Adiva Geffen

Author Adiva Geffen's remarkable storytelling skills do justice to the the life story of an amazing woman, a WWII survivor whose family suffered many torments and tragedies, as well as unthinkable deprivation. Sarah, known as "Shurka", was a beautiful and happy child who lived an idyllic life on a farm outside a small village in Poland. As the wisps of smoke from Hitler's hellish genocide began to make their way through the winds of war, Jews who lived in remote, rural areas at first paid little heed, thinking that they were immune, and the trouble would soon be over. How wrong they were, and they became hunted by a monster with an unquenchable thirst for Jewish blood. Shurka married and started a family of her own--but no one was safe. Soon they would all flee for their lives, eventually living undercover in the deep, dark woods of the Parczew Forest. They became experts at living in hand-dug underground bunkers--surviving with whatever food and resources came their way. There natural dangers in the woods, and there were also traitors and informants. Along the way, many of those who fled lost their lives, and their loved ones lost hope with each passing. The forest was not a safe haven, and eventually they moved from hiding place to hiding place--always at a great personal cost. The loss of the naivete of an entire populace was horrific, and it left lasting effects from which the whole world has never recovered. Shurka survived, living to tell her story to the generations who would come later--the ones who needed to hear such a story from one who actually survived it--someone who survived the forest.

Book Copy Gratis Author… (meer)

This is a richly described novel of one woman’s survival as she and her family are forced to deal with Nazi takeover of Poland. Tightly packed with the history of WWII, it’s both heartbreaking and inspirational. I’ve always been interested in this period and thought I knew enough about it to not be shocked, but this was so deeply personal and Shurka’s tragedy with her son tore me to pieces.

It also leaves us with haunting “what if” questions and what it means when humanity itself hangs in the balance.

Thank you to Goodreads and the author for offering this free review copy.… (meer)