The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz: A remarkable and compelling memoir of love, loss and hope during World War II

‘You are no longer a number’ Poland, 1944 The train slowed and halted with a squeal of the breaks. It felt like we waited in the carriage for an eternity, but eventually, the heavy doors opened, directly into the chaos inside. Sara Leibovitz, a 16-year-old Jewish girl, was a passenger on the train with her family. They spent their final moments together on the platform in Auschwitz before their horrific fates were sealed. Sara’s mother and baby brothers were sent straight to their deaths. Her father was made to work in the Sonderkommando as one of the men forced to remove the bodies from the gas chambers, and was later executed. Sara survived. This is the powerful true story of Sara Leibovits and the incredible pain and hardships she went through during her time in the death camp. Yet despite the horrors she faced, she always tried to maintain her family’s values of courage, faith and kindness to others. In this compelling memoir, Sara’s story is intertwined with that of her daughter, Eti. Seventy years after the horrors of the Holocaust, Eti reveals the inherited trauma of the second generation and completes the Holocaust survivor’s tale. What readers are saying about The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz: ‘Let us never stop reading these novels. These memoirs are the ones that keep all the voices alive’ ‘Highly recommend… I finished reading it with a newfound sense of love and compassion’ ‘Reading this family’s memories is a rewarding experience in that it will ensure future generations will remember and learn. Many thanks to the author…for the trust in allowing me to review this life-changing memoir.’ ‘A raw and gripping Holocaust recount’ ‘What I loved most about this book is that it is a dual perspective…I was grateful to have a little glimpse into the mind of Eti and her absolute respect for her parents…together they learned, they grieved and they healed’ ‘It makes me really proud of my Jewish heritage and this story of perseverance. I highly recommend this book for any and all to read so we can keep survivor's stories alive and never let this type of tragedy happen again’ ‘Powerful, heartbreaking and inspiring. We need to know what happened. It will make your heart break. It is beyond horrific. But we need to know in memory of the six million innocents who died and of those who survived’ ‘A haunting and beautiful read…I give it a resounding 5 stars’ ‘We have the perspective of a woman who survived the holocaust as well as her daughter who had never known the horrrors her mother endured, yet asked…I feel honored to have read this memoir’ ‘Anyone who reads this book will not be left untouched…truly moving' ‘This is one of those books everyone should read' ‘Remarkable… a profoundly impactful book, one which should be required reading for everyone' 'Sara Leibovits is an amazing lady. She showed strength of character, resilience and maintained a kind heart, as she shared what little she had with those around her in Auschwitz' This autobiography, a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit, is a must-read for anyone interested in 20th-century history and personal narratives of survival. Sara's story, a stark reminder of the horrors of war, is a testament to her strength and kindness, even in the face of unimaginable adversity. For fans of Dexter Ford (The Stable Boy of Auschwitz), Lisa Rojany-Buccieri (The Twins of Auschwitz), Moshe (Mjetek) Bomberg (The Last Boy in Auschwitz), Karen Kirsten (Irena's Gift), and Heather Morris (Stories of Hope). HarperCollins 2023