’s collapse—provided the story’s inspiration. The novel is also the result of oral histories Raydun gathered, among other research. Footnotes defining unfamiliar foreign phrases enhance the narrative.

Much of the story’s focus is on Marianna and the interest she develops in a local Italian boy. Unfortunately, this prettier daughter’s life and concerns often overshadow the other characters. And some short chapters seem unnecessary and could have been culled.

Nonetheless, the tale is intriguing as it explores survival, memory, and the bonds of love and family.

Also available as an ebook.