My first ever audiobook. I knew Mario Escobar always writes engrossing historical novels, so I knew I would be easily engaged.
"The Forgotten Names" is based on true events in Lyon during WWII. Jewish families had been removed from their French lives and were all heading off to German extermination camps. In August 1942, these French parents were faced with a horrible choice: watch their children die, or sign them over for safe keeping...probably never seeing them again, but at least giving them hope of salvation.
Fifty years later, it becomes one woman’s mission to match the abandoned names with the people they belong to.
And so we learn the stories of the children, their saviours and their tormentors (Klaus Barbie, the “Butcher of Lyon")
Mario did a great job of capturing the voices and emotions of both the children and the parents.
Told in dual timelines, "The Forgotten Names" is a reimagined account of the true stories of the French men and women who have since been named Righteous Among the Nations and the children they rescued, as researched by the law student Valerie.
Engrossing book told by a single narrator who tells the story well.
Thanks to Harper Collins Muse, Mario Escobar and NetGalley for my copy.

During August of 1942, French parents had to make life altering decisions….watch their children possibly die, or abandon them forever. Although a woman fifty years later decides she is going to make it her life missions to match the names of those abandoned to who they belong to.

Valerie Portheret researched the 108 children who disappeared in her doctoral that escaped deportation and death in the German concentration camps. She was so intrigued with all of the people involved in saving the most innocent victims at this time.

The men and woman who helped with these children are named Righteous Among The Nations. They helped them remember their forgotten names.

This book has pulled on all of the heartstrings, and just played such a big part of history! What a marvelous book! Very well done. Looking forward to finishing this and hearing the beautiful ending. A great audiobook for those who enjoy history. 💛 Thank you @harpercollinsfocus @netgalley @marioescabar

The concept of finding names on a list and working towards their story is an intriguing plot line. You can tell the author did a lot of research on this historical timeline, which is reflected in how it reads. There seems to be little fiction or storyline. Instead it reads very historical textbook. It alternates between past and present- but it was a hard transition to follow between the two perspectives. The present tense was about someone doing research- which I found to be a slow read. The past tense includes lots of characters and locations. A very interesting historical event that is worth learning about.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for an ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Recently Released on June 11, 2024.

This is an impassioned and moving tale involving the disappearance of 108 children during the occupation of France by Germany in 1942. Valérie Portheret, a law student, is researching her doctoral thesis. What she discovers is astonishing. She uncovers how 108 children were saved from the Nazis.

Due to a loophole in the Nazi doctrine, a coordinated effort by clergy, civilians, the French Resistance, and members of other humanitarian organizations risk their lives to save these children. But to do this, the mothers must give up their rights to their children. And to save their children’s lives…these mothers did just that!

Talk about a tough decision with life time consequences. I do not see how these mothers did this. How agonizing and terrifying. I swear, I learn something new every day about this terrible time in history.

No one tells a Holocaust story quite like Mario Escobar! My favorite novel by this author is The Teacher of Warsaw. I highly recommend you read that book as well!

This novel is superbly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld.

Need a good, emotional read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I enjoyed this audiobook. I knew I liked the author and the narrator is one of my favorites. It is a book that kept my interest and made my commutes fly by. Very well done.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this audiobook provided by NetGalley.

As this book began I was worried if I would be able to keep the characters straight. However, I needed’t have worried, it all came together quickly.

This dual timeline, historical fiction book was both fascinating and shared the emotion of the mothers, the people who saved the children and Valerie.

I think my favorite part was that this book didn’t focus on the horrors or those who perpetrated the horrors. Instead the story definitely kept the children and the helpers in the forefront. This was a good reminder that there were people willing to do the right thing and risk themselves in the face of evil.

Advance reader copy provided by Harper Muse and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

It’s hard to say I enjoyed this audiobook, but I am glad I listened through to the end. The narration was excellent, and the story was heartbreaking, difficult, but ultimately redemptive. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley I was able to listen to the audiobook. I love historical fiction, especially those based on true events during WWII with very serious topics that are difficult to read but so important to remember and learn from. A powerful illustration that tells of both the best and worst of what human beings can do to and for one another.

This was a very raw and honest story of the World War 2 time with the Nazi rule of 1942. Escobar did an excellent job of character development and keeping the reader engaged throughout the entire story. I found it easy to empathize and imagine what it would be like to be placed in this situation, strictly because of the amazing style of writing. This really put you into the shoes of unimaginable situations. I would recommend this story to everyone, as we can all use a real story about learning to do what is "right" followed up by a heartwarming story through impossible circumstances. 10/10 recommend!!
Thank you to Mario Escobar, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Focus for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another one not to be missed.
Although I love to read Historical Fiction, I sometimes have a very hard time with the Holocaust and everything related to it…and here we are…

This book has dual timelines and takes place in France, 1942, as well as in 1992 when Valerie, who is studying to be a lawyer, needs to write a thesis. She chooses the topic of Klaus Barbie (I could be wrong with the spelling??) who was the main Gestapo in Vichy, France, and was absolutely ruthless.

The author delves into the lives of the Jewish people who were trying to protect their families, and/or escape, to keep them safe.
Some of the choices that they had to make, well, I’m not sure I’d ever be able to make them….

Going back to 1992, well, Valerie finds that were were over a hundred children who were moved from the camp and protected/taken in by families/ adopted, which means that these families were LITERALLY taking their lives in their hands…because at the time, people were executed for much less.
And she decides that she is going to try to:
1. Find out more information on who these children were and
2. Meet with as many of them as she can to share all that she’s found.

In the end, the author reveals that many of the people in the book were REAL!
As was Valerie and her efforts with these children!

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!

#TheForgottenNames by #MarioEscobar and nicely narrated by #SaskiaMaarleveld.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsFocus and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The book was released on 6/11/24.

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Wow! The Forgotten Names is the incredible story of 108 children who escaped being sent to the Nazi concentration camps due to the extraordinary efforts of many. I'd never read anything on this particular WWII topic, and I was engrossed in this story. I did have a little struggle following the significant number of characters and names, and the dual timelines seemed to (minimally) disrupt the flow, it was a solid and interesting read with overall great storytelling coupled with clearly in depth research. This story is difficult and important. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves history - fiction or nonfiction!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, and Mario Escobar for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was a WWII story I have not heard before. The French people who risked everything to save the children of Lyon was heartbreaking and riveting. The counter plot of Valérie researching what happened to these children then working to reunite them with their true identities was fascinating especially since it’s based on true events, I really enjoyed this story.

The narrator was fabulous & I especially enjoyed that she pronounced the French bits perfectly.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for a copy of this audiobook.

This is a compelling piece of historical fiction. I appreciated the retelling of a real event in history. It does get very intense at times and has some very tough retellings, although nothing graphic.
I did listen to this on audio and I really like this narrator. (Second book I have heard her read). I did find that did contribute to some confusion at times about the wide variety of characters. The story does go back and forth between different characters with a several different threads that do come together. I think this might be easier to read in a hard copy where I could doublecheck names or dates.

I loved listening to this book, because of all of the words in French.

I cannot believe that this is based on a true story. I couldn’t imagine being a parent, and sending my children away, knowing I was going to die, and hoping that I was keeping my children safe. The author did a great job of capturing the voices and emotions of both the children and the parents. This is a WWII story that is new and fresh, and should be read by everyone!

Thoroughly engrossing historical novel of the worst and the best in Lyon during the occupation by the Nazis. The story of the children and the sacrifices of the parents are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. An excellent recounting of something to which most people are unaware. Narrator is easy to listen to.

Thank You, NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to listen to The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar.

I'm a history buff and World War 2 specifically interests me and I have read so much on this topic, fiction and non-fiction but still, I crave more.

It is always fascinating what ordinary people can do in extraordinary circumstances.

This story is of such people and of those whose lives were shaken by hate and one of the worst man-made tragedies of human history.

I definitely recommend this to be read.

Ony thing is I wish it had more about those missing children and what happened to all those who helped save them after the war. But that's just me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book follows Valerie who is looking for information for her doctoral research. Information on the 108 children that were saved from Nazi concentration camps and those involved in saving them. These children were forced to lose their own identity to be protected. Their parents gave up their parental rights. It was that or risk their safety. Valerie’s plan is to give them back their identity. Told in multiple point of view and dial timelines (1992 and 1942). This is a deep story based on true events. If you’re a history genre reader, this might be for you. While the audiobook was well done, the timeline jumps might be difficult for some. Once again, thank you to @netgalley, @harpermusebooks, and @marioescobar.oficial for the opportunity. This is a very serious topic that is difficult to read but so important to remember and learn from.

This was good and interesting story, and one that I haven't really heard before. It was heartbreaking and all of the emotion was there, but I had a bit of a difficult time following the characters throughout the book. It took about 50% to warm up and really get going, but then the action just didn't stop!

The narrator did a wonderful job bringing this story to light!

What an incredible true story! Imagine having to sign away your parental rights to your children and probably never see them again in hopes of protecting them from death in a Nazi "work camp." The Forgotten Names are the children whose parents "abandoned" them so the children could remain behind in France when their parents were transported to German concentration camps. In the 90s, a college student chose to focus on the children for her thesis- their stories and their forgotten names (they were legally adopted into French non-Jewish families). I was in tears.

Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for letting me listen to this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar.

I am a huge historical fiction fan, so I was excited to get a chance to listen to this book. The narrator Saskia Maarleveld did an amazing job going between the different languages. It is not very often that you find a narrator that does a seamless job of narrating.

This was a fascinating book based on true events during World War II. In 1992 Valérie Portheret was in starting the research for her thesis on Klaus Barbie when she came across a list of 108 names of children who were saved from a Nazi camp in France. Valérie began researching these names and the events that occurred. She spent 25 years researching and track down these children to hear their stories and give them information from their past.

You will learn about heroic individuals that stood up to the Germans to do whatever they could to give these children a future. It is amazing the sacrifices these adults made to save even one life. You will feel the heartache and devastation these families went through.

It is an amazing story and worth listening to or reading.