Happy Friday, book friends! I have a wonderful YA/Adult book to share today, publishing on September 11. Some of the most meaningful, poignant books I have read involve the Holocaust, and My Real Name is Hanna will be placed on that shelf.
My Thoughts:
“I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because that is the day that God allowed me into this world to breathe my first soul breath of chilled Ukrainian air.”
Hanna Slivka is a teen living in Soviet-occupied Ukraine when Hitler’s army crosses the border. She and her family are Jewish, and the Gestapo wants the town, Kwasova, to be “free of Jews.” The book begins, however, with a beautiful setting up of the scenery and daily life of this family living in a peaceful Ukraine. I was not familiar with the culture and landscape of Ukraine, especially during this time period, so I soaked in all of the stunningly descriptive prose.
Once the army arrives, Hanna’s father is favored because he can fix things that no one else can, but eventually, their luck runs out, and they are forced to pack what they can and flee into the forest with other families. They later move to caves for more security and less exposure. This is where they stayed for over a year’s time, but not without some of the good helpers in the world contributing.
Based on true events, and with less than 5% of Ukrainian Jews surviving the Holocaust, this type of story begs to be told because there are so few around to tell it. Tara Lynn Masih’s lyrical writing illustrates the strength and sheer will of Hanna and her family to survive. Overall, My Real Name is Hanna is an emotionally-resonant story of friendship, family, and true compassion in the most dire of times.
Many thanks to the author for the finished copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
Inspired by real Holocaust events, this poignant debut novel is a powerful coming-of-age story that will resonate with fans of The Book Thief and Between Shades of Gray.
Hanna Slivka is on the cusp of fourteen when Hitler’s army crosses the border into Soviet-occupied Ukraine. Soon, the Gestapo closes in, determined to make the shtetele she lives in “free of Jews.” Until the German occupation, Hanna spent her time exploring Kwasova with her younger siblings, admiring the drawings of the handsome Leon Stadnick, and helping her neighbor dye decorative pysanky eggs. But now she, Leon, and their families are forced to flee and hide in the forest outside their shtetele—and then in the dark caves beneath the rolling meadows, rumored to harbor evil spirits. Underground, they battle sickness and starvation, while the hunt continues above. When Hanna’s father disappears, suddenly it’s up to Hanna to find him—and to find a way to keep the rest of her family, and friends, alive.
Sparse, resonant, and lyrical, weaving in tales of Jewish and Ukrainian folklore, My Real Name Is Hanna celebrates the sustaining bonds of family, the beauty of a helping hand, and the tenacity of the human spirit.
Have you read My Real Name is Hanna, or do you plan to? What is your most memorable story of the Holocaust? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Touching review, Jennifer. I’ll add to my bulging shelf as I’m always in search of great stories of the Holocaust. It’s a shameful part of our history we can never forget or allow to be forgotten.
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Thanks, Jonetta! Absolutely, we cannot ever forget, and so many perspectives to listen to and learn from. I learned so much about Ukraine.
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Well, I never heard of this book but would love to read it someday!
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It’s a lovely read, Celine! Lots of hope!
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Beautiful review Jennifer! I look forward to this one. 💜
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Thank you, Lindsay! I wish I’d shared in the experience of reading this with you. ♥️ Totally your kind of read!
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Another great historical fiction to add to my long list. I read Lilac Girls another good read. Happy Friday.💕📚
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Thanks, Virginia! Lilac Girls is one of the best! What a story. I hope you have a great Friday too! 💗
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This definitely sounds like something I would read! I’ve never read any Holocaust historical fiction set in the Ukraine!
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So original, right, LP? It’s awe-inspiring and so saddening at the same time that because of the numbers of people affected and how widespread it was I think there will always be new stories to tell. If you read it, I hope you enjoy it too. While it’s listed as YA, the only thing YA about it may have been the length (it was still a complete story though) and it was not graphic. A beautifully told story! Happy Friday! ♥️
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Love, love the sound of this one!
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It’s a great read, Holls! 💗
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Great review! I read this one through NetGalley and it really is an excellent read. I was so apprehensive because books around the holocaust theme are difficult reads, so was this but it was also something we need to read. I also loved how culturally rich this one is. I have reviewed this on my blog as well.
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Thanks so much, Mrbooks! We do need to read stories like this to give everyone affected a voice and so we don’t forget. The culture included was fascinating, wasn’t it? I’m going to check out your review. Thank you for stopping by to share in the experience of this read with me.
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Awesome review Jen! You are blowing up my TBR mountain!💖😊
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Thanks, Sus! I’m so sorry! 😂 I think this one has been a read now on NG, so you may want to check it out. And it’s on the shorter side. Right around 200 pages. I read it in less than a day! ♥️ Happy Friday! Xo
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This looks really really good! Beautiful review!💛
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Thanks, Berit! It was a standout read! ♥️
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Hoping my library latches onto this one. Wonderful review!
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Thank you, Marialyce! I hope so too! You’ll enjoy this!
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Oh my that sounds that a moving story. My most memorable experience regarding the Holocaust (not book) was when I visited the Holocaust museum in Washington DC. I was by myself. Most of the areas I walked through were empty that day, not sure why. It was life-changing. I will never forget the emotions I felt that day.
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Jenna, it’s an exceptional read. Thank for you for sharing your memorable experience with me. I have visited, and it was much busier, but I’ll also never forget the experience and the emotions I felt. You are absolutely right about it being life-changing. I’ll never tire of these stories and similar ones from other parts of the world, too.
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Wonderful review Jen as always. I’m always interested to read books about the Holocaust so I’ll definitely be putting this on the TBR! 🤔
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Thanks, Beth! Me, too. I never tire of them. I think you’ll find this one memorable. ♥️ It’s nice, too, because it’s not a long book, but it’s definitely a complete story.
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