There are many excellent Holocaust books, but this one stood out to me. Our story is based on the true story of a Jewish family living in the Ukraine during the darkest period in History. It is a story of fear and the endless struggle to survive. Families had to fight for dignity and for strength in hope that stands against those who choose to persecute and kill the innocent, Our story is portrayed through the eyes of Hanna, a 14-year-old girl who lives her family.
Hanna’s homeland has fallen into the hands of the worst powers in European History, the Nazis and the Soviets. Under Stalin, every religion is forbidden. Who should the people believe; Hitler, Stalin? The country is trapped between two insane tyrants!.
The author offers a descriptive background about the traditions, the customs, and the prayer life of the Jewish community. There are also extensive references to the pagan traditions of the land, before the coming of Christianity, particularly reflected in the Easter customs.
One of the worst consequences of war is the way in which communities are torn apart. People who used to live together in peace and understanding become enemies, prepared to jump at their neighbor’s throat. It’s all about survival.
As the enemy closes in on the Jewish families, they seek refuge deep inside a cave. They live in the absence of light and an extremely small amount of food, yet families persevere.
But this is true life and not all survive, but those that do honor the dead after the war ends and a more normal life begins. How can my life ever be normal again. They are moved to Poland and take on a new identity. Thus, my real name is Hanna. Small sacrifice to live again.
I read this unforgettable book during the July 2018 cave rescue of the twelve boys and their soccer coach all from Thailand. The claustrophobia must have been oppressive along with the acute possibility of death. Thankfully all thirteen survived, unlike the Jews.
Be sure to read the Historical Note at the end of the book. It brings the whole ordeal in perspective. Yet this reader wonders, where does that will to survive in the most grotesque of circumstances come from? I’m thinking it’s the family bond.

This is a novel that will have you feeling so many emotions. The story of a woman retelling her time running from Hitler’s army. Her escape and the horror she faced. A story of love, fear, strength and the bond of one family. It is a work of fiction, but many stories were taken from real events from the Holocaust. This makes it chilling and terrifying. My heart was breaking.
Thank you NetGalley.com and Amanda Vilar Press for the opportunity to read this poignant story.
#MyRealNameIsHanna #NetGalley

This was an intensely emotional, poignant read. It was narrated vividly enough that I could imagine myself in the middle of the holocaust, right alongside Hanna. Hanna was spirited and caring, and was easy to empathise with as a character. Her family weren't always likable, but their motivations were understandable. The novel waxes philosophical at times, and also discusses religion, ethics, love and other significant social themes, but at times avoids going into the true darkness of the period in which its set. A really powerful piece of fiction.

I loved this book. Middle grade students love books about World War II, and this one would be a great choice. The Jewish traditions included in the book are interesting and illustrative. The characters change and grow in a believable way. Masih paints a clear picture of what life was life for this family in hiding.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mandel Vilar Press and especially Tara Lynn Masih for the opportunity to read this novel.

What. An. Amazing. Book.

It doesn't matter if this is a "YA" book, I still read this book in one sitting. It's such a beautiful story, about such a horrible, horrible time in history. I cried like a baby reading this book, and will be passing it on to my fifteen year old to read.

This is a book set during WWII about a girl named Hanna and her family detailing all they endured during the Holocaust. The book spans a few years as you see the start of the invasion in their neighborhood and how Hanna and her family were treated and then you are shown all the family had to do to evade capture. You see Hanna along with her family as they hide in underground caves to try and survive. Hanna and her family were strong individuals that had to endure a horrific time in history. I enjoyed seeing Hanna with her younger siblings Leeba and Symon and seeing their bond grow stronger as they learn to rely on each other more.

This was a quick read that I would recommend to any that enjoy reading historical fiction set during WWII.

Wow, it’s taken me a good week to be able to write this review. This book is many things – but it was especially not what I was expecting. I didn’t imagine it affecting me in the way it did. That‘s one of the best things about books – they’re always surprising you.

Lately I’ve been trying to read more historical fiction so when I saw this on Netgalley, I decided to give it a go. The Holocaust is one of those terrible events in history which upsets me and shocks me to the core.

The plot of this book kept me on my toes. The fact they were never safe, how they’d get comfortable and then they’d have to move again. This was something that had me looking over my own shoulder even in the safety of my own home. The thought of human beings having to hide away in a CAVE was shocking and so sad.

I wasn’t sure how well I’d connect with the characters but I found myself becoming so invested in them. Hanna was a gem. She felt like my best friend and it was like I was right there with her, experiencing the story beside her. I also loved Mrs Petrovich – the neighbour who helps the family and refuses to turn them in despite it been a risk to herself. She’s one of those characters who make you feel warm inside because you know she cares and there’s no ulterior motive. I loved how after months of leaving her home, Hanna remembers Mrs Petrovich’s kindness, a friend she will never forget. Even being so far apart, Mrs Petrovich continues to look out for Hanna and keep her going during her time on the run. Another thing I loved was the way the whole family stuck together. They kept each other going in the most terrifying times of their lives, even when they weren’t sure they’d all survive.

The writing in this book was stunning and this is a story that will stay with me for a long time. It’s an eye opening, coming of age story of loss and survival. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a deep and thoughtful story. A story that will make you think about the horrors of the past but also about the people who fought to survive such harsh conditions.

I am a huge fan of Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys so when I saw that it was similar, I was super excited to dive into it. I am picky when it comes to historical fiction, but I do love anything that has to do with the Holocaust/WW2 time period because it honestly just fascinates and intrigues me.

Let me just start off by saying: My Real Name Is Hanna did not disappoint. I loved that it was told from the perspective of hiding, where other novels I've read are told from the point of view of the camps. Following Hanna and their family as they went on adventures to escape was both terrifying and exciting. It kept me hooked, turning the pages quickly, hoping Hanna and her family would be able to stay unnoticed and safe.

I loved Hanna. I loved how daring and willing she was to keep her family safe. I also adored how the story is told from her point of view, but as a story to her children in the future explaining the traumatic timeline of what happened and why she had to change her name.

The whole time reading (I mean devouring) this book, I felt myself being terrified as if I was standing next to Hanna through it all. Tara Lynn Masih's writing grips you and pulls you deep into the novel, making you feel as though you're on the run with Hanna and her family.

I loved the historical accuracy, as it made the novel feel more authentic, though it is still a work of fiction. The story is based off those of Esther Stermer and her extended family who survived the war. It was honestly a very well researched novel that was beautifully tied together to create a very important story.

This novel is truly a masterpiece and everyone should read it.

I am a big fan of World War II historical fiction and this book does not disappoint. Hanna and her Jewish family, along with other family members and friends, flee their home in the Ukraine to escape the Germans and hide in the forest only to have to move to a cave to hide in a cave. This is the story of their struggle to survive and what a story it is. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction especially when it is based on a true story such as this was.

Wow… I had so many feelings while reading this book. I was heartbroken and then full of hope. It’s a story about families, about fighting for your life and for the ones you love.

The story is told by Hanna, how she and her family lived through hell and survived. They kept believing an even in the most adverse situations they had hope, for a future, for a better tomorrow.

It was an incredible book and realizing this is inspired in a true story makes me appreciate more the things we have, and reconsider the things that are really important, being kind, united with your family, values above every adversity the world may bring.

I loved how the author told this story and if you loved books like “The book thief” I would totally recommend reading “My real name is Hanna”.

First and foremost; a big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book! I really enjoyed it.

My Real Name is Hanna is the story of Hanna Slivka, a 13 year old girl in the time that Hitler's army crosses the border of Ukrain. At first things don't change.. Hanna goes to school, helps her neighbour and plays with her friends. And then the gestapo closes in; in order to make the village that Hanna lives in ''Jew-free'' the gestapo starts doing raids, more and more jewish family dissapear and Hanna's family decides to go in hiding.
Together with a befriended family they run; first into the forest, where Hanna's father and uncle will still be able to hunt and scavenge for food.. After a while winter comes around, getting back into town from the cabin in the woods gets harder and the gestapo is getting closer.. They move again.

We follow Hanna during her years in hiding, we grow with her. It's very very intrigueing to see how Hanna grows into her role in the family, how she ages and to see how her feelings for people change during her years under the radar.

My Real Name is Hanna is a book that has come at the right time, a time when we all, young and old, need to be reminded of the cost of evil on and in society. We meet Hanna in her small Ukrainian village in 1941. Anti-semitism is rising, with taunting and school yard cruelty. Soon this will be replaced with more lethal threats but, for now, the Russians have taken control and have “only” limited all religious observances. If the Germans gain control of Ukraine, everything will change. Most of the children are too young to understand or care about such things but Hanna, turning 14, understands enough to worry for herself, her family, friends, and all of the Jews who are threatened. She is human enough to worry for her good neighbors of all faiths.

Ultimately, the German war machine does push the Russian army out of the country and begin its program of “freeing” towns of Jews. First they are identified, then labeled with the infamous star, then rounded up, then shipped off or killed where they stand. This story may be old to some but forgotten or unknown by many. Here we see some variations on this theme of extermination but the cruelty is the same.

Hanna’s story, based on that of a real family similarly threatened, takes a different, often terrifying path. Before the Slivka family can be taken, they plan and, with others, leave carefully to hide as long as necessary in the forest or wherever else they must go in order to live. This hiding will last for many, many months in the forest, followed by many more underground.

Masih has provided many cultural and religious insights within her story, fitting them seamlessly into the narrative of family events, adding to the value of the text as a young adult novel. There is also reference made to a readers guide in the afterword; This would be a helpful study guide. As I indicated above, I do believe that My Name is Hanna is a valuable book for our time. In a time where values and beliefs seem to be confused, it is helpful to read a beautiful book celebrating resilience and familial bonds and survival. This is a book adults can read with children. Both will benefit.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I dont know if it was just my copy or what but the formating was messed up big time. Also there was the words copyrighted on almost every page in big bold letters. It distracted me from the book.

Masih's young adult novel, 'My Real Name is Hanna' is a coming of age text that will stay with you long after the last page, particularly as the narrator, Hanna, begins her story as a fourteen-year-old girl living through the most horrific and traumatic time imaginable. The reader is taken on a journey as Hanna and her family and friends go through extreme hardship and inconceivable challenges just to survive as Hitler's reign takes it toll on her community in Kwasova, Ukraine. In order to stay alive, the group are forced from their previously peaceful existence in their shtetele, living harmoniously amongst their neighbours, eventually having to leave behind everything they owned and everyone they knew, heading for the forest at first, then ultimately hiding out in the caves below ground. Living in unutterable misery and hardship, the group work to remain alive, existing on barely nothing, and facing sickness, starvation and despair.
Through Masih's evocative portrayal of the situation and the endearing nature of the young protagonist, the sheer power and devastation of this period in history is brought to the fore, leaving the reader with a long-lasting admiration for those who lived through this, whilst having affirmation of the power of the human spirit and love. Both young readers and old will love this story, based on real life experiences and people.

This book begins like many Jews-in-hiding-in-Poland stories, with the Slivka family hiding behind false walls and beneath bales of hay in the barn. When these places are no longer safe, they move again and again, staying just one step ahead of the murderous SS. But soon, they are aware of the intense obstacles to hiding: the need for food, exercise to keep their legs and arms movable, the chamber pots, silence, and news of the outside world. This is much more than another Anne Frank story of a family in hiding -- this family is constantly listening for the slightest sound that signals the presence of the enemy.

I felt keenly their fear. Their hunger. Their desperation.

I read this EARC courtesy of Mandel Vilar Press and Net Galley. pub date 09/11/18

WWII historically fiction is my favorite genre so I was intrigued by this story told in the voice of a young girl named Hanna. The setting is in the Ukraine during the war and Hanna is Jewish. Her family disobeys the order to assemble and be transported to the concentration camps. Instead they hide in the forrest and later in caves. This is a very different type of book told by Hanna as she matures into a teenager during her years of hiding. A book that kept me up at night and anxious to get back to when I put it down. An excellent story of family love, unity and survival based on true events. I received a ARC copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review.
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Very good story portraying the horrors of the holocaust told through the 14 girl. It’s a very timely novel for what is going on Today

This book wholly and utterly blew me away! It was such an emotional read from the very start and I honestly couldn’t put it down! It was so raw, it felt like I was openly reading a letter from mother to daughter, from the present, before whirling back to the past, and reminiscing about Hanna’s life, from her early years exploring her home town with her younger brother and sister, until the Gestapo’s minions close in and they are forced to flee and leave what they know and what possessions they love behind.

The childhood innocence in this book was utterly precious, that Hanna, Symon and their sister didn’t quite understand what they were going through, and that they fast learnt that they had to leave some things behind when fleeing for their safety, yet, their love for one another, and their parents, is really what resonated as being most powerful throughout the book. All throughout, as they were in fear of being discovered and taken away from one another to labour camps or other horrors, that as long as they were together, they had what was most important with them all along!

The writing evoked so much emotion, it was so powerful and as I read the story, I easily felt like I could put myself in Hanna’s shoes, and even though, taking into account how the book opens, I had some assumptions about how the book would go, I was definitely awed all the way throughout, I loved Hanna’s special and unique bond with her neighbor, and cute little interactions with Leon, I found myself longing for this book when I was apart from it, and this is easily one of the greatest historical fiction pieces I’ve read in some time!

"My Real Name is Hanna" is filled with powerful, visual writing that at times chilled me to the core, picturing Hanna and her family seeking refuge in those caves, and at times on the edge of my seat in a nervous fashion, easily awaiting what would come next! By the conclusion, I was definitely feeling awe inspired and moved, that’s for sure!

"My Real Name is Hanna" is expected to hit shelves on the 15th of September, 2018. Historical fiction lovers or anyone who loves a powerful read, you won’t want to miss out on this!

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(Thank you to NetGalley, Mandel Vilar Press and Tara Lynn Masih for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.)

Hanna is a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl living during the time of Hitler's genocide of Jews. This story is told from her perspective over the couple of years that her family must flee and hide to try and survive the invasion and persecution of any Jewish people. Having to leave home with just the clothes on her back, Hanna and her family leave everything they know behind in exchange for their lives. At one point, the only safety left is to live in a cave. For nearly a year Hanna and her family live in the darkness of a cave, feeding off what little they have and avoiding the light of day so that soldiers won't come shoot them.

This was a very intriguing read that definitely shows the amount of research effort put into the making of this novel. It highlights a crucial time in our world's history and the fact that so few survives that major event. This novel is meant for younger readers, and I highly recommend it during a Holocaust unit alongside books like Night or The Book Thief, because this book shows the perspective that we don't see in a lot of other books on this topic, which makes it unique. One of the only things that I want a bit more of are defining Polish (or other foreign) words more than once--maybe two or three times--to help that word stick with the reader, especially if it is being used so often. I also think more about the country Hanna is in and some of the history about the area and the time itself, as background or maybe reflection by Hanna, would also develop an understanding for a younger reader who might not know as much about or be as familiar with the time period. Overall, I find this book to be very realistic, showing an aspect of the Holocaust that we just don't see in other books of the same topic. A recommended read not only for teens, but adults too. I learned more from this book about the history, and it took a turn I wasn't really expecting, making the experience of the read thrilling and engaging.

I loved My Real Name is Hannah. It is set in the Ukraine during World War II. Although it is a fictional story, it is based on real people.

In the story, our protagonist, Hannah, recalls how she lived through World War II. At first, their life seems quite simple, and they are unaffected by the course of the war. They start hearing rumors of terrible things happening to Jews in other towns... and slowly, the horror starts encroaching upon their lives.

Eventually, they are forced to flee their homes and survive in the forest. It is not easy for them to survive, but somehow, they manage. Much of the story details how this happens. Especially as I got towards the end of the book, I didn't want to put it down.

If you like historical fiction surrounding the World War II era, you will probably like this book. It is well-written, the characters are likeable, and brings that era of history to life.