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.

Imagine if you had to give up your children in order to save them from imminent death? Such was the case in 1942 when the Jewish mothers of Vénissieux, signed away their children never to see them again, in order to save their precious children from the Nazis.

Years later a student, Valérie Portheret, decides to do her doctoral thesis on the 108 children who managed to survive due to the heroic efforts of civilians, clergy, and the French Resistance, and others, members of Humanitarian Organizations. who risked so much to save these children. It was the time of Klaus Barbie, commonly referred to as The Butcher of Lyon, whose mission was to wipe every Jew off the face of the earth.

Valerie becomes obsessed with finding the children and returning the only thing she could to them, their true names. In her twenty five years of doing so, she is able to give the children their names and their heritage back.

The story takes place in duel timelines, and many of the things related were factual. The horror of mothers losing their children, children losing their parents was both shocking, sad, and emotional. It's always ever so difficult to imagine how cruel the human character can and will be.

Thank you to Mario Escobar, Harper Muse, and Netgalley for the ability to listen to this tragic story.

The heartbreak that this audiobook shares is unimaginable. Every single time I think I’ve gotten to a place where I can no longer be surprised by the atrocities that occurred, I find another story and my heart breaks once again.

The story told through dual timelines was very well done. The narrator did a wonderful job - especially with using proper annunciation and accents throughout. This was my first book by this author but certainly won’t be my last. There was solid character building, the plot moved along at a pace that kept my attention, the title and cover were well thought out, and the emotional pull was definitely there.

I would absolutely recommend this to those interested in WWII novels or historical fiction in general.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Mario Escobar, and HarperCollins Focus for allowing me access to this novel prior to release in exchange for an honest review.

A moving novel based on true events during WWII. Jewish parents had to make difficult decisions to save their children and this is an important story to know and understand. Truly a wonderful book for fans of WWII historical fiction.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this arc.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who does a great job!

This was a different take on a WWII story and I loved that it was based upon a true story. A young woman, Valerie Portheret, is writing her thesis and originally focuses on Klaus Barbie. But the story of the 108 children who lost their parents in order to live is what she decides to focus on. I cannot imagine the heartbreak of these parents being asked to sign away their parental rights of their children knowing its the only way to keep them from certain death. Heartbreaking!

I have heard of the story of the English isle parents who sent their children off but did not realize that there was a group in France who did the same to selflessly give their kids a chance.

Such a captivating tale about selfless love, family, and survival. Highly recommend!

Half a decade after the trial of Klaus Barbie, the “Butcher of Lyon,” law student Valérie Portheret began her doctoral research into the 108 children who disappeared from Vénissieux during World War II. Did the Nazis take them, or were they hidden somewhere? Following the dual timeline allows you to follow the story of the war and while Portheret searches.

I enjoyed this book, which is based on a true story.I absolutely love it when Saskia Maarleveld narrates books!

Thank you for a copy, NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse.

This historical fiction book is based on true stories of the Jewish children who were given up to save their lives during World War II. An excellent book and highly recommended. Brilliant audio as well. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/Audiobook.