I try to read as much Holocaust literature as I can, especially diaries and first-person accounts of those alive at the time, so I looked forward to this book immensely. I was not disappointed. This is the story of Clara Schwarz, a Polish Jew, one of 5000 Jews in the town of Zolkiew at the time of the Nazi invasion of Poland. Clara was hidden by a Polish couple in a bunker with 17 other Jews, and because of their bravery she lived to tell her story.

What I enjoyed most was seeing how the families that were hidden together and the family that hid them truly became bonded to each other not only during the Holocaust but throughout the remainder of their lives. I enjoyed Clara's portrayal of Beck, the man who not only hid 18 Jews, but remained behind in Zolkiew at great risk to his family's safety rather than abandon these 18 Jews. Clara idolizes beck, but even as a young teen is able to distinguish that while he is an amazing and generous man as a rescuer, he is a far different person as a husband and father.

I found this story especially touching because the author familiarizes the reader with the names of so many loved ones who perished in the Holocaust. While many tomes refer to the 6 million, or in this case, the 5000 Jews in Zolkiew, Clara talks about her Aunts, Uncles, neighbors, and others who are killed. And as in every Holocaust memoir, the brutality and hatred displayed by both German soldiers and citizens alike is hard to understand and endure. When Clara describes hearing a german policeman describe with pride how many Jews he had killed, not knowing that 18 Jews were hidden under the floor beneath him, my stomach clenched for Clara and all Jews in Poland at the time.

I highly recommend this book to all interested in Holocaust memoirs and literature. Clara's diary, which she wrote while in hiding, is part of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum now, and my only regret about this book is that it did not include many more excerpts from her diary.

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In my opinion this should be on every person's must read list of books. I thought it was far better than The Diary of Anne Frank.

Clara tells her story in vivid detail. It is terrifying and heart wrenching at times but the bounce back ability of the human nature comes through loud and clear.

There are some surprising details of their hiding time that are revealed as the book progresses.

This is the only book I have ever given a 5 star rating. It sat in my TBR for 2 years and now I ask myself WHY?

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This book has been on my shelf for a few years, being passed over for other books. I knew I wanted to read it, but it's about the war, so I knew it would probably be heart-wrenching. I finally decided it was time. I would read it and when I was done, I would post it. I can't do it. I will have to read it at least once more. Mrs. Kramer couldn't have written a more hypnotic, enthralling book. I feel truly grateful to her for sharing her pain, her grief, her bravery; and the simple, pure goodness in a man who was so obviously human, with his weaknesses and failings, but to 18 Jews in Zolkiew, Poland, was undeniably a saint. If you can find this book, you need to read it. I'm sorry I can't share mine yet.

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