THE FORGOTTEN NAMES by MARIO ESCOBAR is a brilliantly written description of the horrors perpretrated aganst the Jews in France during the Germao occupation. We learn about the brave men and women who made it their business, often paying a horrible price, to save over one hundred children from the Venissieux prison in August 1942. We see the courage and unconditional love of the parents who signed away their precious children in order to save their lives. I like to see the Jews, Catholics and Protestants working together to save God’s chosen people. I also like the scriprture references…….
In 1992: Valerie Portheret chose to write her university thesis on these forgotten children and made it her life’s work to find the real names of as many of them as possible in order to give them back their identities…….
The book is written in the form of a novel which by no means takes away from the authenticity of the historical content.
I found The Forgotten Names both informative and inspirational.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Harper Muse. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The triumphant story of the French men and women who did everything they could against incredible odds to save the lives of Jewish children from the Nazi Extermination camps.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Just when I thought the atrocities committed by the nazis couldn’t get any worse, I read another novel which highlights yet another of their policies which sicken me. The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar brings to light another of these senseless, heartbreaking policies-Jewish deportation quotas. Yes, you read that right. It’s not only sickening, it’s also heartbreaking. The story centers around a policy in which a quota of deportees needed to be met by the French government in order to be able to maintain their free zone. However, the church, as well as several members of the resistance, just couldn’t accept that. They took it upon themselves to have parents relinquish their parental rights in order to save their children’s lives. It was both surreal and heartbreaking. To think that one man had the power to lead others to blindly follow his orders out of fear for their own lives as well as their families. I found the parallels the author drew between the deportation of the Jewish people and the Old Testament to be very eye opening. Overall, an incredible true story about courageous people who risked their lives to save the children of Vénissieux.

This book is heartbreaking to read, but it is so important that the true history this is based on not be forgotten! The agonies of the Jews being hunted by the Nazis and shipped off to concentration camps is not fun reading. This book centers on Lyon, France, and children who were rescued because their parents gave up their parental rights in order to save their children. The conversations are fictionalized, but many of the characters really lived through that period of World War II. The hope and miraculous deliverances are the bright spots in the story, along with the tale of finding the children who survived. If you can handle reading about the atrocities of the Nazis, the book is well worth reading.

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

This is a true historical account of members of the French Resistance hiding and aidindg 108 children who were scheduled to be deported from Lyon France in August 1942. This occurred during when Klaus Barbie was the German commander in the area. This was in the interment camp near Lhon France where families were waiting their fate. By using a French law members were able to obtain signatures from the parents absolving their parental rights and therefore letting the children be orphans.
How we know about this is due to Valerie Porthret who at first wanted to base her thesis about the trial of Klaus Barbie which had occurred in the late 1980s. However, after she found out about the children she decided to change her thesis and write about the children and vowed to find them and give them their real names.

Mario Escobar does research about Valerie and the members of the Resistance. He gives a detailed account on what happened on August 1942 and what hat happened to the children.

I highly recommend this book . I would hope the reader would go beyond the Epilogue and find out more information about Valerie Portheret, the children, and the other members of the team that saved these children

This is the rare historical novel that emphasizes the history but also works on the narrative through lines. There are two: the time around 1942 and the rise of Nazi control of the area around Lyon France, and the efforts of some very otherwise ordinary people to protect about 100 children from being exported to the death camps. These 100 form the basis of the novel's title and the second time period of the current era when a French law student takes it upon herself to document who was involved and to try to reconnect with them and recognize what they went through. The book documents how everyday people performed heroic acts but were lost to the sands of time and shifting circumstances. Most of us are familiar with the actions of Schindler in Poland to save hundreds of Jews but the efforts of the Venissieux neighbors who managed to convince parents to relinquish their rights as they were being rounded up by the Nazi deserves to be told. The parents knew that many of them would never see their kids every again, although a few did survive the death camps and were eventually reunited. The book's power is in its verisimilitude and the very real people -- although of course the dialogue and some of the events have been created to fit the narrative. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or WWII-era stories, this book is a must read.

When I see Mario Escobar has a new book available I simply have to get it, he never missed a beat and has always giving us historical facts mixed into a good story. Again he didn’t fail...

The story in a few words:

August 1942

French parents were faced with a horrible choice: watch their children die, or abandon them forever. To save them, Jewish mothers of Vénissieux were asked to make the ultimate sacrifice of abandoning them forever. The result of a coordinated effort by clergy, civilians, the French Resistance and members of other humanitarian organizations 108 children somehow managed to escape deportation and certain death in the German concentration camps.

Early 1990’s

Student Valérie Portheret in the midst of doing her doctoral research into the 108 children who disappeared from Vénissieux fifty years earlier made it her mission to match the abandoned names with the people they belong to. It took her a twenty-five year journey to allow the children to reclaim their heritage and remember their forgotten names.

My thoughts:

Told in dual timelines this account of true events is both sad and captivating. It is very well-said to keep our interest at its peak and us pushing on. It is chilling story that places us in the zone where Klaus Barbie was the German commander who ruled Lyon, France with an iron fist and did not hesitated to torture anyone. We do have graphic scenes to make the point. Of course this story is not fun to read, seeing the Jewish population hunted and shipped to concentration and children taken from their parents in order to save them is heartbreaking.

Although the conversation is fictionalized and the timeline may be out of sync, the characters are real and the events well documented. The timeline for those who hate this, the back and forth is on occasion and I felt it did not interfered with the flow. The chapters are short and the narration active. “The Forgotten Names” is well-said and well-done.

The Forgotten Names is one of the most engrossing books I've ever read (and I read at least 150 books a year.) I was born two weeks before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the event that forced the United States to enter World War II. One of my first memories is that of my father and uncles returning from the war, so the chaos of life during WWII has always held great fascination for me. The recovery from that war provided the context of my childhood.

This story brings to light one amazing example of the heroism of good people who band together to save the most vulnerable from the unchecked power of evil. There are so many stories of good conquering evil, but this is one of the most memorable. It is a story of redemption, selflessness, and eternal good. It is a story that shows how ordinary people often show extraordinary courage and creativity when they are faced with seemingly unconquerable odds. Simultaneous to the horrifying and edifying story unfolding in 1942, the author tells of a modern-day heroine who determines to give back to those rescued children their heritage and their names that were lost in 1942 to save their lives.

This story is so remarkable it would likely touch readers even if told badly; but, thankfully, a very skilled writer spent the time and energy needed to research and write, revise, edit, and polish a profoundly evocative account of this amazing side-story of World War II.

Very emotional, powerful read. The Jewish children that were captured and ultimately rescued from the clutches of the German Nazis is a heartbreaking retelling. Very good read. highly recommend. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

Historical fiction at is best.
Escobar takes a true story and brings it to life in incredibly moving yet heartbreaking. style.
When a graduate student is deciding on her thesis, she becomes mesmerized with the story of
the French children who were sent away to find safety during the summer of 1942 through the French Resistance movement.
Mothers who were in a prison camp with their children were asked to sign away parental rights so the
children could be moved, through the Resistance group, to families who would take them in with the hope of
reuniting them when the war was over. The camp was being cleared the next day and everyone was being moved to
what they believed would be their death.
The Resistance with the help of a local convent, worked out a plan to label the children as unaccompanied minors,
thereby exempting them from the move.
The story is intense and completely riveting. You are introduced to some of the people who made up the Resistance
as well as the back stories of the children.
The Third Reich's inhumanity and revolting total disregard for anything or anyone not German runs rampant through the
pages and though we all know the story well, it pays to revisit it and remind of ourselves of why we can not ever stand by
and watch such atrocities occur ever again.
And those this is called fiction, we all know these horrors did happen.
Kudos to all those people who stood up and took a stand and tried to make a difference in a barbaric society.
Wonderful one sitting read.

I need to begin this review with some disclaimers. First, I, too, like Valerie in The Forgotten Names have suffered through detailed, mind numbing research in pursuit of a Ph.D. Success is not getting lost in the numbers or data, but truly caring about your topic. This was key to Valerie as well as the central characters in Lyon who put together a plan in the face of incredible odds to save children from Vénissieux. From the publisher, "Theirs was a heroic act without precedent in Nazi-occupied Europe." The real life dedication of these saviors is painted vividly, so much so that the reader can see their actions and tears. The mother in me can barely comprehend the gut wrenching decisions to be made by the families. My other disclaimer is that while I am not Jewish, I grew up near a very large Jewish community. I've seen Holocaust survivors and the numbers stenciled on their arms. Their fortitude is beyond understanding and a testament to the beauty of honor, morals, and truth. Mr. Escobar, we are indebted to you for your crafting of a historically accurate portrayal of one of the darkest times in our history.

This is the second book that I have read by Mario Escobar. Both books cover difficult subject matter and he does it well. Both books are historical fiction of difficult periods in history. His writing kept me interested throughout the book.

This book was both educational and heartbreaking. I've read numerous books on this time period and knew about the German families who took in jewish children to save them from certain death. What I did not know what the story of the French who did this as well. It's heartbreaking to imagine the pain the mothers and fathers felt as they gave up their children to be adopted, knowing they would never see them again, but also knowing and hoping that their children would live on while they themselves were facing certain death. This story has all the elements that make a book memorable. Courage, bravery and raw, pure love are displayed in this wonderful book. I often ask myself, what would I have done in that situation? Both as a jew or as a fellow countryman seeing what was happening. Could I have given my child to a stranger, never to see them again but hoping that choice saves their life, or would I be willing to risk the lives of my family to take in a child that could very well bring danger to my home? It's hard to imagine, but this is in fact what hundreds of thousands families faced.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. It will give you a glimpse into the lives of both heroes and those persecuted for simply being born.

In this incredibly well-researched novel, Mario Escobar sheds light on a not well-know story of one woman's efforts to restore the true names to Jewish children who were hidden in Vichy France. In 1992, Valerie Portheret was writing her thesis on Klaus Barbie when she discovered a list of 108 names. When she starts to investigate the list, she discovers that these are the names of children who were hidden so that they could not be deported and sent to concentration camps. Potheret, with the support of her thesis advisor, changes the topic of her thesis and sets out to discover how this event was able to occur since it is well know that the Vichy government collaborated with the Nazis. Portheret spends twenty-five years working to restore the true names to the hidden children and to highlight the hard work and dedication it took to stand up to both the government and the Nazis. Told in two timelines, Escobar spends time addressing the difficulties the individuals faced who coordinated the rescue effort and Portheret's work to restore the identities to the children.

Heartbreaking yet shows the resilience of the human spirit during the darkest of times in history. The heroes in this book are the people who risked everything in their compassion to offer help and sanctuary to those in need. I highly recommend this book.

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

Mario Escobar has done it again. I don't know what it is about his books, but I usually shed some tears throughout them. He has been the only author to manage that for me. His books are so well written that you feel as though you are there with the characters and are living through the same thing they are living through.

The Forgotten Names is no different! It was heartbreaking but also shows how even during the darkest time in history, the human spirit still glows just as bright as ever. You can totally see why this story brought tears to my eyes - it shows the best and the worst of what humans have the ability to do other humans - especially the innocent who can't protect or fight for themselves.

I think this should be a must read for everyone - especially those who want to know more about all of the untold stories around WWII

I recently finished reading The Forgotten Names. In 1969, I had the opportunity to visit Lyons and the internment camp museum. I did not know about the 108 children at that time, though I wish I had. However, I am glad that I had the chance to read this novel. It added to the somber recollection I have of my visit to Lynn’s, France.
Mr. Escobar described perfectly the horror of this event in history. His depiction of Klaus Barbie was realistic. I had read other accounts of his brutality and his push to become a powerful Nazi leader. Counter that with the story of the heroic people of the Amitié organization in their efforts to save as many children as possible and the author creates a riveting story full of action and examples of self-sacrifice and courage. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The Forgotten Names is a historical fiction during WW II in August of 1942. The story takes us through the horror of the Germans coming in, taking Jews away from their children and other family members and brings them to death chambers. Many years later a law student Valerie Potheret began her doctoral research with a concentration on discovering what happened to 108 children who were taken away from there families and managed to escape death. We learn who helped these children against impossible odds. In order for them to survive the mothers of these children had to abandon them. This is a true story, Valerie made it her mission in life to find the real names of the 108 children for the sole purpose of giving them their identity back. It was with the help of Catholic , Protestants, and Jews working together to save the Jewish people. I have received this free and my opinion is my own, I think the author for writing a detailed and authentic book that is important to be read by all. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity!

Oh my goodness I loved this book, the way it broke my heart and put it back together again was unreal. I cried, sobbed in fact, and couldn’t breathe at certain points. It was incredible. A beautifully done historical fiction. I highly recommend

Another true story is brought to life by the brilliant researcher and author, Mario Escobar. Forgotten Names is a breathtaking narrative of WWII set in France. The story flashes back to 1942 in Venissieux and forward to 1992. Law student, Valerie Portheret is researching the notorious Nazi murderer, Klaus Barbie. She stumbles onto a list of 108 Jewish children who were smuggled away to avoid certain arrests and murder.
Both horrific and heroic, this highly engaging story reveals a forgotten piece of history. Thanks to Valerie’s 25-year-long quest to find those 108 children, we learn of “a heroic act without precedent in Nazi-occupied Europe.” (Pg.20) “Too many people wanted to forget this most ignominious era of French history, but she was determined to make serious sacrifices to keep the memory of those children from dying out.”(Pg.31)
Escobar’s writing is beautifully both philosophical and poetic. “It was never entirely clear if death was the end of something or just the beginning of something else.” (Pg.129) “The soul’s bitterest hour is when it comes face to face with its deepest fears.”(Pg.137) “There are moments in life that can change a person’s existence forever.” (Pg.107) “In that embrace, time slowed down and ceased its lurching. From then on for Rachel, minutes flowed into hours with the harmonious rhythmic cadence life was meant to have: time in motion seasoned by love and peace.” (Pg. 312)
Escobar’s figurative language takes the reader into the story setting. “They walked along the bank of Saone River as the evening sun seemed to set the facades of the houses behind them on fire.”(Pg. 109) “Her words floated in the air, the same air breathed fifty-two years before by the families of the Venissieux camp.”(Pg.192) “The music stole the magic from the surrounding birdsong, and Rachel’s closed eyelids were an insufficient barrier for her tears.”(Pg.25) “Rachel’s playing lit up a piece of heaven within the hell that a few greedy men had turned the world into.”(Pg.172)
I highly recommend this piece of historical fiction to “keep alive the chain of memory. When that chain breaks, we are all left nameless.” (Pg.21)

Valerie Portheret is researching the notorious Nazi murder, Klaus Barbie. She ends up getting lost in a story of 108 Jewish children who were rescued from the concentration camp. The parents had to sign off their rights to be able to save them. The children were smuggled out of the concentration camp and given new names. Valerie wanted to give the 108 children back their given names. Broke my heart to think about what the parents had to give up to allow their children to have a future.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse and Mario Escobar for the ARC for my opinion.

A gripping, harrowing account of an actual events in Lyon, France during WWII. ‘The Forgotten Names’ is an historical fiction inspired by the rescue of 108 Jewish children who disappeared from Vénissieux, France and the remarkable group of people who saved them from certain deportation to German concentration camps.
Valerie Portheret began researching for her PHD in the 1990s and came across this amazing story of the rescue of these children.
The reader is taken on a journey of heartache, terror and unbelievable courage as we learn of the coordinated effort of resistance members, religious leaders, social workers and civilians who all aided in rescuing and protecting these children.
Valerie, over a 25 year period, sought to reclaim the names and heritage of these children of Lyon.
It is so important that stories like this well researched book should never be forgotten.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mario Escobar is one of my favorite authors to read in Spanish and English. He’s books are well researched and they will. Certainly educated in WW2 topics. I wished more of he’s book get translated in English in the future.

Courtesy of Netgalley and Harper Muse, I received the ARC of The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar. This well researched historical novel introduced me to the plight of the French Jews incarcerated at the Vénissieux camp in Lyons, before their deportation to German concentration camps. Emotionally recreated in this story, the brave French clergy, Resistance members, civilians and social service organization personnel resisted the Nazis and saved 108 Jewish children in August 1942. Valérie Portheret was later drawn to research the identity of these children, for 25 years, completing her doctoral thesis with this information. A compelling tribute to the resilience of the children and their saviors!

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is a heart bruising and poignant story about those who courageously risked everything during World War II France to save the lives of 108 children. Many channels in the astonishing rescue team which hid the children and transported them included clergy, ordinary (yet extraordinary) citizens and Resistance members. While reading I reflected on the fact that those precious lives have since impacted many others including their own families. Had they not been heartbreakingly signed over to freedom fraught with danger along the way by selfless parents, they would surely have perished. Nazi Klaus Barbie was instrumental in the torment and deaths of thousands of innocent people. Every life saved was a miracle and victory and needs to be celebrated.

Decades later, Valérie Portheret, who researched the discovered list of 108 names and included her findings in her thesis, painstakingly identified them and visited as many as she could in person. What a challenging and rewarding twenty-five-year task!

It is unimaginable to be faced with saying goodbye to your children, knowing it would be for the last time. Reading of the screams of children and parents is haunting and moving. Every day after would be a living nightmare wondering where they were and what became of them. The "Righteous Among the Nations" are true heroes.

Not only is the story gripping and gut wrenching, the writing is powerful in its simplicity. This is a very important book, clearly well researched, and should be required reading. It reads like a Nonfiction more than a novel and is based on factual events and people.

My sincere thank you to Harper Muse for providing me with a digital copy of this outstanding book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is both riveting and deeply moving. The resilience of the human spirit, as depicted in World War II narratives about the Jewish people who were imprisoned, never fails to captivate me, and this tale is no exception. Based on actual events, it recounts the daring rescue of 108 children and the adults who risked everything to save them from certain death. The magnitude of their efforts cannot be overstated. As some reviewers have noted, the book's challenge lies in its multitude of characters, which can be hard to keep track of. Initially overwhelmed, I chose to focus on the story of the children instead. The bravery of the adults who faced torture and death to save these children profoundly changed me. This book will stay with me forever. Although this is my preferred era to explore in literature, this particular rescue was new to me. The parents' courage to send their children away from the camp, knowing they would never see them again, epitomizes true love. It is, indeed, an incredible gift.

The Forgotten Names is an inspiring, compelling, and unforgettable WWII story of sacrifice and heroism.

Inspired by true events and real people, The Forgotten Names is the story of Jewish children who were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied France during WWII. The contemporary timeline shares the story of real-life law student, Valérie Portheret, as she attempts to track down these children from the list of 108 to hear their stories and provide them with any available birthright heritage from 1942. It took her twenty-five years.

“You won’t get the children.”

Just as I think I might be burned out on WWII histfic, I come across a stand-out read.

Some of the most poignant and unforgettable WWII stories are the ones about saving innocent children. In The Forgotten Names, 108 are saved. One of the most compelling parts of the story is their rescue from Venissieux, an internment camp, where they were held.

Protestants, Catholics, and Jews often worked together to help the under served during this time, especially Jewish children. How did people with different beliefs come together to rescue children and save as many as possible? It’s a miracle in the darkness. Organizations like the Organization to Save the Children were formed at great risk to its members. Lyon, France seemed to be the center of this Resistance and was known especially for the number of children saved.

An unimaginable choice…

Saving the innocent requires sacrifice on many levels. The most heartfelt and tragic sacrifice is made by parents who, with almost no certainty of seeing them again, relinquish their children to strangers in hopes that their lives will be spared. I often wonder what I would be capable of doing to save my children’s lives. The brave souls who hide, smuggle, and transport the children risk and at times sacrifice their own lives as they protect and keep secrets. The children exchange their sense of security and happy childhoods for survival. The sacrifice is staggering but inspirational.

Mario Escobar provides us with a well-researched, well-paced, and well-written multilayered story from multiple perspectives. At the beginning, I took notes to keep multiple characters and locations from the 1942 timeline straight in my mind. The author helps us see the story from the perspectives of the organizers of the Resistance, the caretakers responsible for the children’s safety and security, and from the children. We also have a perspective from the lawyer in 1992 as she tracks down the names. This is a complex and compelling dual timeline story and TBR worthy.

Content Consideration: WWII atrocities, separation of families

I love untold stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the most difficult and unthinkable circumstances. I’m highly recommending The Forgotten Names for fans of well-written, well-researched, and compelling WWII historical fiction. Readers who appreciate stories that focus on saving the innocent will find this story riveting and memorable. It has secured a place on my best of 2024 list.

Thanks #NetGalley @harpermusebooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheForgottenNames upon my request. All opinions are my own.

This is truly a gem of a read! “The Forgotten Names” is a courageous tale of love and resilience. The captivating plot acquires depth through the use of past and present timelines and It’s definitely a tear-jerker, so make sure you have a box of tissues handy. I cannot praise this book enough, it is a must-read, especially if you are a fan of WW2 Historical Fiction Novels!

This was a story that I very much wanted to read. So much is left out of the history books that are taught in school. It was interesting to read about the children being found, and connected to their names. I believe everybody should read this story. I also believe that all of our history should be embraced and remembered so that hopefully it will not be repeated, especially the bad parts. This is a new to me author, but I will definitely be looking for more of his works.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is a historical fiction story of a woman who is trying to find the original names of Jewish Children in France who were hidden from the Nazis. Mr. Escobar is a historian, a published best-selling author, a writer, and a director of an NGO.

Valérie Portheret, a French law student, is writing her thesis on the notorious Nazi, Klaus Barbie (the Butcher of Lyon). During her research, Valérie finds a list of 108 names. Investigating further she finds that those are names of Jewish children who smuggled from under the nose of the Nazi occupying regime, giving them new names and hiding them in plain sight.

Valérie takes on a new mission, to find these kids, if they’re still alive, and gift them their old name. As a historian, she also wants to hear their stories.

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar tells two true stories, that of the operation to save 108 Jewish children during World War II, and that of a French student researching the operation in 1992. I have read several books, fiction, and non-fiction on this subject. Several of the village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, whose residents banded together to save as many of their countrymen as they could.

The Night of Venissieux, the efforts of about 500 French citizens to save 100 or so Jewish children from deportation to Lyon is now well documented. The senior Catholic clergy in Lyon, Archbishop Pierre-Marie Gerlier, supported this effort which was headed by Father Alexandre Glasberg. Mr. Glasberg was posthumously awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in recognition of his work saving hundreds of Jews in Vichy France during World War II.

Mr. Escobar took an inspiring story and wrote a powerful book about it. He looks evil in the eye, and what makes good people stand up to it. Even those who were ideologically anti-Semites, could not stand by.

This was not a simple operation; it took sacrifices by everyone involved. Not the least from the parents who were asked to give up their children and put the rescuers in mortal danger. This is a short book, but dramatic, well-written, and extremely interesting. I will certainly put Mario Escobar on authors whose books I’m going to be looking out for, unfortunately my Spanish is not good enough to read the ones I eyed on his website.

Ultimate Sacrifice

Mario Escobar is an excellent author of WWII historical fiction. This is one of those stories he writes. They are all so sad, but they reflect the history as it happened with true events and times as can be in fiction writings. True historical fiction always has some real people and events intertwined with fictional characters and happenings.

This story is of an event which is not so well known but was horrific in its entirety. As the Nazi’s rounded up the foreign Jewish population in France, a town called Lyon resisted. A group of resistance and some catholic priests risked their lives to save 108 Jewish children from certain death.

At the time the Nazi’s were allowing any unattended child to be exempt from the transport to the German Concentration camps. The resistance workers worked well into the night to find all the parents and children in the Venissieux transfer camp. The then had to talk the parents into signing over their parental rights so they could save their children. This was the ultimate sacrifice for these parents. Lose their children forever to save their lives.

Fifty years later a university student Valerie Portheret decides to do her thesis on the life and death of Klaus Barbie “The Butcher of Lyon”. As she is researching and talking to survivors of the war during the holocaust she hears the story of these children which were saved and decides to find every one of these lost children.

It is a sad story, but one which needs to be told. We hear of the horrible deeds of the Nazi’s but not as much of the courageous people who risked their lives to save some of the Jewish population. Many turned their eyes away and some helped the Nazi’s, but there were those few brave souls that knew what was right, moral and saved those they could.

This is the story of the 108 children that were saved in one night from certain death , the people that saved them and the student that was brave enough to tell their story.

Thanks to Mario Escobar for writing another great story, to Harper Muse for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

Loved this book as it was a first hand book of the stories of real humans. While there was much leeway, the story was real. Having a family background of members who either perished in Auschwitz or escaped, this story touched my heart.
There were many righteous people who helped during this time, but the religious aspect was most interesting.
And the researcher aspect, to me was the most interesting.i enjoyed the follow-ups with the actual persons from the story.
Well written and kept my interest throughout the entire book.

Mario has written an incredible novel about little known history. This is a story that will stick with you for a long time thinking about motives and values behind all individuals involved in the rescue. Thanks for the ARC! I loved this novel

The author brought tears to my eyes. I was vividly able to connect to all the characters, there struggles and there heartache. There are many names that have likely been forgotten during the war. This is a book that reminds you they all had a name and they all mattered.

Another great book by Mario Escobar. While his story is about the holocaust, the theme is saving 108 children from certain death after imprisonment at a Venissieux camp in France. There are beautiful stories about the resistance fighters, public resistance to the Nazis from the churches, and entire towns willing to risk death to do the right thing. Based on true events, the book is well researched and provides history surrounding a less- known holocaust event. This is beautifully written and you will have a hard time putting it down.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing me to read this book and give my honest opinion. This book takes place in Vénissieux where 108 Jewish children go "missing" when they were set to be deported to Germany. This story is told in dual timelines, back in 1942 and 5 years after Klaus Barbie's trial. This book is a true story. I was on the edge of my seat during the entire book which I devoured in just days.

My heart goes out to the strong families that faced these tough decisions. So much heartache and this book captures it so well.

The Forgotten Names is a dual timeline story that takes place in Lyon, France. A story that recounts how 108 children were rescued from an internment camp during WWII. In August of 1942 using a French Vichy law preventing the transport of unaccompanied minors out of France, the novel tells of the efforts to save the children by asking their parents to sign away their parental rights. The decision for these parents was horrible, however, the thought of what could happen to them made their decision with no other choice.

In 1992 Valerie Portheret a young student in college in Lyon is writing her thesis. Originally she was going to write about “The Butcher of Lyon” Klaus Barbie. While doing her research she finds herself captivated by the story of these 108 children who were rescued...rescored from being put to death in concentration camps. Many of these children not only were torn from their families, they lost their identity, given new names and were at a loss to know who they really were. It took Ms. Portheret some 25 years to find these children.

This story was very emotional on many levels. It is not a story that you would have learned in history class...the research for this book was amazing. I am sure there are many stories from WWII that we would never know. Yet a story like this, as difficult to read at times has to be told. It cannot be buried in the archives of history. It was gut wrenching to read, yet at the same time good o know that people cared and adopted them; to know that a group of people, including those from the Catholic church who helped put together the plan to rescue these children, gives you a feeling that not all humans are cruel, evil. We cannot, should not forget this story and ones that are yet to be told, for history has a way of repeating itself. As for Senior Esccobar he is a master storyteller, there is no doubt.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.