Bessie: A Novel

Drawing on biographical and historical sources, BESSIE (She Writes Press), a novel by bookseller Linda Kass reimagines the early life of Bess Myerson—the musically talented daughter of poor Russian Jewish immigrants from the Bronx—who, in the bigoted milieu of 1945, remarkably rises to become Miss America, the first—and to date only—Jewish woman to do so. This tender fictional portrait unveils a bold young woman living at a precarious moment in our cultural history as she searches for love and acceptance, eager to make her mark on the world. Praised by Hadassah Magazine and Historical Novels Review, and featured in MS. Magazine, this is the perfect book club read.