My Real Name Is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih

Jul 23, 2018 Angela M rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

“Abram Slivka (my Papa)
Eva Slivka (my Mama)
Hanna Slivka (14 years old, loves to read)
Leeba Slivka (12 years old, loves to sew)
Symon Slivka (10 years old, a really good bit who
Loves his dog) Ovid (our dog)
Steed (our horse)
We all lived in this house until October 12, 1942. If you
find this ,
say these names out loud, please, and bury this paper
in the yard.”

Maybe a request for some semblance of a proper burial. Perhaps a plea for remembrance. These are t “Abram Slivka (my Papa)
Eva Slivka (my Mama)
Hanna Slivka (14 years old, loves to read)
Leeba Slivka (12 years old, loves to sew)
Symon Slivka (10 years old, a really good bit who
Loves his dog) Ovid (our dog)
Steed (our horse)
We all lived in this house until October 12, 1942. If you
find this ,
say these names out loud, please, and bury this paper
in the yard.”

Maybe a request for some semblance of a proper burial. Perhaps a plea for remembrance. These are the words that Hanna buries in a tin in the Slivka family’s yard before they are forced to flee their home, their quiet, happy existence, as the Nazis move in to make the town free of Jews. This becomes a journey for survival from their life in the shtetele, this small town, their Polish and Jewish roots, in the Ukraine, to the deep of the forest and eventually to the darkness of a cave finding refuge from the darkest hearts of the Nazis. We don’t see much of the horrific things that happened to the Jews as they are rounded up and sent to camps, but we know of course , and the characters find out as the novel moves forward. They learn that railway cars take away Jews and then the Nazis don’t take them away anymore. They just shoot them as they try to escape through the forest. We do see first hand the hunger and hardship that the Slivka family, their extended family and neighbors endure. There was no food at times. They were starving until one of the men or older boys could safely leave to scrounge what they could.

This is a beautifully written, well researched story inspired by a real family who together survived the holocaust by hiding in a cave for well over a year. This is a story of courage, of love, of family, of culture , of religious beliefs, of how it is possible to sustain hope in the face of hunger and darkness and loss. Through the beloved character of Mrs . Petrovich, one of my favorites, the kind Christian neighbor, we are reminded of the goodness of people, so many of whom aided Jews through these horrifying times. Through the characters of the Cohan brothers, we are reminded of the courage of so many who risked their lives to save the people in their community. I was struck that this was about the importance of story telling, both real and wonderfully imagined on a number of levels. When the novel begins, it is Hanna telling her story of survival to her daughter. Hanna’s beloved friend, Mrs. Petrovich, tells her stories through the beautiful eggs she decorates. The spirits of the children as well as the adults were sustained in the dark cave by the voices the children as they say “ tell me a story”. There are stories told in the cave remembering loved ones, some biblical, and some are fables of a sort - all beautifully told. Then of course there is this beautiful story told by Tara Lynn Masih encompassing all of this, itself based on a true one. While this may be geared to a YA audience, it is far from an ordinary coming of age story. I believe it’s an extraordinary story that everyone should read because it’s an imperative reminder that we can’t forget that the Holocaust happened and we can’t let it happen again.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Mandel Vilar Press through NetGalley. ...more

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Jul 10, 2018 Amalia Gavea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 1940s, historical-fiction, american-literature, wwii-literature, european-history, netgalley-books, ukraine

‘’As good as life looks now to us young children, there is still a sense of always looking over your shoulder for something to hit you.’’

This is one of the most beautiful books of the year. Based on the true story of a Jewish family living in Ukraine during the darkest period in History, the Second World War, it is a story of fear and struggle for survival, a fight for dignity and hope that refuse to be persecuted and die. Through the eyes of Hanna, a 14-year-old girl, we find ourselves in the beaut ...more

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Sep 15, 2018 BernLuvsBooks (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, ya-books, 2018, traveling-sister-read

5 Stars for this poignant, beautifully written debut YA novel inspired by real Holocaust events

One of the most touching aspects of this book for me was the strength, determination, loyalty and love each of the characters showed during such a bleak and desperate time. It isn’t easy to sustain positivity during such a horrifying time. Yet, family, friendship, hope, culture, devotion and religious beliefs paid a pivotal role in sustaining the Jewish people through the darkest of times when all els ...more

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Aug 15, 2018 Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hard-soft-copy, 2018-summer-reads, arcs, 2018-reads, super-excited-about

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

5 beautiful and transfixing stars to My Real Name is Hanna!

Some of the most meaningful, poignant books I have read have been about the Holocaust, and My Real Name is Hanna will be placed on that same shelf.

“I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because that is the day that God allowed me into this wor/>5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

5 beautiful and transfixing stars to My Real Name is Hanna!

Some of the most meaningful, poignant books I have read have been about the Holocaust, and My Real Name is Hanna will be placed on that same shelf.

“I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because that is the day that God allowed me into this world to breathe my first soul breath of chilled Ukrainian air.”

Hanna Slivka is a teen living in Soviet-occupied Ukraine when Hitler’s army crosses the border. She and her family are Jewish, and the Gestapo wants the town, Kwasova, to be “free of Jews.” The book begins, however, with a beautiful setting up of the scenery and daily life of this family living in a peaceful Ukraine. I was not familiar with the culture of Ukraine, especially during this time period, so I soaked in all of the stunningly descriptive prose.

Once the army arrives, Hanna’s father is favored because he can fix things that no one else can, but eventually, their luck runs out, and they are forced to pack what they can and flee into the forest with other families. They later move to live in the caves for more security and less exposure. This is where they stayed for over a year’s time, but not without some of the good helpers in the world contributing.

Based on true events, and with less than 5% of Ukrainian Jews surviving the Holocaust, this type of story begs to be told because there are so few around to tell it. Tara Lynn Masih’s lyrical writing illustrates the strength and sheer will of Hanna and her family to survive. Overall, My Real Name is Hanna is a strong, emotionally-resonant story of friendship, family, and true compassion in the most dire of times.

Many thanks to the author for the finished copy to review. All opinions are my own.

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com ...more

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Jul 23, 2018 Debra rated it it was amazing

**This book was inspired by real Holocaust events

"I have lost everything that can ever be lost. I have given everything that can ever be given." - my family's MA - Holocaust Survivor

Hanna Slivka is almost fourteen years old when her entire world is turned upside down. Hitler's army has crossed into the Soviet occupied Ukraine. They are intent on making the land "free of Jews." Hanna's life goes from exploring with her siblings and helping her neighbor decorate psyanky egg **This book was inspired by real Holocaust events

"I have lost everything that can ever be lost. I have given everything that can ever be given." - my family's MA - Holocaust Survivor

Hanna Slivka is almost fourteen years old when her entire world is turned upside down. Hitler's army has crossed into the Soviet occupied Ukraine. They are intent on making the land "free of Jews." Hanna's life goes from exploring with her siblings and helping her neighbor decorate psyanky eggs, to having rocks thrown at her on her walk home from school, to hiding in the walls of her home when the army comes, to eventually leaving everything behind to seek safety in the forest and eventually in an underground cave with several other families.

The caves, although they provide protection, do not let in any sunlight, fresh air and keeps them in perpetual darkness both literally and figuratively. They do not know what is going on in the outside world, until their members must leave to find food and hopefully trade with nearby farmers.

This book is a well written account of what it was like to live/survive during the Holocaust. Where neighbors either helped neighbors or turned on them. Where hatred and racism tore away people's morals and values. A time when fear and hatred ruled the day. But in the darkness of the caves, humanity existed. People helped people, lives were lived, hope remained, and the true meaning of what makes a home is learned.

This is a timely book as there are so very few Holocaust survivors left in the world. My Ma passed away in 2017. Books such as this one keeps their stories and memories alive. No one truly knows what he/she is capable of until they are placed to the test. Readers may ask "could I survive this?" I hope none of us ever have to find out.

As I mentioned this book is well written and contains beautiful descriptions of nature. I enjoyed Hanna's relationship with her next-door neighbor and both of their openness and interest in each other's lives. This book showed the strength of family bonds but also showed the strength of friendship and how small acts of kindness can not only make someone's day but can also save a life. This is a wonderful book about courage, survival, and family for readers of all ages but is geared for the YA population.

A 2018 Skipping Stones Honor Award Book

Thank you to Mandel Vilar Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All of the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com ...more

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Sep 09, 2018 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

STRUGGLE AND SURVIVAL in the Ukraine. Due to shifting borders, Hanna and her family, have been considered, Poles, Austrisns and Ukrainians. Changing tides once again threaten as the Germans are heading their way. As a Jewish family they are close, and close to many of their non Jewish neighbors. It is time though for them to go into hiding, as their village is to become Jewish free, as news reaches them of what is happening to the Jews who are taken.

Meant for. YA audience, the violence is there ...more

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Jun 22, 2018 Felicia rated it it was amazing

"It's ok to cry, Hanna...crying is a form of breathing."

*ugly sobbing* 😩

Narrated in the voice of 14 year old Hanna, My Real Name is Hanna is the true story of a Jewish family on their quest for survival in the Ukraine during the Holocaust. The family eventually takes refuge in underground caves leaving them to try to make some semblance of a life while being cast in complete and total darkness.

"What is it like to take your last breath? What if the sound of it ...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Carol rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 200, favorites, young-adult, read-2018, published-2018, netgalley, historical-fiction, ww2, holocaust

"I am no longer afraid to walk in the dark."

In MY REAL NAME IS HANNA, a bright, courageous and clever young (soon to be) 14 year old narrates the story of her loving Jewish family as they navigate through the dangerous and deadly times of the holocaust. The Slivka's are good, caring people who don't harm anyone....just want to live in peace....but that is not to be.

As rumors of a Nazi invasion to a remote Ukraine strengthen, escape is the only answer to stay together....stay alive....or die on their own terms. Uprooted from tbe.

...more

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Sep 12, 2018 Karen rated it it was amazing

This is the story of a young girl named Hanna Slivka, and her family who are Jewish and live first in Poland, then in the Ukraine during the years of the Holocaust.
A story of love, family, and survival.
This family had to go to extremes to try and stay safe... always on alert, having to leave their home..first to the forests...then to the caves, and sticking together to survive. There were a few kind people along the way that were a help to them.. but surviving was immensely difficult! ...more

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Jul 29, 2018 Cheri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, wwii, young-adult, arc, holocaust, 2018, ukraine, holocaust-survivors, publisher-mandel-vilar-press

“Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of love”
--Dance Me to the End of Love, Leonard Cohen, Songwriters: Leonard Cohen

”I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because/>”I--Dance ...more

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Mar 19, 2019 Christine rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Christine by: Angela M review

Shelves: world-war-2, historical-fiction, award-winner-nominee, libby-has

4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars

What an enthralling story! My Real Name is Hanna is an extraordinary debut novel based on the lives of an extended Jewish family that spent a year and a half hiding from the Germans in the Ukraine during World War II.

This story is told from the POV of Hanna, a teenage girl from a family of five. They, along with around another dozen other persons (extended family and friends) spend a hellacious 18 months just trying to survive in the deep fores 4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars

What an enthralling story! My Real Name is Hanna is an extraordinary debut novel based on the lives of an extended Jewish family that spent a year and a half hiding from the Germans in the Ukraine during World War II.

This story is told from the POV of Hanna, a teenage girl from a family of five. They, along with around another dozen other persons (extended family and friends) spend a hellacious 18 months just trying to survive in the deep forest and then a miles-long cave system in the Ukraine as the Germans went all out to kill every Jew in the area while Russia tried to regain control of the region.

Though there are a lot of chilling moments in this novel, there is also celebration of the human spirit in the fight to stay alive with faith, hope, family, and the sheer will to do whatever it takes. It’s really difficult to fully comprehend what people actually went through during these insane world wars. They lived off “soup” made from residual animal fat leeched from a pair of leather boots, fried centipedes, and leaves. They wore the same clothes for months on end. They did not see the light of day for a year. I can’t even imagine surviving all that, not to mention the constant threat of sudden death.

The best and the worst of all those fighting to survive certainly become apparent in this tale. This is a raw, emotional, beautiful story that shows us how strong, courageous, and compassionate humans can be when placed in dire situations. A special nod goes to one of my three favorite characters, Alla Petrovich, at this point. Of course the other side of the coin is clearly apparent as well. We see neighbor turning against neighbor, ruthless mass killings because of religious beliefs, people committing suicide before they let anyone else kill them.

To the author’s credit, despite the content, the book is a very readable and captivating page-turner. I could barely tear myself away from reading it and finished it in little more than a day. I also want to mention the incredible research that went into this novel. Please make sure you read the section entitled “A Historical Note” at the end of the story.

I again learned something new about the Holocaust from a historical fiction novel. This time it was the story of the people who fled to the deep forest areas and to the caves to try to escape certain death.

My Real Name is Hanna is richly told with simple language and represents to me a poignant celebration of the will to survive. I highly recommend it to all historical fiction readers. It’s a high quality read.

Thank you to Rochester Public Library and the Libby app for lending me a copy of this book.
...more

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Feb 21, 2019 Linda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: publisher, historical-fiction, favorites, 5-star-winners, history, young-adult

The horrors that visit upon us.......and yet a flicker of life survives to tell.

Tara Lynn Masih touches words like paint to canvas in My Real Name Is Hanna. This novel reflects true happenings in a small town in Ukraine during Hitler's march after his occupation of Poland in 1939. Hanna speaks softly with the image of her daughter in mind as she reflects on those heart-heavy events forever embedded in her mind.

"My family told stories. We swallowed them in place of food an The horrors that visit upon us.......and yet a flicker of life survives to tell.

Tara Lynn Masih touches words like paint to canvas in My Real Name Is Hanna. This novel reflects true happenings in a small town in Ukraine during Hitler's march after his occupation of Poland in 1939. Hanna speaks softly with the image of her daughter in mind as she reflects on those heart-heavy events forever embedded in her mind.

"My family told stories. We swallowed them in place of food and water. Stories kept us alive in our underground sanctuary."

Born in Kwasova in 1928, Hanna views her world caught up in a whirlwind of changing identities. Ukraine becomes occupied by the Polish and then by the Russians. Snippets of differing languages and cultures spread into a survival mode of the moment. Hanna's mother, Eva, sends her into the market square where escalating limitations on Jews was a daily occurrence. Eva hopes that Hannah's blonde hair will bring a few more meager supplies. Ration cards state otherwise.

We feel the tension mounting as curtains are drawn tightly and eyes observe the movements of neighbors. The Ukrainian Catholic Church baptizes Jews with new birth certificates while the police collaborate with the Nazis. Underground bunkers are created with Jews sleeping in their clothes. Fear and uncertainty are breathed in like air.

Although this novel has been labeled as Young Adult, I believe that it finds a universal audience on all levels. Masih's research is impeccable in its fact finding. But it is within the beautiful strands of her prose that the story takes root. She brings the coarseness, and yet the finery, within these families who will experience unspeakable abominations. And all these things are told through the voice of a fourteen year old still pivoting on the precipice of childhood and questioning each day if it holds a future. The country itself, Ukraine, means "borderland".......the fine line of survival for some and the fine line of existing no longer.

Beautifully written and hauntingly memorable. You'll certainly not forget this experience. ...more

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Sep 10, 2018 Lindsay - Traveling Sister rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, traveling-sister-read

3.5 stars

A haunting and devastating Holocaust story of one Jewish family’s struggle to survive. Hanna is thirteen years old and living in Soviet-occupied Ukraine when the Gestapo arrive in her small town to ‘eliminate all Jews’. She and her family, along with a neighbouring Jewish family, flee to the forest to hide out and avoid capture. From there, they must flee further, taking them into underground caves where they must battle starvation, isolation, complete darkness, constant dam ...more

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Jun 30, 2018 Katie rated it really liked it

A problem I often have with Holocaust fiction is a tendency on the author's part to depict all Jews as saints. It's an understandable stance given what horrors they had to go through but it often doesn't make for compelling or sometimes even credible nuanced adult fiction (I'm thinking of The Invisible Bridge and We Were the Lucky Ones). We're asked to sympathise with a cast of idealised characters who perhaps belong more to a fairy story than a novel. An easy way around this problem perhaps is to acknowled ...more

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Sep 14, 2018 Carolyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, coming-of-age, netgalley, 2018, netgalley-2018, ww2

At the end of this book, set in the region of Galicia in the western Ukraine,the author tells us that less than 2% of the Jews who lived there survived WW2. That is a truly heartbreaking statistic and makes this novel based on a true story of survival even more poignant.

In 1942 Hanna Slivka is nearly 14, living in a small Ukrainian village where Jews and Christians live side by side in peace and harmony, when the Germans arrive to start the process of making the area judenfrei. Initially her f At the end of this book, set in the region of Galicia in the western Ukraine,the author tells us that less than 2% of the Jews who lived there survived WW2. That is a truly heartbreaking statistic and makes this novel based on a true story of survival even more poignant.

In 1942 Hanna Slivka is nearly 14, living in a small Ukrainian village where Jews and Christians live side by side in peace and harmony, when the Germans arrive to start the process of making the area judenfrei. Initially her family is helped by friends and neighbours, but eventually most of the town people turn against them as the German propaganda machine swings into action and it becomes too dangerous to be seen helping Jews. Forced to flee deep into the forest with some other families to a small hut they eke out an existence until that too becomes too dangerous and they retreat to an underground cave system. Their days and nights are spent in darkness, food becomes even harder to find and survival becomes a question of whether they will succumb to starvation and malnutrition before the Russian army arrives to force out the Germans.

We know that Hanna survives, as she is the narrator telling her story to her daughter. The story is more about how this spirited, courageous child survived three years of living in fear and deprivation and what it is like to be hunted by merciless men. This is also a story of family bonds and courage, of passing down stories and religion to the next generation. Despite the darkness of the story, it never feels too oppressive as the author describes the beauty of the forest, the joy in finding food or receiving small acts of kindness from friends still prepared to help them. Hanna's one book on Joan of Arc helps to give her courage and the only paper on which to write and record their days in hiding. The children, lacking toys show their natural inventiveness and resilience by finding new games to play or playthings to make out of the nature to be found around them.

While there are many books written about the horrors of the Holocaust and those who survived, this is an inspirational, timely story at a time when there is still much hate and persecution in our world based on colour, ethnicity or religion. Recommended for both adults as well as young adults. 4.5★

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Mandel Vilar Press for a digital copy of the book ...more

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Mar 22, 2018 Tara rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Recommends it for: Historical novel fans, Literary readers, WW II readers, YA readers

Shelves: holocaust, history, young-adult

Winner of a FLORIDA BOOK AWARD and a SKIPPING STONES HONOR AWARD, this is my first novel for young readers and adults, inspired by real events. Five years of research and writing went into My Real Name Is Hanna, inspired by a family who sought refuge in the gypsum caves of Ukraine during the Holocaust. The book, with its gorgeous cover and interior, is due out early Sept. 2018!

“Hanna’s story . . . uncovers an astonishing, rich vein of hope in a world gone utterly dark. The anguish and love ...more

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Jun 30, 2018 Sue rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, read-2018, historical-fiction, wwii, holocaust-literature, favorite-authors, favorites, ukraine, ya

My Real Name is Hanna is a book that has come at the right time, a time when we all, young and old, need to be reminded of the cost of evil on and in society. We meet Hanna in her small Ukrainian village in 1941. Anti-semitism is rising, with taunting and school yard cruelty. Soon this will be replaced with more lethal threats but, for now, the Russians have taken control and have “only” limited all religious observances. If the Germans gain control of Ukraine, everything will change. Most of th My Real Name is Hanna is a book that has come at the right time, a time when we all, young and old, need to be reminded of the cost of evil on and in society. We meet Hanna in her small Ukrainian village in 1941. Anti-semitism is rising, with taunting and school yard cruelty. Soon this will be replaced with more lethal threats but, for now, the Russians have taken control and have “only” limited all religious observances. If the Germans gain control of Ukraine, everything will change. Most of the children are too young to understand or care about such things but Hanna, turning 14, understands enough to worry for herself, her family, friends, and all of the Jews who are threatened. She is human enough to worry for her good neighbors of all faiths.

Ultimately, the German war machine does push the Russian army out of the country and begin its program of “freeing” towns of Jews. First they are identified, then labeled with the infamous star, then rounded up, then shipped off or killed where they stand. This story may be old to some but forgotten or unknown by many. Here we see some variations on this theme of extermination but the cruelty is the same.

Hanna’s story, based on that of a real family similarly threatened, takes a different, often terrifying path. Before the Slivka family can be taken, they plan and, with others, leave carefully to hide as long as necessary in the forest or wherever else they must go in order to live. This hiding will last for many, many months in the forest, followed by many more underground.

Masih has provided many cultural and religious insights within her story, fitting them seamlessly into the narrative of family events, adding to the value of the text as a young adult novel. There is also reference made to a readers guide in the afterword; this would be a helpful study guide. As I indicated above, I do believe that My Name is Hanna is a valuable book for our time. In a time where values and beliefs seem to be confused, it is helpful to read a beautiful book celebrating resilience and familial bonds and survival. This is a book adults can read with children. Both will benefit.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review. ...more

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Sep 26, 2018 Brenda -Traveling Sister host of The Traveling Friends rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-sister-reads, lighter-historical-fiction, netgalley

The story begins with us meeting Hannah as she tells her granddaughter “I will say my real name to you for the very first time” and from that very first sentence I was intrigued to learn Hanna’s story. She tell us the story of how her family came to their underground sanctuary, how they stayed alive, how their spirits were tested while the world above carried out their crimes.

My Real Name Hanna focuses on an Ukrainian Jewish family and their story of survival and sacrifice and is ins ...more

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Feb 06, 2019 Fergus rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My Real Name is Hanna voices the same single contentious issue that many other similar WWII books concern themselves with, but it stands alone as a masterpiece.

A masterpiece of the heart.

And it NEEDS to be read by ANY generation after those of the fifties and sixties. For these younger folk would profit most by it.

You see, my own postwar generation straddled two separate and almost irreconcilable epochs: the Traditionalist and the Postmodernist.

And ...more

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Jul 11, 2018 PattyMacDotComma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to PattyMacDotComma by: Amalia Gavea

Shelves: arc-netgalley-read-or-dnr, historical-fiction, kids, kindle, ya-new-adult, aa-patty

4.5★
“My family told stories. We swallowed them in place of food and water. Stories kept us alive in our underground sanctuary. The world continued to carry out its crimes above us, while we fought just to remain whole below.

Yesterday, daughter, you found my copy of Joan of Arc, hidden under dark rafters for many years.”
. . .
I close my eyes, and it’s as if I am there again, in the dark, trying to live to see another day.
So now it is my turn to tell you a story, my darling daughter. My ...more

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Sep 23, 2018 Mackey added it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-ew, ya-young-adult, my-reviews, historical-fiction, books-read-2018

My Real Name is Hannah is a beautifully written story based on a compilation of real life stories.

The story is told from the perspective of a young Ukrainian girl set during WWII. It is the story of struggle and survival at a time when it was a death sentence to be a Jew. I was unclear while reading the book if it was meant to be for adults or, perhaps, teens but the simplistic writing style would suggest that latter. One of the aspects that I most enjoyed was the author's inclusion of Uk ...more

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Mar 29, 2019 Kat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-2

One of the first sentences that grabbed me in this one was the one that talked about geography and where exactly Hana’s story is set. If you’re from a large or fairly isolated country, it may be easy to overlook how fluid boundaries and borders are historically. And when Hana remarks that the place she lives has been called Austria, Poland, and the date the story starts is part of Ukraine, it really hits home. And also sets the stage for the cultural cruelty described—the Russian government tryi ...more

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Aug 31, 2018 Hannah Greendale rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult, giveaways

A celebration of Jewish culture and a devastating account of one Jewish family’s struggle to escape the Nazis by hiding in a nearby underground cave, as told through the eyes of the compassionate, fourteen-year-old Hanna Slivka. Masih paints a portrait of Ukraine using rich sensory language and balances the beauty of before against the brutal realities of struggling to stay alive, ultimately creating a startling account of all that is lost and must be regained even after the fighting is over and the h ...more

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Oct 09, 2018 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

‘My name is Hanna Slivka. I was born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. I am still breathing. This is my story.’

The simplness of this story is what I found most endearing about this novel. It is told in a straight forward manner with no ‘fluff’, which I appreciated. Hanna’s story comes as her daughter asks about a book she finds with marks in it. What follows is a story of survival under extreme circumstances. The huge lose of human life is so incomprehensible. With ev ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, history, young-adult, world-war-ii, tara-lynn-masih

My thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

This is a story told by Hanna Slivka to her daughter, about a part of her life that she has so far kept hidden from her—when at fourteen, she was living with her family in Russian occupied Ukraine. Life had become hard, their possessions reduced because of the strict rules the communists went by, and religion, also taboo to the communists, was something that couldn’t be practised as openly as when they were ‘free’. But these hards My thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

This is a story told by Hanna Slivka to her daughter, about a part of her life that she has so far kept hidden from her—when at fourteen, she was living with her family in Russian occupied Ukraine. Life had become hard, their possessions reduced because of the strict rules the communists went by, and religion, also taboo to the communists, was something that couldn’t be practised as openly as when they were ‘free’. But these hardships seem nothing compared to what lay ahead for the Jewish family (and others in their village) when Hitler invades. Initially, the impact on them is in terms of helping persecuted people from other villages and towns to escape, more restrictions on food and resources, and having to face taunts and insults from some members of the community they have been part of. But before long, despite many friendly and kind (and indeed brave) neighbours’ help in keeping them safe in their own house, they soon have to leave and go into hiding for safety. For a period of over two years they must live, first in an isolated forest cabin, and then in an underground cave with others of their community, with precious little to eat, fearing for their lives every minute, not only from the Germans but also from many in their own village/surroundings who are willing to turn against them as easily. Thankfully for them, not all are like that and they do manage to get help from various friends, particularly their neighbour Alla Petrovich, and friend, farmer Yuri Janowski.

While this story is a piece of fiction, the author has based it on a true incident of the Stermer family who survived the war living in such caves for over 500 days, a family who survived intact in a country where only 5 per cent and region where only 2 per cent of Jews survived. This is a very hard book to read and yet such an important one, for it brings us face to face with perhaps the ugliest side of humanity, as well as I guess, the best side. While the Slivkas do not see the worst of the Nazi atrocities, what little they see or hear of is also something that words can’t really describe. (I couldn’t help but wonder, one would dub Hitler as ‘mad’ at the least for the way his warped mind worked, but what about those hundreds of thousands who followed in his footsteps and perpetuated unspeakable atrocities? What is worse, as the author too writes in her note at the end, is human beings don’t seem to have learnt from this and continue to persecute on the basis of religion, of skin colour, of race.) The hardships (too mild a word, really) the family and their friends face in having to live with so little, in circumstances that we would wish on no living creature, and always having to look over their shoulder, perpetually being in fear of their lives is something that one can’t even imagine. What immense courage it must have taken to have the will to fight on, to live on, when literally everything seems against you, the invaders but also people that were of their own place, and the very the circumstances in which you are forced to live—disease, sickness, and malnutrition posing equally serious threats of their own. Each page one reads, each day that one reads of is heart-breaking. But there is hope in that for all of those who were cruel, who turned against their own, there were as well a few, who stood by them, facing as much danger of being caught and punished. They at least show that there is some ‘human’ left in human beings.

But amidst all of this suffering and pain and heartbreak, there was something that kept the families’ lives somewhat normal, and brought a ray of pleasantness into the reader’s experience and this was how rich in culture this book was. The festivals that the Slivkas observed (now so much more familiar to me since I read All-of-a-Kind Family), the birthdays, were something, that even if could not be observed openly or fully as they were before, gave them something to hold on to, something that made life more liveable perhaps, though later, when food and resources becoms more and more scarce, these too are no longer there. But I loved the descriptions of these in the initial parts of the book as I did those of the local culture, Alla Petrovich’s egg-painting (pysanky), the local parades and festivals, and daily life.

I haven’t read many books with a holocaust theme (only Anne Frank’s Diary, really), mostly because I know how heart-rending they will be (and how hard to handle), but I realise, it is also so very important to read them, to face how low human being can fall, how little they deserve the superiority they assume, though there are those in every circumstance, who certainly do deserve every accolade, who are really ‘human’. This is certainly one such books and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
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Mar 22, 2018 Teresa rated it it was amazing

I loved Tara Masih’s short-story collection Where the Dog Star Never Glows, so I figured I was in good hands with her first novel, especially as the former’s stories range in time and to places that aren’t her own, as is the case here. One never knows how a writer’s talent and skill will translate to another genre, but no worries here: She delivers.

This is the story of a Jewish family living in a remote Ukrainian village, trying to survive the liquidation Aktion of the Einsatzgruppen. Based on a true story (explained in I loved Tara Masih’s short-story collection Where the Dog Star Never Glows, so I figured I was in good hands with her first novel, especially as the former’s stories range in time and to places that aren’t her own, as is the case here. One never knows how a writer’s talent and skill will translate to another genre, but no worries here: She delivers.

This is the story of a Jewish family living in a remote Ukrainian village, trying to survive the liquidation Aktion of the Einsatzgruppen. Based on a true story (explained in an historical note by the author at the end), it’s one I hadn’t heard before. The political history of the area is complicated, and through her adult narrator (the grown Hanna) Masih handles it admirably. As the story goes on, the tension increases, even becomes heart-pounding, as the settings change from the family’s beloved house to the forest and then into “the dark.”

My prior read was the nonfictional Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea and the descriptions of privations, the details of malnutrition and starvation, and its effects, as well as the impetus of going without in order to feed the youngest members of the community, are heartbreakingly similar. Not to mention, of course, the ever-timely topic in both books of man’s inhumanity toward man—here, Hanna’s bewilderment matches our own.

Though this is a book for young adults, it doesn’t talk down to them, as I feel some other Holocaust-related YA novels do. The lack of irritating YA tropes is another plus. It’s a rich work, full of traditions, folklore and literary references. I will eventually buy a copy to give to a relative, an older teen whom I’ve already given my copies of Elie Wiesel’s Night and Anne Frank: The Biography. While not nearly as horrific as Night in its details, this book doesn’t shy away from the truth either.

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Addendum: It's been about 24 hours since I wrote this review and I'm still missing the book. It's one of those books I find hard to move on from in order to start another. Honestly, that's one of the highest compliments I can pay to any work.

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I received an ARC of this book from the author. This has not affected my review. ...more

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Aug 01, 2018 Jen/The Tolkien Gal/ジェニファー rated it really liked it

Shelves: polls-about-life-2018, netgalley, 2018, netgalley-challenge

About 3.7 stars rounded to 4.

Review to come.

Image result for holocaust quotes

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Jun 20, 2019 JenacideByBibliophile rated it it was amazing

Shelves: coming-of-age, historical-fiction, fiction-ya, fiction-ya-adult, heart-smashers, fiction-ya-teen, life-changing, hidden-gems, pre-teen, wwii-holocaust

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author, Tara Lynn Masih, for an honest review.

Opinion:

“My last thought, before I say the Shema, is of the young mother Jacob told us about, while he choked on his own tears-a mother who smothered her own child in her winter coat before the shot came, so the child would not feel the bullet.”

A book hasn’t left me speechless in a while…

…

But here I am…

…speechless.

This book will ignite a fire in your bones ...more

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Aug 08, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: holocaust, read-2018, historical-fiction, netgalley-read, young-adult

Inspired by real life events this is the heartbreaking and courageous story of Hanna Slivka and her family trying to escape Hitler's army in Ukraine. Hanna is only 14 years old but her bravery and spirit under such dire circumstances are commendable. This is a YA novel but everyone should read it to remind us that this should never happen again.

Thank you to Mandel Vilar Press and Netgalley for a free e-copy.

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Sep 05, 2018 Krista rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-books-read, fiction, jewish, setting-eu, historical-fiction-eu, time-1900-1949, reviewed-for-netgalley, kindle-netgalley, military-war-wwii, young-adult-ya

Rating: 4 stars -- Really, REALLY good!

First Sentence: “I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because that is the day that God allowed me into this world to breathe my first soul breath of chilled Ukrainian air.”

This is a sparkling gem of a YA book. It sheds light on a little know aspect of the Holocaust; Rating: 4 stars -- Really, REALLY good!

First Sentence: “I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because that is the day that God allowed me into this world to breathe my first soul breath of chilled Ukrainian air.”

This is a sparkling gem of a YA book. It sheds light on a little know aspect of the Holocaust; namely a group of Jews who tried to survive by living in caves to evade detection during WWII. Narrated by Hanna Slivka, she recounts the events of this book as an adult, remembering the experiences from her early teen years. She describes the slow erosion of rights and the deepening levels of persecution for Jewish (and Gypsy) residents of an area in Europe that is currently in the Urkraine, but had switched back and forth between Poland, and Ukraine (or Russia) in the years before WWII.

Hanna and her family lived the village of Kwasova, where her father was held in high esteem because of the ‘fix-it’ business he ran. He could repair just about anything that the villagers needed to have repaired. Their village was spared the initial incursions of the Gestapo, and German troops into the surrounding countryside, but it did not escape the ever more restrictive rules and requirements (the wearing of the Jewish Star for example) which were handed down by the Germans. So Hanna’s family, along with other families in the village, began to make escape plans. They almost left the escape it until it was too late. A day before the German troops overwhelmed the village, the group fled to the forest. As the war continued, they were warned by a local forester, that their location was soon be overrun by Germans. Hanna’s father, motivated by a large dose of desperation, suggested that they make the risky move of journeying to some local caves, and entombing themselves there to wait out the war. I won’t describe what happens next because I don’t want to give away any book spoilers.

This was a remarkable story of survival in the face of the inhumane horrors of WWII. The book describes villagers who were willing to risk everything to lend a hand, and those who would do what they could to destroy them. The book is based on a true story. The group this book is based on actually lived in the cave for over 500 days. Ultimately, this story is an empathetic look at a one of our darkest times in world history. The historical fiction is realistic, and while it is categorized in the Young Adult genre, I found it to be riveting, and written at a high enough comprehension level that I’m recommending it to Young Adults and Adults. It’s a great book about the strength of the human spirit in the face of terrible odds.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; Mandel Vilar Press; and the author, Tara Lynn Masih; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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