burstnwithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Since the entire book is essentially a giant story, it’s really a fantastic experience to listen to the audiobook. I highly recommend it. I did quite enjoy this book (if that’s a thing you can say). I mean, it was sad, it was depressing, and it was important. People are incredibly, unbelievably strong. If the content sounds like something you would enjoy, you should absolutely pick it up. If you might be sensitive to the topic, I wouldn’t recommend it. But overall I had a good experience and thought it was really well done.
s_piercenyback's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
heyitsniky's review
3.0
A very important story, but as the theme suggests, it's a heavy read and I recommend not reading it when you're not in the mood for it (not like I did). It's beautifully written but its characters didn't manage to make their ways to my heart; while their story was heart-wrenching, I couldn't worry for them the way I should have. One thing's for sure, after every book revolving around the wars and their monstrosity, I feel a bit more grateful for having born into a world where I don't have to worry about these things. Although I'm not Jewish, I would never want to feel even just the tickle of war, if I can choose. It must be horrible. Just like for poor 14-year-old Hanna, who doesn't and can't even understand, why and how one human could to something so terrible to another human.
That's also beyond my own understanding.
That's also beyond my own understanding.
paulataua's review against another edition
4.0
Hanna is a fourteen year old Jewish girl in the Ukraine when Hitler’s armies invade, and this is her and her family’s story. It’s a young adult novel based on many first hand accounts. Although it doesn’t focus on the brutal or the sensational, it does a really good job of capturing how it must have felt. We should be forever reminded of these things lest we forget. A good quick read!
katkinney's review
5.0
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 trying to stamp out traces of Polish language and culture, Stalin being anti-religion, the widespread discrimination against Jews, etc.
I loved the descriptions in this, of the war gradually worsening, of Hana’s world growing smaller and more bleak, of the measures they had to take to hide and survive. This tale is a bit different from some of the other WW2 stories you often read, and I found the setting interesting.
I loved the descriptions in this, of the war gradually worsening, of Hana’s world growing smaller and more bleak, of the measures they had to take to hide and survive. This tale is a bit different from some of the other WW2 stories you often read, and I found the setting interesting.
loveablepuddle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a story that will stay with me.
emily_in_wonderland's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
theoverbookedbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
"My Real Name is Hanna" begins in the present day from the perspective of adult Hanna Slivka (who now goes by Marcelina Rosenberg) as she shares her story with her daughter. She details the experiences she and her family went through between 1941-1945 as they struggled to survive the Holocaust in their hometown of Kwasova in Ukraine during WWII – events that led to her family finally leaving behind their home, their country and even their real names.
The story begins with a brief picture of the changing political landscape as the Nazi occupy Ukraine and the growing intolerance and discriminatory practices against the Jewish population that follows. Fourteen-year-old Hanna’s life changes as she can no longer move about freely, is unable to attend school and her family struggles to make ends meet with the meager rations allotted to them. While most of their acquaintances turn away from them, they do find kindness in a few who are willing to help them including their neighbor, Mrs. Petrovich, with whom Hanna shares a beautiful friendship. As the Germans call for "Judenfrei”, a Jew-free Ukraine, the Slivka family is forced to flee their home and take shelter in a cabin in the forest to avoid being hunted, deported, or killed. When they sense they are no longer safe there, the Slivka family, along with others, make their way to the gypsum caves near the valley further away from their shtetele where they spend over one year in hiding. What follows is a harrowing account of a family forced to fight illness, starvation and the constant threat of discovery and their struggle to stay alive and keep one another safe.
“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 boy
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.”
Just as other works that revolve around the Holocaust, this is not an easy read. I did like how the author weaves bits of Ukrainian and Jewish traditions, culture and folklore throughout the narrative. The author’s note at the end of the book states that though this book is a work of fiction, the story was inspired by the true account of the Stermer family (reference Esther Stermer’s memoir "We Fight to Survive") who spent over 500 days in gypsum caves to avoid capture by the Germans. She also mentions that only 5 % of Jews in all of Ukraine survived the Holocaust.
Tara Lynn Masih’s “My Real Name is Hanna” is a story about courage, resilience and survival. This is an important, well-written and well-researched story - the kind that should be read and shared and never forgotten. Though the target audience is YA and thus the tone is somewhat subdued, I feel that this would appeal to adults who are interested in historical fiction set in the WWII era.
The story begins with a brief picture of the changing political landscape as the Nazi occupy Ukraine and the growing intolerance and discriminatory practices against the Jewish population that follows. Fourteen-year-old Hanna’s life changes as she can no longer move about freely, is unable to attend school and her family struggles to make ends meet with the meager rations allotted to them. While most of their acquaintances turn away from them, they do find kindness in a few who are willing to help them including their neighbor, Mrs. Petrovich, with whom Hanna shares a beautiful friendship. As the Germans call for "Judenfrei”, a Jew-free Ukraine, the Slivka family is forced to flee their home and take shelter in a cabin in the forest to avoid being hunted, deported, or killed. When they sense they are no longer safe there, the Slivka family, along with others, make their way to the gypsum caves near the valley further away from their shtetele where they spend over one year in hiding. What follows is a harrowing account of a family forced to fight illness, starvation and the constant threat of discovery and their struggle to stay alive and keep one another safe.
“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 boy
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.”
Just as other works that revolve around the Holocaust, this is not an easy read. I did like how the author weaves bits of Ukrainian and Jewish traditions, culture and folklore throughout the narrative. The author’s note at the end of the book states that though this book is a work of fiction, the story was inspired by the true account of the Stermer family (reference Esther Stermer’s memoir "We Fight to Survive") who spent over 500 days in gypsum caves to avoid capture by the Germans. She also mentions that only 5 % of Jews in all of Ukraine survived the Holocaust.
Tara Lynn Masih’s “My Real Name is Hanna” is a story about courage, resilience and survival. This is an important, well-written and well-researched story - the kind that should be read and shared and never forgotten. Though the target audience is YA and thus the tone is somewhat subdued, I feel that this would appeal to adults who are interested in historical fiction set in the WWII era.
basicbbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I haven’t heard much specifically about Jews in Ukraine, this story was very interesting. Beautifully written. Loved the character of Alla
I haven’t heard much specifically about Jews in Ukraine, this story was very interesting. Beautifully written. Loved the character of Alla