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The Promise: The Moving Story of a Family in the Holocaust
This is the remarkable true story of a young Jewish girl and her brother growing up during World War II, caught in a world turned upside down by the Nazis. Written specially for children, Eva describes her happy early childhood in Vienna with her kind and loving parents and her older brother Heinz, whom she adored. But when the Nazis marched into Austria everything changed. Eva's family fled to Belgium, then to Amsterdam where, with the help of the Dutch Resistance, they spent the next two years in hiding—Eva and her mother in one house, and her father and brother in another. Finally, though, they were all betrayed and deported to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Despite the horrors of the camp, Eva's positive attitude and stubborn personality (which had often got her into trouble) saw her through one of the most tragic events in history, and she and her mother eventually returned to Amsterdam. Sadly her father and brother perished just weeks before the liberation. Eva and her mother went back to the house where Heinz and his father had hidden, for Eva had remembered that Heinz had told her he had hidden his paintings beneath the floorboards there. Sure enough, there were over 30 beautiful paintings. Heinz hadn't wasted any of his talents during his captivity. For Eva, here was a tangible, everlasting memory of her brother, and a reminder of her father's promise that all the good things you accomplish will make a difference to someone, and your achievements will be carried on. Heinz's paintings have been on display in exhibitions in the USA and are now a part of a permanent exhibition in Amsterdam's war museum. Told simply and clearly for younger readers, The Promise is an unforgettable story, written by Eva Schloss, the step-daughter of Otto Frank and Barbara Powers, Eva's very close friend.
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2006
17 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Eva Schloss
11 books64 followersEva Schloss (née Geiringer; 1929–2026) was a Jewish Austrian‑British Holocaust survivor, memoirist, and the stepdaughter of Otto Frank, the father of Margot and diarist Anne Frank. She spoke widely about her family's experiences during the Holocaust and participated in the USC Shoah Foundation's Visual History Archive, recording interactive video testimony for use in educational programmes.
From "People Associated with Anne Frank" (Wikipedia article):
Eva Geiringer shared a remarkably similar history with Anne. The Geiringers lived on the opposite side of Merwedeplein, the square where the Frank's apartment was located, and Eva and Anne were almost exactly the same age. Eva was also a close friend of Sanne Ledermann, and she knew both Anne and Margot.
Eva described herself as an out-and-out tomboy, and hence she was in awe of Anne's fashion sense and worldliness, but she was somewhat puzzled by Anne's fascination with boys. "I had a brother, so boys were no big thing to me" Eva wrote. But Anne had introduced Eva to her father when the Geiringers first came to Amsterdam "so you can speak German with someone" as Anne had said, and Eva never forgot Otto's kindness to her. Though they did know each other on a first-name basis, Eva and Anne were not especially close, as they had different groups of friends aside from their mutual close friendship with Sanne Ledermann.
Eva's brother Heinz was called up for deportation to labor camp on the same day as Margot Frank, and the Geiringers went into hiding at the same time the Franks did, though the Geiringer family split into two groups to do so - Eva and her mother, and Heinz and his father. Though hiding in two separate locations, all four of the Geiringers were betrayed on the same day, about three months before the Frank family.
Eva survived Auschwitz, and when the Russians liberated Birkenau, the women's sector of the camp, she walked the mile-and-a-half distance to the men's camp to look for her father and brother, finding out much later that they had not survived the prisoner march out of Auschwitz. But when she entered the sick barracks of the men's camp, she recognized Otto Frank, and had a warm reunion with him.
Eight years later, Otto married Eva's widowed mother Fritzi, thereby making Eva a stepsister of Anne. Eva later wrote her autobiography Eva's Story: A Survivor's Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank,[1] which served as the inspiration for the development of a popular multimedia stage presentation about the Holocaust called And Then They Came for Me.
From "People Associated with Anne Frank" (Wikipedia article):
Eva Geiringer shared a remarkably similar history with Anne. The Geiringers lived on the opposite side of Merwedeplein, the square where the Frank's apartment was located, and Eva and Anne were almost exactly the same age. Eva was also a close friend of Sanne Ledermann, and she knew both Anne and Margot.
Eva described herself as an out-and-out tomboy, and hence she was in awe of Anne's fashion sense and worldliness, but she was somewhat puzzled by Anne's fascination with boys. "I had a brother, so boys were no big thing to me" Eva wrote. But Anne had introduced Eva to her father when the Geiringers first came to Amsterdam "so you can speak German with someone" as Anne had said, and Eva never forgot Otto's kindness to her. Though they did know each other on a first-name basis, Eva and Anne were not especially close, as they had different groups of friends aside from their mutual close friendship with Sanne Ledermann.
Eva's brother Heinz was called up for deportation to labor camp on the same day as Margot Frank, and the Geiringers went into hiding at the same time the Franks did, though the Geiringer family split into two groups to do so - Eva and her mother, and Heinz and his father. Though hiding in two separate locations, all four of the Geiringers were betrayed on the same day, about three months before the Frank family.
Eva survived Auschwitz, and when the Russians liberated Birkenau, the women's sector of the camp, she walked the mile-and-a-half distance to the men's camp to look for her father and brother, finding out much later that they had not survived the prisoner march out of Auschwitz. But when she entered the sick barracks of the men's camp, she recognized Otto Frank, and had a warm reunion with him.
Eight years later, Otto married Eva's widowed mother Fritzi, thereby making Eva a stepsister of Anne. Eva later wrote her autobiography Eva's Story: A Survivor's Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank,[1] which served as the inspiration for the development of a popular multimedia stage presentation about the Holocaust called And Then They Came for Me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 2, 2024
Absolutely heartbreaking.
September 22, 2017
This is the true story of Eva Schloss' life before, during, and after the Holocaust. She concentrates a lot on her relationship with her brother Heinz who did not survive. Since I heard Mrs. Schloss speak a week ago, this book did not hold any surprises, but in particular I think it would make good reading for middle schoolers.
April 26, 2025
Worth reading. A young girls' survival of the Nazi invasions in Europe.. Her promise was to go back to a hiding place after the war and retrieve her brother's paintings and poetry. Very sensitive stuff.
September 14, 2016
Deep shit.
November 26, 2017
It all starts with a young Jewish girl named Eva Schloss. She was a timid girl who loved to draw and enjoyed having the company of her large family. Eva grew up in a normal family, with normal friends, and in the normal city of Vienna. Her life was going great, until 1940 when the Nazis invaded Austria. Everything she knew was about to change in an instant. Eva and her brother, Heinz, and her parents had to flee to Belgium immediately. Soon after, they fled to Amsterdam where they could receive help from the Dutch Resistance. They spent the next two years in hiding, but the family was separated to help conceal themselves so they would not stand out. Eva and her mother, Elfriede Geiringer, stayed in one house. Heinz and her father, Erich Geiringer, stayed in another house. Sadly, after the two years in Amsterdam, a neighbor finally betrayed the family and sold them out to the Nazis. Eva and her family were deported to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, being separated once again from her brother and father. Eva and her mother would work long days and suffer through the camp, not even knowing what was happening to the rest of their family. Eva would have to keep a strong and positive attitude if she wanted to survive.
I personally love books based on past wars, specifically World War II and the Holocaust, so this book definitely caught my attention. The Promise is intriguing and written perfectly for a child and teen audience. What I like the most about this book is it’s perspective. It is written in first-person, focusing on the journey of Eva Schloss through World War II. I love how easy it is the follow along with her life, considering she is close to my age. The author herself does a great job using detail to pull the reader’s attention. This genre is something I typically read whenever I can. I just love learning about the historic moments of our world’s past, and The Promise teaches me exactly that. If I had to compare The Promise to any other book I have read, it would have to be with Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz. It is another first person perspective of a young Jewish boy being taken away from his family and forced into ten different concentration camps. The young boy, Yanek, never knew the fates of his other family members and he was always on his own. Just like Eva, Yanek had to look ahead to the future as his only ray of hope.
The Promise is built on two main ideas that join to create the perfect tone and mood. First, there is suffering that Eva and her family had to endure. However, their greatest cause of suffering was not to their physical state but to their emotional state. Eva and her family were betrayed by their close neighbors, who really turned out to be spies. The day they were betrayed was on Eva’s birthday, and she definitely was not having the special day she imagined. Eva explains in her own words, “Although the sun had risen on my birthday, it was the darkest day of my life (pg. 93).”Nevertheless, Eva and her family stuck together and leaned on each other through hard times. This concept helps suggest the second big idea of The Promise, the bonds of family. Eva describes, “I realized that my family belonged to a helpless group of people, picked on, discriminated against, bullied, tortured, for one reason only - because we were Jewish (pg. 95).” Through all this, even Eva and her mother being separated from her father and brother, they trusted that goodness and righteousness still existed. Not only did they have their own family of four, they now had every other Jewish human being to depend on and support. As shown, even in the midst of suffering and loss, Eva was able to push through her adversity because of her family. She always believed things would ultimately get better. Eva and her family, as well as her new Jewish camp family, would keep their heads held high and focused on surviving together.
I personally love books based on past wars, specifically World War II and the Holocaust, so this book definitely caught my attention. The Promise is intriguing and written perfectly for a child and teen audience. What I like the most about this book is it’s perspective. It is written in first-person, focusing on the journey of Eva Schloss through World War II. I love how easy it is the follow along with her life, considering she is close to my age. The author herself does a great job using detail to pull the reader’s attention. This genre is something I typically read whenever I can. I just love learning about the historic moments of our world’s past, and The Promise teaches me exactly that. If I had to compare The Promise to any other book I have read, it would have to be with Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz. It is another first person perspective of a young Jewish boy being taken away from his family and forced into ten different concentration camps. The young boy, Yanek, never knew the fates of his other family members and he was always on his own. Just like Eva, Yanek had to look ahead to the future as his only ray of hope.
The Promise is built on two main ideas that join to create the perfect tone and mood. First, there is suffering that Eva and her family had to endure. However, their greatest cause of suffering was not to their physical state but to their emotional state. Eva and her family were betrayed by their close neighbors, who really turned out to be spies. The day they were betrayed was on Eva’s birthday, and she definitely was not having the special day she imagined. Eva explains in her own words, “Although the sun had risen on my birthday, it was the darkest day of my life (pg. 93).”Nevertheless, Eva and her family stuck together and leaned on each other through hard times. This concept helps suggest the second big idea of The Promise, the bonds of family. Eva describes, “I realized that my family belonged to a helpless group of people, picked on, discriminated against, bullied, tortured, for one reason only - because we were Jewish (pg. 95).” Through all this, even Eva and her mother being separated from her father and brother, they trusted that goodness and righteousness still existed. Not only did they have their own family of four, they now had every other Jewish human being to depend on and support. As shown, even in the midst of suffering and loss, Eva was able to push through her adversity because of her family. She always believed things would ultimately get better. Eva and her family, as well as her new Jewish camp family, would keep their heads held high and focused on surviving together.
October 4, 2023
An amazing story of a family fleeing Nazi Germany and thankfully, of some of the family surviving. Eva belongs to a loving, wonderful family, but like thousands of others, their lives are turned upside down when they first have to leave their homes and first relocate to Holland and then have to go into hiding. Later the family is taken to a concentration camp.
Eva's family managed to stay so positive during their experience. The other interesting element of this story is that Eva knew Anne Frank, her mother later marries Otto and their work keeping the memories alive of those they had lost becomes their life work. Anne and her father appear in this book in a couple of places.
Although this didn't read as such a vivid account as Anne Frank's diary did, it was interesting to read about this situation from another viewpoint. Eva wasn't as studious or a writer like Anne Frank or her artistic brother, so perhaps her story is lacking some of the thoughts and feelings that give you a greater insight into their plight, but this was a highly moving account and I appreciated the inclusion of family photographs and examples of her brothers work.
Eva's family managed to stay so positive during their experience. The other interesting element of this story is that Eva knew Anne Frank, her mother later marries Otto and their work keeping the memories alive of those they had lost becomes their life work. Anne and her father appear in this book in a couple of places.
Although this didn't read as such a vivid account as Anne Frank's diary did, it was interesting to read about this situation from another viewpoint. Eva wasn't as studious or a writer like Anne Frank or her artistic brother, so perhaps her story is lacking some of the thoughts and feelings that give you a greater insight into their plight, but this was a highly moving account and I appreciated the inclusion of family photographs and examples of her brothers work.
March 8, 2025
This is an endearing account by Eva Schloss about her idyllic childhood in Vienna in a tolerant and peaceful pre-Nazi Austria, with her parents and brother Heinz, before the family was forced, as Jews, by the invading Nazis in 1938 (When Eva was 9, to flee to Belgium and then the Netherlands.
It then tells of the family's hiding and arrest by the Nazis, before describing Eva's survival in the death camps.
Her brother Heinz and father did not survive.
The author tells the story with love and hope throughout. Eva was guided by the memorable words of her father:
"Children, I promise you this; everything you do leaves something behind; nothing gets lost. All the good you do have accomplished will continue in the lives of the people you have touched. I twill make a difference to someone, somewhere, sometime, and your achievements will be carried on.
Everything is connected, like a chain that cannot be broken".
After the war, Eva's mother married Anne Frank's father Otto, making Eva Anne Frank's posthumous step sister.
Anne Frank had been Eva's friend in the Netherlands before the war.
For younger readers aged 10 and up.
It then tells of the family's hiding and arrest by the Nazis, before describing Eva's survival in the death camps.
Her brother Heinz and father did not survive.
The author tells the story with love and hope throughout. Eva was guided by the memorable words of her father:
"Children, I promise you this; everything you do leaves something behind; nothing gets lost. All the good you do have accomplished will continue in the lives of the people you have touched. I twill make a difference to someone, somewhere, sometime, and your achievements will be carried on.
Everything is connected, like a chain that cannot be broken".
After the war, Eva's mother married Anne Frank's father Otto, making Eva Anne Frank's posthumous step sister.
Anne Frank had been Eva's friend in the Netherlands before the war.
For younger readers aged 10 and up.
November 12, 2020
This book was lovely and it brought me to tears multiple times. When one reads this book, they get the experience in Birkenau from a 15 year olds eyes who had to take care of herself and her mother for a period of time while then grieving the loss of her father and brother. I will always idolize the way these people have the courage to tell their story, probably part of the worst year of their lives. They lived in such terrible conditions that its fascinating to see how they manage to get their life together after leaving the camps and still managing to fullfill their lives to the fullest. This book is a must read for anyone who is fascinated by history or those who love auto-biographies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2019
A very real account of just one story from the Holocaust. I had the privilege of listening to a talk by Eva Schloss a couple years ago. To this day she is an inspiring person for sharing her story and for continuing to try to stop hatred.
January 19, 2019
Thanks for the suggestion Sajeduh
June 26, 2019
Heartbreakingly real beautifully written
October 2, 2019
An Anne Frank spin-off with interesting WWII history background.
November 20, 2020
Great book. If you are interested to know what a holocaust survivor experienced during their time in the Holocaust, then this book is a must-read.
March 7, 2021
The bravery shown by Eva and her family is something that will stay will me.
A really well written book. I could feel the love on each page.
A really well written book. I could feel the love on each page.
July 6, 2021
So good. I cried so much.
August 17, 2023
(4.5 stars rounded up to 5)
February 22, 2020
Truth be told, I don't know how to critique a book like this. It's an autobiography of a person whose life has been scarred by unforgettable pain and torture. It's a story that tells you the result of 'intolerance, hatred and injustice' and shows how a normal, loving family was shattered as the result of inhumanity and paranoia.
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June 29, 2022No rating
Read this book for an English class, but it teaches a very important lesson and perseveres an awful lot of history. This book should be read by everyone.
Read this book for an English class, but it teaches a very important lesson and perseveres an awful lot of history. This book should be read by everyone.
February 15, 2025
Eva Schloss came to my school she’s a real one
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September 2, 2010Eva Schloss is an Auschwitz survivor and Otto Frank’s stepdaughter. This is more or less her autobiography, written with the assistance of a friend.
I find it so difficult to say anything critical about these autobiographical Holocaust children’s books--I mean, critical from a *literary* point of view. So I guess I won’t. Like many similar life stories, part of what makes the horror of the concentration camps so palpable is the sheer *ordinariness* of any child’s life before the war. The greater the contrast leading up to the crisis, the more effective the shock. And as Sara assured me, “It gets more interesting after they get caught.”
The most astonishing and wonderful part of this book is the reproduction, small but in full color, of the author’s brother’s paintings done while in hiding from the Nazis. Heinz’s artistry is pretty incredible, showing tremendous talent and tragic promise cut short. I wish there were more of these paintings and I wish they were bigger. The author’s tale of finding them, hidden beneath the floorboards of a stranger’s house, is amazing.
I also really love the illustrations by the author’s ten-year-old granddaughter.
I find it so difficult to say anything critical about these autobiographical Holocaust children’s books--I mean, critical from a *literary* point of view. So I guess I won’t. Like many similar life stories, part of what makes the horror of the concentration camps so palpable is the sheer *ordinariness* of any child’s life before the war. The greater the contrast leading up to the crisis, the more effective the shock. And as Sara assured me, “It gets more interesting after they get caught.”
The most astonishing and wonderful part of this book is the reproduction, small but in full color, of the author’s brother’s paintings done while in hiding from the Nazis. Heinz’s artistry is pretty incredible, showing tremendous talent and tragic promise cut short. I wish there were more of these paintings and I wish they were bigger. The author’s tale of finding them, hidden beneath the floorboards of a stranger’s house, is amazing.
I also really love the illustrations by the author’s ten-year-old granddaughter.
October 29, 2014
Eva Schloss writes a moving memoir about her experience as a holocaust survivor. She wrote this book especially for children. Eva had a happy life growing up in Vienna. Her life changed dramatically once the Nazi's occupied her country. She speaks about her experiences hiding from the Nazis and later being captured and sent to Auschwitz. It's a moving story told through the eyes of a child.
Eva talks about being depressed and unhappy after the war and the need to move on and build a loving happy family of her own.
Although it was designed for children, it's a good read for an adult as well.
Eva talks about being depressed and unhappy after the war and the need to move on and build a loving happy family of her own.
Although it was designed for children, it's a good read for an adult as well.
June 18, 2016
This true story of a family's experience with the Holocaust is both heart wrenching and inspirational. Beginning during a happy time when life was good, the author takes us step-by-step through the nightmares and atrocities experienced at the hands of the Nazi's. It truly makes you wonder how human beings can treat each other like that. I still can't wrap my head around that and never will. However, Eva Schloss and her mother survived with determination and perseverance and through the remembrance of her father's philosophy that everything is connected and all the good that you do will continue on. Great read! Highly recommend!
May 2, 2016
Although this is the first I've read of Eva Schloss's holocaust survival tales, I had the feeling it was a bit truncated. I did not realize it was her story retold for a younger audience. Even so, when her family is taken to prison and then the death camp, the story becomes more PG-13.
If you're looking for a novella length account, have an interest in Austria, Holland, Auschwitz, holocaust survivors and such, this is an excellent book to begin.
If you're looking for a novella length account, have an interest in Austria, Holland, Auschwitz, holocaust survivors and such, this is an excellent book to begin.
December 31, 2015
Its an easy read, but emotionally very hard. Evi had a lot of courage and strength to keep going, she was also incredibly lucky to have been mistaken as an adult as that made all the difference to how she even got a chance to survive the holocaust.
Its a very sad story. An its a true story.
Its a very sad story. An its a true story.
January 1, 2009
A moving true account from the step-daughter of Otto Frank (Anne Frank's father.) Holocaust survivor's story suitable for middle school. Had the pleasure to meet Eva. A very spunky woman!
May 25, 2010
To not juge people and be strong
April 12, 2014
Sad. A good Holocaust book.
March 26, 2013
Really good book, worth reading and page-turning indeed! Never read from Eva Schloss before and this was a great introduction to her books
January 23, 2014
Not the most literary writing, and definitely aimed at children, but otherwise was an interesting and quick read. It was very interesting to read about her connection to Anne Frank.
May 1, 2014
A young Jewish woman details her WWII experiences.
Given the powerful details that are given in this book I found it oddly flat / un-engaging.
Given the powerful details that are given in this book I found it oddly flat / un-engaging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews