Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity in the Holocaust

by: Nancy Wright Beasley

Published by: Palari Publishing

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

I met Nancy Wright Beasley at a writer’s conference in Richmond, Virginia. She was kind enough to share the story of her book, Izzy’s Fire with me. I saw the love and passion in her eyes when she spoke of her seven-year journey to complete Izzy’s Fire – and I knew I had to review the book.

Simply put, Izzy’s Fire is one of the many millions of stories that came out of those dark and desperate times we now call the Holocaust. But on another level, it is the intense and personal story of one real family as told by a woman who was willing to walk through the horrors of despair, death and war to make sure that justice was served and Izzy’s Fire was shared with the world.

Izzy Ipson married the love of his life, Edna (she was formerly known as Eta Ipp). They had a son, Jay (known as Jacob). They believed, as most young couples in love believe, that the world was there, just for them. And they were going to live life to the fullest.

The reality of the Ipson family was World War II and a madman known as Hitler. From the beginning of the book, when we can literally hear the sound of the military boots hitting the pavement as the Ipson family attempts to escape their two-year imprisonment in the Kovno Ghetto–to the celebration of a man whose family risked it all to save the Ipsons, you will be mesmerized, shocked and will be lifted from the depths of despair by something called hope.

Izzy’s Fire is a must read. Let us never forget the Ipsons and millions of others who experienced the Holocaust. If we forget, we give the world and ourselves the opportunity to make the same mistake again. And that would be the greatest sin of all. Izzy’s Fire is remembrance. It should never die.

Armchair Interviews says: Read this book, so we don’t forget!

Author’s Web site: http://www.IzzysFire.com