The Little Girl Who Could Not Cry

by Lidia Maksymowicz, Paolo Rodari

The No. 1 international bestseller, with a foreword written by His Holiness Pope Francis, who made headlines in 2021 when he kissed Lidia's Auschwitz identification tattoo.

The unforgettable, moving true story of the little girl who survived Auschwitz's 'Angel of Death', Dr Mengele.

Lidia was just three years old when she arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau with her mother, a member of the partisan resistance from Belarus. The bewildered little girl was picked out by Dr Josef Mengele for his sadistic experiments and sent to the infamous children’s block, where every day was a fight for survival. In eighteen months of hell she came close to death more than once.

Her mother, who risked her life to visit Lidia, gave her strength. But when the camp was liberated, her mother was gone, presumed dead. Lidia, by now deeply traumatised, was adopted by a Polish woman. But then, in 1962, she discovered that her birth parents were still alive in the USSR, and Lidia was faced with an agonising choice . . .

Lidia’s extraordinary story has touched hearts around the world, and she has made it her mission to bear witness to the Holocaust so that the truth may never be forgotten. This is a powerful and ultimately hopeful account by a remarkable woman who refuses to hate those who hurt her. She says, ‘Hate only brings more hate. Love, on the other hand, has the power to redeem.’

'Unforgettable' - Daily Mail

The Little Girl Who Could Not Cry is also published in paperback as A Little Girl in Auschwitz.

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2023

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving and inspiring

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, short read. Emotional. Heartbreaking. True story through the eyes of a child and how what she went through impacted the rest of her life. What an amazing women for speaking out. A story all must read or be aware of the past to prevent it happening again. Knowledge is power. Highly recommend.

[Julie Vell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gut wrenching story about a little girl’s experience in Birkenau concentration camp and her struggles after she was released. I would have liked a little more information about her life as an adult.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a trip to Poland, I was able to meet Lidia and hear her story from her, after reading it, it was even more heartbreaking. I’m glad she wrote this book to tell others and pray that these horrible things never happen again.

[Sonia Duma]

Când aveam 15 ani am vizitat Auschwitz-Birkenau pentru prima oară, îmi amintesc și acum ziua aceea de noiembrie gri și rece, dar și sentimentul de greață și dialogul meu interior plin de “de ce”-uri.

Must read💔

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perseverance, strength, courage…

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I did cry at one point near the end.

[Nagyné Fülöp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read hungarian version.

[Jana Predajnianska]

Dievča ktoré nevedelo nenávidieť

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книга мене вразила і тому багато причин. Що головна героїня народилась в Білорусії, що її батьки не навидили советов і до останнього партизанили і жили в лісах з малою дитиною, але хотіли бути вільними. Далі одна історія із тисячи чимось схожа на інші, а деколи уникальна. Інша причина, як її родина опинилась на Донбасі, а вона сама до сих пір жива і живе в Кракові. (Але маю надію, що ще зможу її зустріти). І як би я прочитала цю книгу на рік раніше, но змогла б зустрітись з автором, поговорити і про Білорусь і про Донецьк. Читаючи книгу, задавалась питанням, а що з її рідними зараз, і як вона бачить війну в Україні. Чому вона виросла в Польщі і інші цікаві факти можно прочитати. Читається на одному подиху.

[Christine McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever driven through the town of Oswiecim and visited Birkenau (Auschwitz - Birkenau ll) or Auschwitz, (Auschwitz l) you can picture in your mind exactly the places that are mentioned in this book. You have seen, in Birkenau, where the trains pulled into, the lookout tower, the Barracks, the extensive expanse of the camp, and then further along the road, Auschwitz l. It's a place I will never forget. To have survived these camps is a miracle and to read books from those that survived, more so.

[Jan Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely heartbreaking