Jillian Cantor Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

About Jillian Cantor

The American author Jillian Cantor is well known for writing historical novels from a very real and human level. Getting to the heart of each of her subjects, she manages to find what it is that really drives them, giving a full sense of who they are for the reader. Not only that, but she also has a very grounded style of writing, as she truly immerses herself within the worlds that she creates. Taking the readers on a journey, she manages to capture the imagination of her audience, with readers far and wide finding something to relate to in her work. This is down to the universality of her material, and how it translates on a worldwide level for readers from all across the globe. It is her book-sales that provide clear evidence of this, as she has managed to achieve a bestselling status on numerous occasion.

Early and Personal Life

Growing up in a suburb of Philadelphia, in the United States, where she was born and raised, Jillian cantor would harbor a passion for reading and writing from an early age. Fascinated with the written word, she would study it throughout years, nurturing her love of storytelling and transporting readers. This she would continue in her higher education, soon gaining a BA in English from the Penn State University, along with attending the University of Arizona where she received an MFA.

Her love of all things literature would continue on into her adult life, as she would carry on articulating herself as a writer. Eventually this would see her get published, as she would go on to become the highly successful and influential writer that she currently is today. Now living in Arizona, Jillian continues to write to this present day, residing with her husband and their two sons.

Writing Career

It was in 2009 that Jillian Cantor would see her first novel being published, making her arrival on to the literary scene with the title ‘The September Sisters’. She would quickly follow this up the following year with her next novel, another stand-alone title, this time called ‘The Life of Glass’. Preferring to focus on stand-alone stories, she largely writes self-contained narratives, not creating any long-running series as such.

This isn’t to say that she doesn’t have many themes and ideas recurring throughout her work though, as she comes back to subjects over the course of her career. Her usage of historical subject matter is also something to be admired too, as she injects a sense of accuracy into her work that really brings it to life. This is what readers have come to admire about her over the years, as she really pays close attention to detail when creating her stories. Winning various plaudits and acclaim for her work too, she is not without critical acclaim either, as she manages to capture the attention of numerous publications too. Maintaining a strong presence both online and off too, she continues to write, with her writing career gaining momentum every day, and on into the foreseeable future.

The September Sisters

Released through the HarperTeen publishing label, this would be a Young Adult title, with it being the first novel to come from Jillian Cantor. Working as an entirely stand-alone piece, it would originally be released on the 19th of February in 2009, making a name for her as an author in the process. A contemporary story, it would quickly rise in popularity, gaining her many fans fast from all across the world.

Set around two sisters, Abigail and Becky Reed, it sees the two of them always at one another’s throats, as they’re called the ‘September Sisters’ by their mother. This is because their birthday’s are only a day apart, as the mother pretends that they’re really best of friends, despite them tormenting each other. All of this changes though, after the disappearance one night of Becky, as she leaves behind a torn gold chain with a sapphire heart, providing the only clue as to her kidnapping. Now Abby must attempt to keep the family together, even though this tragedy has befallen all them, leaving her to pick up the pieces. Will she manage it? How will her new neighbor Tommy, who is dealing with his own loss, help her through it all? What will become of the September Sisters?

The Lost Letter

This time published through the Riverhead Books publishing imprint, this would first come out on the 13th of June in 2017. Incorporating the past and history, with events spanning over generations, it manages to build upon the scope and scale of what really happened during the Second World War. Not being a part of any series as such either, it’s a stand-alone story with a self-contained narrative that definitely delivers upon its premise.

Taking place in Austria, 1938, this would see the character of Kristoff working as an apprentice to a Jewish stamp engraver. It is then that his mentor disappears during the Kristallnacht, as Kristoff is then made to engrave for the Germans, whilst working alongside his mentor’s daughter Elena, as well as for the underground resistance. Later in Los Angeles, 1989, Katie Nelson discovers her father’s stamp collection following her divorce, as well as him recently going into a nursing home. This leads to her embarking on a journey in to the past with an appraiser named Benjamin, as the two of them seek to unlock the secrets of what really happened back then in Berlin. Will they learn the real truth behind it all? How will they cope with what they find? What was really in the lost letter?

In Another Time

Similar to ‘The Lost Letter’, this also focuses on the Second World War, and the events leading up to it in 1931 Germany. Looking at the relationship between Max Beissinger and Hanna Ginsberg, it sees them navigate the prevailing political landscape of the time. With Hanna being Jewish whilst Max isn’t, it sees them both overcoming difficulties, as Max attempts to protect Hanna from the war. Does Max’s secret hold the key to her survival? Can they overcome the difficulties that lie in their path? What is there for them both in another time?