Book Review: My Survival by Rena Finder

 

Title: My Survival: A Girl On Schindler's List

By: Rena Finder

Genre: Historical Nonfiction

Pages: 144

Release Date: December 26th, 2019

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

The astonishing true story of a girl who survived the Holocaust thanks to Oskar Schindler, of Schindler's List fame. Rena Finder was only eleven when the Nazis forced her and her family -- along with all the other Jewish families -- into the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. Rena worked as a slave laborer with scarcely any food and watched as friends and family were sent away. Then Rena and her mother ended up working for Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who employed Jewish prisoners in his factory and kept them fed and healthy. But Rena's nightmares were not over. She and her mother were deported to the concentration camp Auschwitz. With great cunning, it was Schindler who set out to help them escape. Here in her own words is Rena's gripping story of survival, perseverance, tragedy, and hope. Including pictures from Rena's personal collection and from the time period, this unforgettable memoir introduces young readers to an astounding and necessary piece of history.

 

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Review:

Its hard enough to read a fictional story about the Holocaust and WW2, but to read a survivors tale is a whole other experience.

Rena Finder was only 11 years old when the pain of this book begins. Her entire family was relocated to the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. I think anyone who reads these kind of books, are far to familiar with what happens next. The unthinkable trauma and murder of so many Jewish people, but somehow through all of it Finder and her mother were saved from the gas chamber, and taken care of by the infamous Oskar Schindler. A man who used his privilege to do whatever he could so save a precious few.

Favorite Quote:

"And perhaps you, too, dear reader, will be one of those with the courage to stand up for the innocent. Be an upstander, not a bystander."


I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a truly incredible tale of survival. I hope that we all take Rena's final words to heart and stand up for injustice, no matter how small or large the situation may look. A great read for a quit Sunday afternoon.

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