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kaysuelen_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This is the true story of Esther Hautzig’s forced exile as a Polish Jew in Soviet-era Siberia during World War II. I cried, I laughed a little at her comedic storytelling and I cried again. I was also reminded that the hate and white supremacy that plagues our world today is not new, just reincarnated.
And Esther reminded me that, “reading was not only a great delight, but a privilege” (p.176). It truly was a privilege to read her amazing story of survival against all odds.
And Esther reminded me that, “reading was not only a great delight, but a privilege” (p.176). It truly was a privilege to read her amazing story of survival against all odds.
emilyst17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kelseyleigh_h's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
arielm1's review against another edition
5.0
A story of a Jewish girl taken to Siberia by the Russians, can she and her family servive?
wallymama's review against another edition
5.0
Read as a child and lost the title. It stayed with me all these years and I'm so glad to have rediscovered it!
marija_m95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Vomit, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jjeepa04's review against another edition
4.0
What an inspiring and affecting story of a Polish Jewish family's exile to Siberia during WWII! I read this aloud to my 13 year old daughter and we were both moved by the optimism and perseverance shown by the main character, a young girl of 11 when first exiled, and her family. The ending was a bit rushed, but otherwise this is a well written memoir that provides fascinating and heartbreaking insight into the less known experience of the hundreds of thousands of Poles, many of them Jewish, deported as prisoners to Siberia.
xpicth's review against another edition
3.0
It’s a rather bleak account of Polish Jewish exiles in Siberia during WWII. Understandably bleak, of course; even the quasi-happy ending is hard to swallow. But it’s important to learn about these things, and this book tells of a set of circumstances I would not have otherwise known about.
bettyw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
knightalorie's review against another edition
5.0
A very touching book! It isn't a easy read it's sad and made me think but it's one that is a must read.