Yanina's Books

They Were Fighters

A gripping compilation of oral histories of over 100 Jews who lived under Soviet oppression and made the difficult choice to leave the “workers paradise” to pursue freedom. They were ordinary people who made an extraordinary decision to defy government control, ubiquitous propaganda, and pervasive antisemitism, to seek a better future and freedom from oppression. Their stories, combined with a historical narrative, form an amazing, and now often-overlooked, tapestry of Jewish experience in the Soviet Union in the two decades before the country fell apart.

https://www.amazon.com/They-Were-Fighters-Histories-Leaving/dp/B0DPHXVSQ4

Tales from the Cold

Icebergs look like big hunks of ice. When we encounter one at a distance, beyond the initial excitement we are mostly concerned about not being hit by one. But what if our view of them is wrong? What if they were thinking beings aware of their surroundings? Their thoughts about people and activities in the ocean might be a surprise to us. Or how about penguins? They are cute, adorable, and photogenic. But perhaps their view of the world and us, and their plans, are not so cute?

Tales from the Cold is a collection of short stories, fiction that crosses into fantasy at times. In one, the iceberg that was hit by the Titanic talks about his experience. In another, a glacier provides guidance to those who are willing to listen to it. All the stories were inspired by real events, and relevant historical and geographical information is provided. This started as a children’s book, but the stories had a mind of their own and developed into a book for a more grown-up audience.

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Cold-Yanina-Kisler/dp/B0GWRNJG57