Strawberry Mansion

About the Book

Strawberry Mansion is a real neighborhood in Philadelphia. Before and during the Second World War, it was inhabited by a majority of Jewish families, all struggling to rise above the poverty level. The story is told through the eyes of Sylvia and her father and brother, all reliving the years before and during the war, all agonizing with the knowledge that Sylvia has cancer. Shirley Shapiro is Sylvia. She not only survived ovarian cancer, but is a survivor of colon and breast cancer.

About the Author

Shirley Shapiro was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She lived her teenage years in Strawberry Mansion. Shirley and her family moved to Miami, Florida in 1953. She taught pre-school for more than twenty years. Shirley wrote a weekly column for “The Jewish Star Times” and authored four books; “Spinning Tales”, “Silver Candlesticks”, “The Convent” and “Shirley’s World.” Shirley’s bout with ovarian cancer was the impetus for her new book, “Strawberry Mansion.” She has survived ovarian, colon and breast cancer. She and her husband, Rabbi Norman N. Shapiro live in Century Village in Pembroke Pines.