Title: The Hidden Girl: A True Story of the Holocaust
Author: Lola Rein Kaufman
First published September 1, 2008
97 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780545061179 (ISBN10: 0545061172)
Rating: 4.02
Overview
Amidst the atrocities of the Holocaust, Lola Rein Kaufman’s true story of survival and perseverance is a testament to the human spirit. After losing her mother to the Gestapo, Lola is forced into hiding, constantly on the run and living in fear of discovery.
From secret homes to underground dirt holes, Lola’s journey is a harrowing one, filled with unimaginable hardships and the constant threat of death. All she has left is one precious item, a dress embroidered by her mother, that serves as a symbol of hope and the love that keeps her going.
The Hidden Girl is a compelling and heart-wrenching tale of one girl’s fight for safety and freedom in the face of unspeakable evil.
About the Author
Meet Lola Rein Kaufman, an inspiring Holocaust survivor and the talented writer behind “The Hidden Girl: A True Story of the Holocaust.” Her amazing story is now featured on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s website, where you can learn more about her experiences: http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/o…. Today, Lola calls New York home, where she lives with her loving family.
Editoral Review
Lola Rein Kaufman’s The Hidden Girl: A True Story of the Holocaust is a deeply moving memoir chronicling the author’s harrowing experiences as a young Jewish girl during World War II. Published in 2008 by Adams Media, the book offers a raw, unflinching look at the atrocities of the Holocaust and the lasting impact it had on survivors.
Kaufman spares no detail as she recounts her family’s deportation from their home in Hungary to a Jewish ghetto in Ukraine, followed by their forced labor in a German munitions factory. Despite the constant fear and hunger, Kaufman finds courage and solace in her relationships with her family members and a few sympathetic German guards.
The Hidden Girl is a story of survival against all odds, but it is also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable evil. Kaufman’s writing is understated and direct, allowing the emotional weight of her story to speak for itself.
Her descriptions of the brutal conditions in the ghetto and the factory are chilling, but she also conveys moments of hope and kindness with warmth and sensitivity. One of the strengths of Kaufman’s memoir is the depth with which she explores the psychological impact of trauma on survivors.
She doesn’t shy away from the shame and guilt survivors often carry with them, but she also offers a message of hope for those struggling to heal from their own experiences of trauma. At times, the narrative can become repetitive, with Kaufman revisiting certain events and emotions multiple times.
Additionally, some readers may find themselves wishing for more contextualization and historical background, as the book assumes a certain level of familiarity with the history of the Holocaust and World War II. Overall, The Hidden Girl is a powerful and haunting memoir that will stay with readers long after they finish the last page.
It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Holocaust or the human capacity for endurance and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. Rating: 4.5/5
