I have read many memoirs about peoples time in Auschwitz and other concentration camps, so I am well aware of the horrors that happened to the people in them at the hand of the Nazis. I find this woman very brave for telling her story so that people can know about what happened to her and her family.

That being said, I found it very difficult to get through this book, not for the account of what happened, but for the format of the stories. I often found it difficult to know who was relaying memories - the mother or the daughter - and found some of the stories confusing to follow.

I think this book would be great for someone who isn't very familiar with what happened in the concentration camps, as I found it to be a more watered-down account of events. However, this book just wasn't for me.

Having read quite a few books on Auschwitz I thought I would be on a position to read the book without getting too emotionally attached. Unfortunately that did not happen. The story was so beautifully written that I was hooked onto the story from the first chapter and there were many tears but I could not put the book down. We need books such as these even after all this time so that history does not get forgotten or rewritten to edit the realities.

Don't get me wrong... I believe that Auschwitz is a place that we have to protect. That is a sign of history, a proof that we as humans, can be the worst monsters towards each other.

But...
Im polish. I was in Auschwitz many times. I know family stories of so many people who survived and who lost their relatives there. I'm aware how war destroyed the humanity. History of my country is written with blood and dust.
That is why I'm not accepting the version of Auschwitz "for beginners". I'm not accepting the "soft" version just not to scare the reader.
That is a diary, a woman who survived. She went through hell, so let her speak up, call everything by its name, without any censorship.

I enjoy reading historical fiction books, especially those that take place during WWII. This was a little different, though, in that it was basically a memoir. While a good addition to that genre, I did not enjoy the book as much as I had hoped. I was pleased to see how Sara was able to continue after her time at Auschwitz. It was also interesting to see how her daughter, Eti, handled being raised by survivors of the concentration camp.

I do feel like the writing was a little choppy and the constant changes in point of view for each chapter made it difficult for me to stay focused and invested in the story. Despite that, it is an important aspect of that time in history and a story that needed to be told.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I love reading different holocaust stories especially from first hand experience. Its always so telling and you learn something new from each story. I loved the take they did on this book, having another person experiencing the aftermath years later. I highly recommend reading these stories. We have to continue to remember all the lives lost, known and unknown.

This book was just so sad. And while the character does survive (hence the title), it was just so hard to read about the horrors of Auschwitz. I am glad Sara came out the other side, unlike so many you didn't but this was not an easy story to read.

The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz is a powerful memory that is written by Eti Elboim and Sara Leibovits. Sara Leibovitz was born Sara Hershkovits in 1928. She was raised in a small town in the Czech Republic. When then Nazi's took over, Sara and her family were stuffed onto cattle cars and taken to Auschwitz. Her mother and her five younger brothers were sent to the gas chamber upon arrival. Sara’s father was assigned to work in the Sonderkommando where he was required to remove the bodies of the gassed victims and burn them in the crematorium. When the war was over, Sara was the only member of the family to survive. One thing she never lost, was her will to live. Despite all the odds that were stacked against her.


Sara finds love and is married to another Holocaust survivor. She becomes the mother of three daughters. She immigrated to Israel in 1947. Her youngest daughter, Eti does not understand why her mother has numbers on her wrist. She had a lot of questions about her mother's past. Eti is curious to why there is no other family members.

This memoir broke my heart. I cannot even imagine what Sara went through.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own,.

This is a true story about a girl whose family was taken to Auschwitz, and survived. It was a book that made my heart hurt for the people who where in concetration camps. This girl held on by faith, as she suffered in these circumstances. I really dont have words to say about this book, as it moved me in ways I couldn't imagine. The fact that the author and her daughter wrote this from their life experience. Not only was it written in their home language but it was also translated for us to read as well. In my opinion this took a lot of strength to relive the worst moments of her life.


I recommend evryone to read this book.

The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz is the true story of Sara and how she survived Auschwitz. It was a difficult read at times but a story I will never forget.

Preface: This book review has nothing to do with the ongoing “war”. This was a Netgalley book I owed a review to, and a book that reflects on a previous genocide and reading it has nothing to do with my views on this current situation. I stand for an end to the violence and genocide. I also stand against antisemitism and hate of any kind.

This is a tragic yet beautiful account of an only tragic event in history. Reading this book was very difficult at times because of the detail it went into, but I say this in a positive light because the details need to be shared.

I have read many first hand accounts from Holocaust survivors and they never fail to stun me; this book is no different. The sheer willpower and strength Suri and the other survivors had to stay alive is astounding. I think it’s so important that we keep reading about this time in history and never forget it, and most importantly never repeat it, which is apt to say in this global climate.

The only teeny tiny thing I have to point out about the book is that it is not clear when the POV/timeline goes from Suri (in Auschwitz) to her daughter (70 years later). Sometimes the 70 years later timeline follows Suri herself, and sometimes it’s her daughter, and that’s is not always made clear so I got confused. This is extremely minor though, not at all a big complaint.

I don’t feel right giving this book a rating seeing as it’s a true story and judging it and giving it a star value seems wrong. It is a hauntingly beautiful book, and giving it a star value doesn’t change or validate that.

Overall I highly recommend this book to everyone, just please check trigger warnings and be kind to yourself reading this because it is a hard read.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

There’s no way anyone cutoff read this gut-wrenching book without tears and overwhelming sadness and grief running down their face.
Every time I read an account of the horrors of Hitler I am beyond disturbed and horrified! Thank you for giving me the chance to read this enthralling book!

Really gripping, beautiful as it is tragic, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

An amazing memoir and biography. I couldn’t put it down. Heartbreaking and heartfelt.
Many thanks to Harpercollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a very heartbreaking read, I've read many books about WW2 and this is not just a story, it breaks your heart to read and learn more and more stories of the atrocities that happened in that place, the inhumane treatment and the sadism that only shown the lifeless hearts these evil people had.

This is the story of The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz the story of Eti Elboim and Sara Leibovitz, Sara was a very brave girl I admire the strength of this lady, she was able to survive after many atrocities and cold freezing nights, but at the same time she was trying to help as much as she could, I remember that part where she couldn't belive they were finally saved she just kept walking and walking on the cold without knowing where they were heading. many people around them were here in this story. but we also had so many capos who were treating them as if they were not even kids.

The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz is a remarkable story and rea, I cried so much and my heart broke many times for Sara, she was so strong no matter how many times the evilness around her tried to not let her conquer.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter, for the advanced copy of The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz in exchange for my honest review.

I read this as an ARC thanks to NetGalley. It is told in the alternating voices of Sara and her daughter Eti. Sara was the only member of her family to survive The Holocaust. She watched as her mother and baby brother were sent directly from the train to the gas chambers. I am not new to the horrors of The Holocaust. I am not a survivor, but I have read dozens of non-fiction books. I have visited Auschwitz and Dachau. Sarah’s story is horrific. Her life after immigrating to Israel and raising a family is of course always tainted by the suffering she endured, but she works to give her family a good life. Eti is not afraid to ask her mother about the tragedies she endured unlike many children of Holocaust survivors who knew not to ask and survivors who just couldn’t speak of it.

The book does not do her story justice. Much of it is in Yiddish with no translation made available to the reader. The book was probably translated from Hebrew or Yiddish so both translator and publisher could have produced a better book. The book is also needlessly repetitive, and again, translator and publisher could have worked to produce a better copy. In no way am I faulting Sara and Eti, nor questioning the facts. Never forget.

I have read many Holocaust memoirs and found this one particularly moving. Alternately / simultaneously telling the story of Sara, who was taken to Auschwitz at age 15, and was the only survivor of her family, and her daughter Eti, weaving the narratives beautifully between mother and daughter. It is, of course, an absolutely heartbreaking story that is hard to read in places, but is a book that should be read by everyone. I think it would be a great choice in schools for GCSE English and/or history students as they are a similar age to Sara when she entered Auschwitz. A wonderful and very important book.

Thank you for allowing me to review this memoir. It tells the story of Eti from 1944 when she along with the other Jews in Hungary were transferred from the getto to Auschwitz by the Nazis. It tells us how she survived, alongside hiw her youngest daughter experienced the Holocaust many years after the war had ended. This is the first book I have read telling the experiences of a next generation survivor. I have read many of these stories and biographies as well, as visiting Auschwitz.
Sadly, these events were happening throughout the 2nd World War. Currently, the war between Israel and Gaza reminds us that lessons still need to be learnt from the Holocaust.
I recommend this book to be read by everyone.

I have read many stories about the Holocaust & each story I feel needs to be heard.
Unless you went through those horrors that were inflicted upon them you can never understand quite how horrific it was.
I truly believe we should read & talk about them lest we should forget what one human being can do to another.
This is something that should never happen again.
This true story is of Sarah Leibovitz a 16 year old Jewish girl & her will to survive.
It is written in the perspective of Sarah & her daughter Eti.
As well as hearing about the horrors of Sarah’s story, we hear what life is like to have parents who survived it all.
The story is hard to read at times but certainly one that needs to be told.
A truly remarkable read.

This book takes the reader inside Auschwitz a year before the liberation. It clearly explains the lottery between being chosen to live or being sent to the gas chambers. It is a story with a happy ending following a young girl who miraculously survives the terrors inside the concentration camp.

I do not understand people who deny the events of the Holocaust and the atrocities against the Jews. These true, emotional, hit-wrenching stories are still coming out. I cannot even imagine the horrors Sara faced but she does a fantastic job sharing her story. She was the only survivor of her family....

I think it is important to read these memoirs and honor everyone in the story. The Holocaust was a horrific and important part of world history. I cried, screamed and many other emotions throughout reading this book. Books like this are important to read so the next generations understand and can be better.

HIghly recommended.

Thanks to Sara Leibovits, her daughter Eti, NetGalley and Harper Collins UK 1 More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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