Soncata Press announces the forthcoming publication of The Girl Who Rode the White Lion, a powerful new historical novel by Israeli author Yishay Ishi Ron, to be released June 16, 2026.
The announcement follows Ron’s recent recognition by the Jewish Book Council, where his novel Dog received two National Jewish Book Awards.
In The Girl Who Rode the White Lion, Ron delivers a sweeping story of courage, survival, and unlikely sanctuary set against the dark backdrop of Nazi-era Europe.
Germany, 1938.
As Nazi persecution intensifies, a young Jewish girl named Sarah Frank narrowly escapes a deadly encounter with an SS officer whose obsession with her family turns sinister. Alone and hunted, Sarah finds refuge in an unexpected place — a traveling circus. Among lion trainers, acrobats, and performers, she discovers an unusual family and forms an extraordinary bond with a magnificent white lion.
New York City, 1957.
Nearly two decades later, a routine autopsy at the Bronx Zoo reveals a chilling object hidden inside the body of an elderly lion: a silver SS ring engraved with a skull. The discovery launches a transatlantic search for the truth, leading through postwar Paris, Tel Aviv, and New York — and uncovering secrets buried since the war.
Blending historical suspense with literary depth, The Girl Who Rode the White Lion explores themes of moral courage, identity, memory, and the enduring power of loyalty.
Ron is widely recognized in Israel for his literary storytelling and emotionally resonant characters. With The Girl Who Rode the White Lion, he brings readers a story that moves from the shadows of Nazi Germany to the vibrant, complicated world of postwar New York.
Book Details
Title: The Girl Who Rode the White Lion
Author: Yishay Ishi Ron
Translator: Yardene Greenspan
Publisher: Soncata Press
Publication Date: June 16, 2026
Format: Hardback, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
Review Copies & Interviews
Digital and paperback advance review copies are available upon request. Interviews with the author may also be arranged.
Media Contact: Stuart Schnee PR
Stu@stuartschnee.com