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A Garland for Ashes: World War II, the Holocaust, and One Jewish Survivor's Long Journey to Forgiveness
Book by Miley, Hanna Zack
298 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2013
49 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
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October 2, 2023A Garland For Ashes: World War II, the Holocaust, and One Jewish Survivor’s Long Journey to Forgiveness is by Hanna Zack Miley. This book is a combination family story and detective story, a Kindertransport story, as well as the story of a town. It definitely keeps your attention as you strive to understand what Hanna is going through as she traces her past.
Hanna was born on February 18, 1932, to Amelia and Markus Zack in Bonn, Germany. She was named Johanna Flora (Hannelore) Zack. Much later, she learned she was named after her mother’s sister and mother. Her father was well-to-do, and they wanted for nothing. However, he was known as a kind man and one who helped others when he could. Her mother stayed home but used her sewing skills to help others. Both parents doted on Hannelore. However, politically, things were getting much worse in Germany for Jews. Marcus Zack lost his money and his business, and the family was moved to Koln and Hannelore was forced to go to a new school and try to make new friends. Then only days after an appendicitis operation, she left on the Kindertransport. With little preparation, she was placed on a train with other children destined for England. At seven, she had very little idea of what was happening, even her bags were packed by her aunts without her input. she did vividly remember saying goodbye to her friend Kurt Meier who lived next door. Many years later, on a monument near Erich Klibansky Plaza in Koln, she and her husband found his name imprinted on a memorial fountain among the names of the 1,100 names of children deported from Koln. What hit her the hardest was the knowledge that her name was not among them.
From the time her parents put her on the train until about 1999, Hanna (as her name was Anglicized) knew little about her past before England and had walled off her emotions towards that time. She now began to search for who she was and who her parents were and what actually happened to them. She and George, her husband, had very few clues to go on as they began their search. This book talks about that search and it fleshes out her story and the story of her parents.
The book is inspirational and quite emotional as we see Hanna’s emotions and memories open up to include some of her past. My sympathy lay with George as he patiently helped her and supported her through the easy memories as well as the hard ones. He never wavered in his devotion to Hanna and her cause.
Hanna was born on February 18, 1932, to Amelia and Markus Zack in Bonn, Germany. She was named Johanna Flora (Hannelore) Zack. Much later, she learned she was named after her mother’s sister and mother. Her father was well-to-do, and they wanted for nothing. However, he was known as a kind man and one who helped others when he could. Her mother stayed home but used her sewing skills to help others. Both parents doted on Hannelore. However, politically, things were getting much worse in Germany for Jews. Marcus Zack lost his money and his business, and the family was moved to Koln and Hannelore was forced to go to a new school and try to make new friends. Then only days after an appendicitis operation, she left on the Kindertransport. With little preparation, she was placed on a train with other children destined for England. At seven, she had very little idea of what was happening, even her bags were packed by her aunts without her input. she did vividly remember saying goodbye to her friend Kurt Meier who lived next door. Many years later, on a monument near Erich Klibansky Plaza in Koln, she and her husband found his name imprinted on a memorial fountain among the names of the 1,100 names of children deported from Koln. What hit her the hardest was the knowledge that her name was not among them.
From the time her parents put her on the train until about 1999, Hanna (as her name was Anglicized) knew little about her past before England and had walled off her emotions towards that time. She now began to search for who she was and who her parents were and what actually happened to them. She and George, her husband, had very few clues to go on as they began their search. This book talks about that search and it fleshes out her story and the story of her parents.
The book is inspirational and quite emotional as we see Hanna’s emotions and memories open up to include some of her past. My sympathy lay with George as he patiently helped her and supported her through the easy memories as well as the hard ones. He never wavered in his devotion to Hanna and her cause.
April 12, 2025
Hanna Zack Miley selflessly brings willing readers into her beautiful story of brokenness, suffering, and healing with A Garland for Ashes. I found her insight into the infamous history of World War II and the Jewish Holocaust as an illuminating guide. She weaves the stories of her childhood, memories of revisiting her past, and her present processing of the whole picture into one story. In a world scarred by the memory of evils like the Holocaust, Hanna Zack Miley offers a way for us to practice the ministry of reconciliation: we can all find forgiveness and live without fear of the darkness because of the hope of the salvific love of Christ that covers it all.
June 6, 2022
This book surely tugs at your heart strings knowing that it is all so true. This is not a book to read for pleasure, but it is a book that shows the strength of a young girl put on a train by her parents in World War 2 and how she must come to peace and forgiveness about what happened to her Jewish parents. The book is very methodical in portraying what happened to her parents, so if you don’t want to know the awful truth of that time, this is not a book for you. Praise to the author and her husband on their quest for truth and forgiveness.
April 1, 2022
My Musings
Thoroughly engrossing from the first page to the last. I loved the journey Hanna Zack Miley takes to discover what happened to her parents. I feel privileged to be a part in some way of her journey. I am deeply grateful I found this remarkable story. Happy reading!
Thoroughly engrossing from the first page to the last. I loved the journey Hanna Zack Miley takes to discover what happened to her parents. I feel privileged to be a part in some way of her journey. I am deeply grateful I found this remarkable story. Happy reading!
July 9, 2022
what an incredible story
What a story! Fabulous journey back into painful history in order to find forgiveness, understanding and to reopen the soul.
What a story! Fabulous journey back into painful history in order to find forgiveness, understanding and to reopen the soul.
October 15, 2023
History comes alive in heart wrenching but important ways. I’m grateful to Hanna for sharing her journey (physical, spiritual, and emotional) as she reflected on her life’s journey. She is brave and beloved.
May 22, 2016
Very well-written memoir of beginning life as a Jew in Germany during World War II. At the age of seven, Hanna was sent to safety on the kindertrain. Growing up disconnected from her past with a carefully closed heart, Hanna never fully grieved her family's death until she was in her 70's.
This then is her memoir of Nazi Germany, adjusting to English life, and her decision to find the truth about her family's deaths, and follow her parents' journey from their home in Germany to Chelmno.
Sometimes time doesn't heal, but there is still hope. Hanna has beautifully expressed her journey of reconciliation, healing, and forgiveness. While some World War II memoirs are almost unbearably heavy (and how could they not be?) Hanna's, though at time painful, is laced with a golden cord of hope and healing.
This then is her memoir of Nazi Germany, adjusting to English life, and her decision to find the truth about her family's deaths, and follow her parents' journey from their home in Germany to Chelmno.
Sometimes time doesn't heal, but there is still hope. Hanna has beautifully expressed her journey of reconciliation, healing, and forgiveness. While some World War II memoirs are almost unbearably heavy (and how could they not be?) Hanna's, though at time painful, is laced with a golden cord of hope and healing.
June 18, 2014
I found Hanna Miley's book deeply moving, encouraging, and beautifully told. Hers is a fascinating story, and just... rich. I still find myself reflecting on various details of her journey and the work of redemption and forgiveness in her life. Certain authors have been particularly meaningful for me over the years; I would put her story alongside Corrie tenGod Boom in terms of a gentle but very powerful testimony of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness. I consider Hanna's book a classic already.
May 21, 2015
Journey for Healing.
This was an amazing story. The author does a beautiful job sharing her life; transported to England from Germany with the rescue of Jewish children, her growing years in England, then a trip in her 70's with her cherished husband to follow the path her parents were forced to travel as Hitler and all he ruled over brought the end to so many lives. She gives heartfelt testimony to her sadness but incredible healing journey. Her extensive research (well documented) and detail were impressive. History lovers will appreciate this great book.
This was an amazing story. The author does a beautiful job sharing her life; transported to England from Germany with the rescue of Jewish children, her growing years in England, then a trip in her 70's with her cherished husband to follow the path her parents were forced to travel as Hitler and all he ruled over brought the end to so many lives. She gives heartfelt testimony to her sadness but incredible healing journey. Her extensive research (well documented) and detail were impressive. History lovers will appreciate this great book.
August 20, 2016
Interesting Book
I have had this book on my Kindle for quite awhile. I finally decided I'd read it. Once I started, it was hard to put it down. When I read books about the Holocaust, it breaks my heart. My husband is a Messianic Jew also. Thankfully, his grandparents came to the US before WW1 but they had over 20 family members who died in the Holocaust. Many were from the Minsk area and while reading this I couldn't help but wonder what happened to them. I loved how Hanna memorialized her parents!
I have had this book on my Kindle for quite awhile. I finally decided I'd read it. Once I started, it was hard to put it down. When I read books about the Holocaust, it breaks my heart. My husband is a Messianic Jew also. Thankfully, his grandparents came to the US before WW1 but they had over 20 family members who died in the Holocaust. Many were from the Minsk area and while reading this I couldn't help but wonder what happened to them. I loved how Hanna memorialized her parents!
April 10, 2015
A true story of a Jewish child being sent to England in 1939 by her parents to save her life. Her parents stayed in Germany and were killed by the Hitler government. Years later she tries to trace their life to the end
April 26, 2016
A brave little girl who survived world war two
Cannot express what this child went through. I will only say she grew up to be a kind intelligent person who was able to finally obtain peace.
Cannot express what this child went through. I will only say she grew up to be a kind intelligent person who was able to finally obtain peace.
July 28, 2014
Enjoyed it!!!
October 3, 2014
Wonderfully told, important (personal) history.
May 23, 2015
Thought provoking
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews