Having enjoyed Escobar's Auschwitz Lullaby, I was looking quite forward to Remember Me, and I was not disappointed.

This time, Escobar has brought to life a lesser known historical event--the Spanish Civil War. Sandwiched between the two world wars, and in the midst of the Great Depression, the Spanish Civil War is often overlooked in US history texts.

In Remember Me, Escobar creates a story based on the children of Morelia. The Mexican president invited Spanish parents to send their children to safety in Mexico, similar to the later kindertransports in Germany. In the story, Marco and his sisters, Isabel and Ana, are three of these children, sent by their parents to safety in Mexico. Conditions are rough, their caretakers are apathetic at best, abusive at worse, and the children question what will happen to them in the future.

As usual, Escobar does an impeccable job with his research, and Remember Me is a must-read for historical fiction fans for an interesting look at a different topic/time period.

I always find novels on the Spanish Civil War so interesting, they somehow pale into insignificance compared to the Second World War yet the atrocities committed were no less catastrophic. This novel by Mario Escobar Golderos in my opinion is up there with those by Isabel Allende on the same period in history. I believe he had written many historical novels, however this is the first I’ve read.

Marco Alcalde a 13 year old boy and two younger sisters are the children of two ‘leftist’ parents and as the Civil war begins to ramp up his parents are desperate to protect their children in anyway they can. They flee with their mother to France to be transported to Mexico on the invitation of President Lazaro Cardenas and his wife, they become the ‘children of Morelia’. They believe this will be for a short period of time until things settle down back home and initially after a gruesome journey are taken aback at the hospitality given to them and the luxury of foods they haven’t tasted in a long time. However this is short lived, staff from their school are brutal, domineering and resentful of the attention given to the children and Mario has to step up to protect his siblings.

Once again the strength of these young children is depicted, their inner strength and resourcefulness and hope of being with their parents again. A great read.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Remember Me by Mario Escobar for the history to which it introduces me. However, even by the end of the book, I don't feel like I know the characters. Perhaps, that is the point - to remind us of a history that is timely and should not be forgotten. The point of fiction is also to tell create memorable characters. This book excels at one of the two goals.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/12/remember-me.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Written in the style of a memoir, this story very much has the feel of a man looking back and telling stories of his younger years, coming of age during the Spanish Civil War. The narrative style of the story was interesting, but at times made the pacing feel off, as things were told and explained rather than shown, which made for a slower read at times. Well researched,

An inspiring and heartbreaking tale told through the view of a young man seeing the world change before his eyes.

I received a complimentary ecopy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting book that was very emotional to read. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This is a very emotional and thought provoking story. I did not know much about the Spanish Civil War and learned so much from reading this. It is filled with historical detail and I appreciate all of the research that went into it. Some parts of this book were difficult to read due to heart-rending subject matter.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

An interesting read on a topic that hasn’t been covered as much as it should.
Thank you NetGalley for proving an advanced copy.

Remember Me is a novel by Mario Escobar, which tells a very realistic account of the beginnings and course of the Spanish Civil War.
The writer allows us to meet the characters and grow with them. His narrative is very eloquent and his thoughts are very consistent with the novel.
Through the eyes of Marco Alcalde, a boy who sees and experiences both the physical and social destruction of Madrid society, we can capture traits of hope, courage and pain. Marco and his sisters live difficult moments and very happy events, not only in Spain but also in Mexico.
All in all a great book. Looking forward to reading it in Spanish.

All opinions expressed on this review are mine alone.

Remember me es una novela de Mario Escobar, que cuenta un relato muy realista de los principios y el transcurso de la guerra civil española.
El escritor nos permite conocer los personajes y crecer con ellos. Su narrativa es muy elocuente y sus pensamientos muy acordes para la novela.
Por medio de los ojos de Marco Alcalde, un chico que ve y vive la destrucción tanto física como social de la sociedad madrileña, podemos capturar rasgos de esperanza, valentía y dolor. Marco y sus hermanas viven momentos difíciles y momentos muy alegres, no solo en España pero también en México .
Un gran libro que espero leer pronto en español.
Todas las opiniones expresadas son solo mias.

Remember Me: A Spanish Civil War Novel
Based on a true story, yet a work of fiction, the story kept my interest from beginning to end.

At first I wasn’t sure I was going to really get into this book but the more I read the more invested I became in the characters and the tragedy that surrounded their lives.

I knew nothing about the Spanish civil war. The interesting part was that the main character’s parents fought for communism, socialism, conversations that have surfaced in the United Stages recently, something I don’t support at all and struggled with sympathy for the parents to some degree. However, I definitely don’t believe families should be torn apart and I can’t imagine sending my children across the country.

The horrible things these children had to endure is heartbreaking. Overall, this ended up being an interesting read.


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a well written story with a lot of historical background. It's interesting how the author so seamlessly wove the threads of the developed character's lives into historical context.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Remember Me is a historical novel set during The Spanish War. It was noted as one of "he bloodiest wars of the twentieth century".

This book discusses the toll that the war had on the children - known as "The Children of Morelia".

I have not read much on The Spanish War nor did I know much about it. I also didn't know about The Children of Morelia. It was very enlightening and heartbreaking to learn about what happened during this time. Mario Escobar did an excellent job with this novel.

For any historical fiction fan, this is for you.

This was a little difficult to get into. But once I did, it was a fascinating story of a piece of the Spanish Civil War I really hadn't heard much about - the relocation of many of Spain's children to Mexico. There was great character development, and some amazingly descriptive passages. It's not a "pretty" story, and much of this book is disturbing and can be difficult to read (although much of history can be). But that doesn't diminish the weight and power of the book. If you're a fan of historical fiction, that teaches you about time periods or historical events, this is a wonderful story!

Thanks so mich for early access this was a tremendous read. An author that beings so much of modern living and history into the most compelling of stories. Highly recommend this book and will be watching for more thanks

In 1937, the Mexican government offered 500 Spanish children a chance to leave their homeland and live in Mexico and they were called the children of Morelia. Can you imagine having to make the decision to send your children to another country, desperately hoping they will be safe and you can’t go with them! The Alcalde family did this because it was far too dangerous for Marco, Isabel and Ana to live in Madrid due to their parents not supporting the fascist regime and their father being noticed by the authorities. The Spanish Civil War lasted from 1936 to 1939 it was one of the most violent wars of the twentieth century and it ended only a few months before WW II started.

Marco Alcalde was thirteen when he left Madrid with his younger sisters Isabel and Ana, after a difficult journey by ship the three children arrive in Mexico and they receive a warm welcome. The children send their parents a letter to say they had arrived safely and they had to wait months for a reply. The Alcalde family plan on eventually being reunited and as time goes on the chances of them being together seems rather unlikely.
Marco promised his parents he would look after his sisters; this was a large burden for a teenage boy to carry and especially as his pretty sister’s start to grow up. As time goes on the children’s links to Spain lessen, the girls struggle to remember their parents, the news from Spain is grim and will the children ever see their mother and father again? What the Alcalde children missed the most from their parents was affection, a kiss goodnight, a hug, and the love and security only they could give.

Based on true facts about the children of Morelia, Mario Escobar writes a story that’s very emotional to read and it pays a lasting tribute to the children and their families. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Mario Escobar for my copy of Remember Me, I gave it four stars and I’m a huge fan of Mario’s book Auschwitz Lullaby and I encourage everyone to read it.

Overall, I found this title quite enlightening. As I mature in life, I have found that so much of history is glossed over or not given airtime. The time period of the Spanish Civil War and the progression into WWII is one that did seem more hidden from view.

Mario Escobar does a wonderful job of painting the dismal picture of life in Spain during that time as well as the ways the Children of Morelia (Spaniards in exile in Mexico) suffered. Little to no food. Bombings and fighting in your neighborhood. And then a long, treacherous journey to Mexico for the hundreds of Spanish children seeking a form of asylum.

The story has many twists and turns. And some of the dialogs of the adults trying to impart their wisdom could be quite valuable in today's society.

He also paints a picture of Spaniards who refused to cling to the Catholic faith. The fictional family who you journey within the story are essentially atheists. They mark holy days like Christmas and Epiphany with special meals and gifts rather than religious meaning.

As a practicing Catholic, I was a bit dismayed to see the Spanish priests and nuns painted as villains committing atrocious acts. I don't deny that some do commit heinous crimes. Sadly, that is the nature of man to be tempted and sometimes fall into evil acts. But, I have a hard time believing that the entire Spanish landscape was populated with such people. Rather, I can see a few bad seeds overshadowing the others who strive to do good.

Still an excellent option to learn more about this time period of history.

"Remember Me" is a novel inspired by Spain’s famed Children of Morelia and true events of the time. In 1937, nearly 500 children escaped the bloody Spanish Civil War and moved to Mexico. While they and their parents expected them to return home, many never did.
The story is a novel, but it reads like a memoir and tugged at my heartstrings. Just when I thought the children would be saved, another tragedy struck. It brought home the reality of war on children and families, and it shed light on the need for honest, trustworthy children's charities.
I also appreciated the themes of endurance and familial love. The book reminded me, too, that one random act of kindness can make all the difference between life and death.
"Remember Me" is an entertaining and educational story, but it's also hard to read in places because of the themes and content. Note that it includes war violence, bullying, pedophelia, and suicide.

I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them, so I was glad to read this one. It did take me longer than I expected to get into the story. Some parts did seem to drag at times. Some things seemed overdetailed, while others could have used more explanation. Prats of the story were difficult to read, due to the subject nature. Overall, this was an okay read, and it's obvious the author did his research.

Historians refer to the Spanish Civil War as one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century. In 1937, at Mexico’s request and offer, nearly 500 children from Spain—remembered as Los Niños de Morelia—were relocated via ship to Mexico to escape the war’s violence. These children traveled across the sea without their families and were expected to return at the war’s end. No one could have foreseen another world war was on the way—or that that Franco’s regime would prevent the children from coming home. These enduring conflicts trapped the children in a country far from their homeland, and many never made it back.

Remember Me is Mario Escobar’s novelization of these events, as told by a fictional survivor—one of the children of Morelia—who looks back upon his life after making the long and devastating journey across the Atlantic. This story explores the endurance of the human spirit as well as the quandary of a parent’s impossible decision, asking: At what cost do you protect your child in the face of uncertainty?

Review: Have you been looking for a historical fiction book that's well written, will have you feeling all the emotions, and will teach you about a period of history that most are unaware of? If so, you definitely need to pick this one up.

War is ugly and it leaves behind scars on all involved, but it especially effects the youngest generation. While the book is a bit slow at the beginning, the story was engaging enough for me to continue reading (even though I had to take a few breaks because my heart was breaking for the children). It definitely inspired me to learn more even though it was a heartbreaking story. Personally I love when a historical fiction novel is based off true events and teaches the me about past history that wasn't on my radar.

This was an informative and well written story, but I do think it will be hard for some to read. Overall, I thought this was a great story that I reccomend y'all check out, but I do recommend looking up the children of Morelia to see if you think this is something you could read.

Choosing to tell this story through the eyes of a child made this story heartbreaking. The horrors and uncertainty of life for Marco and his sisters wrenched at my heart. I knew about the war in Spain that preceded WW2 but haven't read much except the fictional The Return by Victoria Hislop. Remember Me is based on factual stories about the children of Morelia and their grave journey to Mexico and their subsequent treatment. There are few kind moments but the will of the main character to keep his promise to his mother and the occasional stranger kindness kept this book from being a depressing read.
It gave me a thorough understanding of the cruelty and callousness of civil war and how people's beliefs can make them commit such horrible things to one another.
A compelling, sensitive story that opens the readers eyes to the history of Spain during the Civil War.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.