Wow. I was not prepared for this at all. Thank you so much to Net Galley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book. This book NEEDS to be read by EVERYONE!

Mala, privileged prisoner as an interpreter and camp runner for the SS, has been imprisoned simply for being Jewish. She uses her position within the camp to save thousands of lives any way she knows how.

Edek is a camp veteran and a political prisoner. Having managed to stay alive in Auschwitz since 1940, he is determined that things must change.
Both part of the underground camp resistance, they meet and their hopes for the future seem brighter.

This is such a beautiful love story in the darkest of places where promises are kept and courage inspires hope!

Elle Midwood writes so passionately! It is so clear to the reader how invested she is in the lives of her characters and how strongly she feels about the horrors of the Holocaust. I love that the majority of the characters in this book were real and that Elle has taken the time to learn about them, love them and tell their story.So many beautiful speeches that send a message to the reader: spread the word, stop the hate, let this never happen again!

An incredibly powerful book based on a true story that really captivates you as the reader from start to finish.

This is a book that shock every part of my soul; I have always found it is one thing to learn about the Holocaust at school, but to read a book full of emotion, feelings, horrors and forgiveness truly brought me to tears.

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz is a powerful resemblance to the truth of the past, which highlights the horrors and daily lives that the Jewish, Polish, Russian communities had to endure everyday until they were released, whether that be through death or liberation. We follow the lives and sacrifices of two characters in particular, Mally Zimetbaum 19880 and Edward Galinski 531. Through the journey of this book, these two characters influenced and touched upon so many inmates and SS Soldiers lives that they lead the resistance to turn against the SS Soldiers and lead the revolution on 7th October 1944; we learn even more so, that the people that were being held in these camps are not defined by their numbers, but by the people that they are.

Truly, when you read this book, you will find opinions and thoughts be brought to the surface, which is a good thing as this is the effect a book defining the past should do. Hug your family members tonight, I know I will be after reading this.

Never Again!
This novel is an up-close and personal look at Auschwitz. I almost couldn't read some parts and needed to skip over others. The word picture the author composed was even more horrifying because the death camps happened. Worse, this story is based on a real woman's life. It is the story of a love that blossomed and grew in the most horrible of places. It is also the story of escape from this living hell. If you are a reader who feels empathy for book characters, this book will give you nightmares, especially since it is true. The story is well written and quite believable, it reads more like a memoir than a based on a true story novel. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Oh my. I've just finished The Girl who escaped from Auschwitz. I am ashamed to say, that although I knew Auschwitz was a concentration camp, I didn't really understand what that meant. I do now. The writing of this story must have been harrowing but it is also beautifully and honestly told. It certainly puts our year (2020/21) into perspective!! Stories like these need to be told; the young people need to know otherwise how can we make change in the world. We should never forget.

The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood is out today, and is a harrowing story of Edek and Mala living at Auschwitz - Birkenau during WWII. Despite the horrors they encounter daily, they are compassionate human beings, doing their best to survive while doing small things to help others. When their paths cross, they end up helping each other find reason to fight another day. Will they be able to escape, or survive until they are rescued?
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This book had my emotions going. It was stressful, heartbreaking, and beautiful all in one. The characters all had depth beyond the surface, engaging me more in the story. And while some of the pages are incredibly difficult to read (what happened to people historically is horrific), there were also some very touching parts.
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Add this to (the top!) of your WWII must-read list. It won’t disappoint!
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I received an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read it and the review expresses my own personal opinions.

The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz is at once a life-affirming and heartbreaking love story of two Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoners and the very definition of the adage "love conquers all". In the early afternoon of the 24th of June 1944 an SS officer left Birkenau Concentration Camp escorting a female prisoner, who was carrying a bathroom sink. The guard at the gate did not even take a glance at the pass, he opened the gate and allowed them to leave. Several hours later, the sound of a siren announcing escape filled the Camp. Edek Galiński with prisoner number 531 was missing from the men’s camp, while in the women's camp the same was case of Mala Zimetbaum, prisoner number 19880. This escape became legendary within the camp and gave other prisoners hope that they could eventually escape their confines too, but that didn't last for too long. Malka "Mala" Zimetbaum was a Jewish woman born in 1918 in the Polish city of Brzesko, who had been arrested on the 11th September 1942, during a roundup of Jews at the main railway station in Antwerp, and when she arrived in Auschwitz, 717 of those she was with were sent to the gas chambers immediately. Mala was among those classified as fit for work. This is likely what saved her life. She spoke Flemish, French, German, English, as well as Polish fluently and also some Russian, which would later be the reason that she was assigned as an interpreter and courier for the SS — a privileged position and one she used to help other inmates. With all of the nationalities and languages spoken throughout the camp, her skills were extremely valuable. Edward " Edek" Galiński was born in 1923 near Jarosław, Poland, and was arrested in the spring of 1940 during the “Operation AB” against the polish intelligence.

He was imprisoned in Gestapo prison in Tarnów before being sent to Auschwitz on 14th June 1940 becoming one of the first political prisoners. He worked an as metal apprentice and had initially planned to escape with hometown friend and fellow inmate Wiesław Kielar but the thought of leaving Mala behind meant he couldn't go through with it. They had met for the first time in 1943/44 when Edek went with the fitter’s commando to the women's camp to make repairs and a deep affection grew between them, so much so that both told their friends of their feelings for one another. Mala took Wiesław’s place in the escape plan. On 24th of June 1944 she put on work clothes prepared earlier and Edek put on an SS uniform. He attached a holster holding a pistol with two bullets to his waist. Like the uniform, he had received it earlier from SS officer Lubusch. They crossed the line of camp guard post by showing a forged SS pass, made on the blank form stolen by Mala, but that's where their luck ran out. On 6th July 1944, they met a German border patrol. As Mala, was in front, she was stopped first. Edek, not noticed by the Nazis, could easily have withdrawn to safety, but he didn't. They were recognized as fugitives and sent back to the camp. This is a richly-detailed, scintillating and deeply evocative fact meets fiction read with an extensively researched and authentic historical backdrop and a captivating, immersive narrative that pulls you in from the very first page. It not only tells of the atrocities that happened but also the staggering feats of kindness performed by prisoners for one another and sometimes even the Nazi officers. Edek and Mala's love story is timeless and reminds us that even in circumstances of extreme adversity love can flourish. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book. While I liked the story, I admit I had a hard time getting into this book and found it was easy to put down. Some of this was due to my inability to understand who was who and I found myself mixing up SS positions of authority with privileged prisoners and what positions they held in camp. As the book went on this got easier for me to keep straight. I really liked both Mala and Edek and found them both to be incredibly brave in their actions to help themselves and others. I was amazed at the amount of freedom some of the prisoners had, and how much black market trading went on between everyone in the camp as a way of getting what they wanted.

Through this bookI learned about the Birkenau Orchestra, the family camp, and also the mass deaths of the Hungarian Jews.

I love historical fiction and when I heard that this story was inspired by the lives of two real individuals I knew I had to read it.
The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz it’s a fascinating and well researched story that captured me completely and broke my heart.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

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First let me say that this is my first book by Ellie Midwood. I bought The Violinist of Auschwitz and The Aftermath by the same author. When I'll be able to read them is another story as this one has left me truly weeping. To think that people can be this cruel. Cold hearted and so filled with hatred is beyond anything that my mind can honestly comprehend. It's completely mind boggling to me. And the sad truth is that it could happen again. If we don't stay on top of things and keep history alive it certainly could. I believe with all my heart that it almost has on an occasion or two through the years. I hope beyond hope that we as humans will never let it happen though. But with all the hatred that is in the world never think that it can't. We must be bigger than that. Love each other. Cherish what we have. Stop the hate.....

This book is told from two people's POV who were in the Auzchwitz concentration camp. Both had jobs and both were prisoners. Not that they did anything wrong but because they were hated. They might do something. They were different. What happened to the people in this camp is completely unacceptable. It should never ever be forgotten. We all need to remember and make sure that our children and our grandchildren know. We never what anything like this to happen in this world or any other world again. Two people, yet also thousands upon thousands were killed. Gassed, tortured, treated like they were the lowest of the low. Like they were nothing.

The two people telling this story are Mala, a young woman, and Edek, a young man. They both did a lot in this place. They helped the other prisoners as much as they could. In every manner possible. Both were strong and respected. Respected by their fellow inmates and even by some of the guards it seems. They fell in love. Deeply in love and plotted to escape together. To be free. This book takes you through their story. From start to dramatic finish you will learn so much about each of them and how they came together. How they planned and how they fell in love. What each did for others that made them admired and loved. Their strength was unimaginable. Their lives were horrid yet they didn't complain. They did what they had to do to survive.

This is a story that will make you weep. It will give you insight as to what happened in Auschwitz. What cruelty was dealt. How people found what happiness they could when they could. What horrors they saw and faced each and every day of their lives. How it stayed with some long after the war was over and they were rescued from this atrocious place. If you are human you will feel the sadness that was their lives.

It's hard to read this type of book often but it's one that needs to be read. I personally can't imagine what it was like to live during this time but I do have relatives who did. My daddy was Polish. He had relatives who died in prison camps. His parents were here in the USA where he was born and raised but they had friends and relatives who were not so lucky.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #EllieMidwood, #Bookouture for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

5/5 stars and a high recommendation. Please read this one. It's very well written, researched and just a good one to read. Sad yes. Good yes. It has some parts that will make you smile too. Just read it.

Immediately, I noticed the flow of the book was flawless. It sucked me into the storyline through brilliant writing. The diction used proved that the writer knows what she is doing. The imagery surpassed mere visuals and became sensory. My nose turned up at the description of the smell of the camps. I could hear the heavy breathing in tense situations from Mala and Edek.

The elements of the story felt very well-researched, especially the characters. The character of Mala is full of strength and bravery. Her actions were selfless and she faced constant danger to help her fellow inmates in any way she could. Edek was filled with love and hope, amidst the horrors around him. Midwood constructed characters, beyond these two mains, that sympathized with the real people who faced Auschwitz-Birkenau.

This was the first Midwood book that I have read. I look forward to reading more from Ellie Midwood in the future and seeing what real stories she brings to life through her writing.

Thank you to Bookouture on Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

3.5!!! Thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for this ARC. I chose this book because it sounded similar to the Tattooist of Auschwitz but in the end I didn’t like it as much because of how similar it was. This is the heartbreaking true story of Mala and Edek, their love story, as well as their escape from Auschwitz. Seeing as how the book is supposed to be about Mala, I feel like there should have been more emphasis on her experiences and what was happening (the author chose to go every other chapter from Mala to Edek). Aside from that I did enjoy this book (although it made me sad just as all WW2 books do).

Review found on bookswithSarahBee on IG : https://www.instagram.com/p/CMLHzePAitt/

I have read many survivors' accounts of their time in Auschwitz and so already knew of the characters of Edek and Mala. They are spoken of with awe in some accounts, the young couple so much in love who escaped only to be brought back to face a public hanging. In writing this novel, Ellie Midwood has filled in the gaps in their narrative.

I feel ambivalent about this novel mainly I think because it uses real people as its basis. We never know what is fact and what is fiction. The author has done a great deal to research into Auschwitz and certainly her depiction of life there does fit with the survivor narratives I've read. Much of the detail rings true with those accounts: the stories of doctors who abort foetuses in order to save their mothers from the death chambers, the Sonderkommando who are forced to work the gas chambers and crematorium only to end up there themselves, the pilfering of the belongings of newly arrived prisoners to Auschwitz which led to those who worked sort there referring to it as Kanada (because it was a land of plenty such as many imagined Canada to be), the attack on the crematorium in October 1944. All of this is excellent and lends depth to the novel. What I'm not so comfortable with are the imagined conversations between Edek and Mala. Sometimes this is because the language seems too modern for the 1940s. At other times it is because we don't know what they said to each other and when and so it becomes hard to believe in the sometimes sentimental scenes between them

I think I would prefer to have read about entirely fictional characters or better still to have re-read a survivor's account. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ellie Midwood’s new novel The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz tells the inspiring yet tragic true story of Mala Zimetbaum, a young Jewish woman sent to Auschwitz and is known as the first woman to escape, and Edek Galinski, a long-time Polish political prisoner who also happens to be a member of the underground Resistance. Imprisoned in absolutely inhumane and hellish conditions, surrounded by cruelty and death, Mala and Edek somehow manage to find each other and fall in love. They make a promise to each other – that they will either escape the camp together or will die trying…

As with most accounts of Nazi atrocities, this is such a hard story to read, just knowing that the awful things described within the pages actually happened to real people, and that these monsters slaughtered so many innocent people. I found myself in tears often as I read the graphic and horrific accounts of the gas chambers and the crematoriums, and the story also had me furious as I read about how the Nazis were so easily able to fool the Red Cross into thinking they were treating their prisoners well.

What makes the story such a beautiful one in spite of everything, is the love story of Mala and Edek and just the overall selfless way they lived their lives in the camp. Although she was a prisoner, when it was learned that she was fluent in several languages, Mala was given a job as an interpreter and camp runner. She uses her position of privilege to help better the lives of as many fellow prisoners as she can, finding them jobs that are suited to their skills, slipping them extra rations whenever possible, etc. Edek, as a member of the Resistance, lives his life in much the same way. When the two of them meet and fall in love, they become a symbol of hope to those around them. A light in the dark.

I don’t want to spoil their story so I’m going to stop here so you can experience it for yourself. I’ll just conclude by saying that The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz is a powerful but heartbreaking story of strength, courage, hope and love against all odds. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction.

My heart is broken and my tears are real. Ellie Midwood dropped me into the horror of Auschwitz/Birkenau with Mala and Edek, both real heroes that were brought to life within the pages of this phenomenal read. Midwood’s powerful writing evokes such strong visualizations. Her attention to detail and descriptions make every character, even those with fleeting introductions, come alive. I felt as if I was standing right next to them watching the devastating events unfold. There are SS officers you hate and then there are those who you grow to feel sorry for because their own human feelings and values are at odds with their role in the camps. The love story between Mala and Edek will linger with me for a long time. True love in spite of the horror around them. The ending of this read is one of the most moving I have ever read - the tears wouldn’t stop. My words cannot do this book justice. I have read many many books written of life in the camps and prior to this, Cilka’s Journey was my favorite. I now have a new one, this profoundly moving tale. I would love to see a screenplay of this incredible read.
Many many thanks to Ellie Midwood, Bookouture, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this powerful read. Please add this to your “must read” list.

Mala Zimetbaum was in a position of authority in Auschwitz-Birkenau as an interpreter for the SS and she used that position to improve conditions for inmates, to save some lives where she could, all the while in danger of being discovered. Meanwhile Edward (Edek) Galinski, a political prisoner, and his best friend Wieslaw Kielar had been in the camp since the early days and were also in higher positions. They were also members of the underground resistance, doing their best to mess with the Nazis as often as they could.

When Mala and Edek met there was admiration for what each was doing, but there was more. And as time went on, Edek’s plan for his and Wieslaw’s escape soon included Mala. But the SS’s mantra was ‘no one leaves Auschwitz alive’ – would the three close friends prove that edict wrong? Horrors surrounded everyone in the camp – soon Mala could do no more for those entering camp and being sent straight to the gas chambers. With sorrow in her eyes and a hardening of her heart, she vowed to bring down the vicious and brutal Nazis or die trying. Edek would do all he could to save Mala or he would die trying. What would be the outcome in those harrowing days of hell?

The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood is based on a true story and gives the reader more of the heartbreak and sadness that surrounded that horrific time in history. It showed a little of the happiness that true love could find, while surrounded by pure evil. And it showed how the strength and compassion of some people could surpass everything which was thrown at them. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

A heart wrenching read as it’s based on a true story.
Mala and Edek meet at Auschwitz and both of them have dreams of escaping.
They both help obtain items for a group that are planning an attack and they also start to plan their escape.
The timing needs to be right so they agree to wait several months before trying to escape the camp.
Life at Auschwitz is described well in this book and the evil treatment of the Jews really makes for some difficult reading at times.
I liked the references to the orchestra, having read the violinist of Auschwitz and it was good to see this from another angle.
I really liked what Mala and Edek stood for and I think they gave courage to others as well.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I have always loved reading books about Holocaust having a family history effected during this time. When I discovered Ellie Midwood and The Girl Who Escaped Auschwitz, I knew it was a must read.
This is a book based on true events but with some liberties taken for the story.It is beautifully written, but tells a sad story of lost lives and heartbreak in one of the worlds horrific events.
Midwood tells the true story of Mala, an inmate of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Edek, an underground resistance fighter. Together they vow to escape. Their story is a love story in a time of heartbreaking sadness.
Reading the courage and heroism of Mala and Edek is inspiring to read. Midwood’ s words and descriptions makes the reader imagine life in those times.
This is a novel of historical fiction that is so powerful depicting the horrific events of the time. This is a definite book to read!

I am an avid reader of books in this genre due to my family surviving the Holocaust. I enjoyed this book, but wasn't one of my favorites. It took me a really long time to get into this book.

I can appreciate that this story was based on truth and it is definitely one that needs to be shared. It was very interesting to read about Mala and Edek's story and how they managed to escape. I liked reading at the end who the author based the story on.

I rated this book a 3 because it didn't hold my attention and i found myself putting the book down.

Many thanks to Ellie Midwood, Bookouture, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely love story written by Ellie Midwood about Edek and Malla and all of their friends who were, like many jews, poles and many others were imprisoned in the hellish Auschwitz. The story takes us on a journey looking at Edek's and Mally's relationship and their escape, capture and deaths. We also learn so much about the camp and the people who were there including the SS guards and the inmates.

I decided to read this book as I am deeply interested in Auschwitz and the horrors that lay in this hell. I enjoyed the Tattooist of Auschwitz so much that I just had to read this book and it really was not a disappointment. There were times when I was laughing, times when I was crying and even times when I was scared for the inmates and in particular Malla and Edek. What's more, this book is all based on facts with some fiction in it to just help advance the tale. This is good because I think something as horrific as Auschwitz should not divert away from the facts and make it seem like something it was not. This book both entertains and educates people in a great way.

I liked this book as it told the tale of Edek, Malla and all of their friends in a way that did not twist the truth too much and showed the reader the horrors of the camp. I also liked it how the writer based all of the story on facts to ensure none of it was factually incorrect. The writer also successfully played with the reader's emotions, especially in the Epilogue as Midwood made us laugh, cry and scared throughout this great book.

There is not anything that immediately comes to mind which I did not like in this book which is great. I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book. However, I am indecisive on whether the prologue made or broke the book. This is because although it interested the reader and made them want to read on, it also ruined the moment later in the book just before Malla and Edek got caught. This, in my opinion, was because the reader is aware that the couple comes across the uniformed officers and so takes away some of the emotions the reader is feeling and makes it harder for the reader to step in the shoes of the couple and be glad of their escape.

I rate this book 4 stars making it an outstanding book and I was pleased to also see at the back of this book a list of other books related to the subjects and characters in this book which I now want to read, including the book written by Wieslaw; Edek's best friend. I would definitely recommend this book to many people but in particular, those who also have an interest in the holocaust and the horrific behaviour of most of the Nazis. (Note I use the superlative adjective "Most" because not all Nazis were wicked like the SS, for example, Oskar Schindler who saved many jews). I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more related and similar books.