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The Seamstress of Auschwitz: A WWII Historical Fiction Novel
Inspired by true events in 1930s Germany, this gripping listen follows Jewish seamstress Sara, who — after being sent to Auschwitz with her sisters — survives by sewing for Nazi elites. As war and loss tear her family apart, Sara refuses to give up and holds on to love, resilience, and the hope of building a life beyond the camps.
Audio CD
Published May 13, 2025
About the author
C.K. McAdam
6 books35 followersC. K. McAdam writes historical fiction and women's fiction. She holds a Ph.D. in history and literary studies and teaches college. Together with her family, she resides in Texas but hails originally from Germany where she grew up. In her free time, she loves to travel, hike, read historical fiction, play pickleball, spend time with her family, and go on walks with her Corgi Merlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
September 2, 2024
The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C. K. McAdam was a powerful, heartbreaking and yet hopeful novel that took place in Salzhausen, Germany, Altstadt, Germany, Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, Auschwitz- Birkenau Concentration Camp, Palestine and America during World War II and the years before and after the war. It was inspired by true events. C. K. McAdam’s research was extensive and impeccable. Her historical fiction novel captured the tensions that were developing in Germany during the early 1930’s in a very authentic and believable way. The female characters that she portrayed in The Seamstress of Auschwitz were strong, brave and courageous. The Seamstress of Auschwitz was well written but hard to read in certain parts. This was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by C. K. McAdam.
Sara Schonflies grew up in Salzhausen, Germany. Her family was not rich but they were comfortable. Sara’s family were tailors and seamstresses by trade. The Schonflies lived above Sara’s father tailor’s shop. Sara was one of four daughters. She also had a brother, Georg, who had been sent to America to live with one of her father’s cousins. Sara’s father hoped that Georg would eventually open a store there where he would sell the suits that he made. Sara was just turning fourteen years old when her sister Alice was to be married. There was a tradition in Sara’s family when a girl turned fourteen. On her fourteenth birthday the girl received her very own sewing machine. Sara really wanted a Minerva sewing machine. Would her parents surprise her with one? Trouble started for Sara’s family at her sister’s wedding reception and did not relent in any way from that point on.
One night, Sara had been invited to stay overnight at her older sister Alice’s and her husband Hershel’s apartment with their precious little daughter, Ruth, when a loud knock was heard at the door. Sara and Hershel were forcibly removed from the apartment and taken to a prison by the Gestapo. Helene, Sara’s older sister by eighteen months, arrived at the prison sometime during the night. Sara had suspected that Helene and Hershel had been involved with a resistance group. They must have been compromised by someone in their group. From the prison, Sara and Helene were transported to Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. Their sewing skills would come to serve them well. Both Sara and Helene were chosen to work in the textile workshop. The prisoners there were responsible for sewing military uniforms for the members of the Wehrmacht. After Sara and Helene were at Ravensbruck for a little over a month, they were joined by their mother, their aunt and Alice, their older sister and her daughter, Ruth. They all were assigned to the textile workshop where they reluctantly made sure they met their quotas. Hunger was a constant problem as was the presence of all kinds of brutality and rampant disease. Then their worst nightmare occurred. They were all selected for transport to Auschwitz.
Upon their arrival at Auschwitz, Sara and Helene were separated from their mother and aunt. When the guards attempted to separate Ruth from Alice, Alice managed to take Ruth over to her mother and aunt. That was the last time Sara, Helene and Alice ever saw their mother, aunt, and Ruth. After being tattooed, shown their barracks and given a meager amount of watery soup and bread, a guard asked the prisoners to name their skills. Sara, Helene and Alice all responded that they were trained seamstresses and dressmakers. The sisters were brought to the basement of the camp’s headquarters. They had entered the Auschwitz Fashion Salon. The commander’s wife was responsible for the creation of this fashion salon. In the midst of death, starvation, disease and suffering, the commander’s wife expected these women prisoners to sew elegant dresses for herself, her daughters, her friends, other SS wives and wives of the Nazi elite. Their skill as proficient seamstresses and dressmakers might save their lives but what they were doing was in such contrast to everything occurring at Auschwitz . They were expected to work hard for twelve long hours each day. At least they were protected from the elements and hard labor. Would all three sisters survive the atrocities of Auschwitz?
The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C. K. McAdam detailed life in both Ravensbruck and Auschwitz concentration camps. It portrayed liberation, displaced persons camps and the impossible decision of where to relocate. The anguish parents felt when they chose to separate their children from their families in order to protect them from the Nazis was also evident in this book. Sara’s youngest sister, Clara, was able to escape from Germany and find refuge in England. Survivors guilt, fears and loss of loved ones was not forgotten. The Seamstress of Auschwitz was about survival, hope, loss, friendship, sisterly love, taking chances and how to go on living after surviving the worst nightmare of all. This was a time in our history where humanity was tested and evil prevailed. It was a time that must be remembered by survivors telling their stories so that the Holocaust can never be repeated. The Seamstress of Auschwitz was hard to read at times but Sara’s story is an important one. I highly recommend reading The Seamstress of Auschwitz to learn Sara’s story.
Thank you to Book Whisperer for allowing me to read The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C. K. McAdam through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Sara Schonflies grew up in Salzhausen, Germany. Her family was not rich but they were comfortable. Sara’s family were tailors and seamstresses by trade. The Schonflies lived above Sara’s father tailor’s shop. Sara was one of four daughters. She also had a brother, Georg, who had been sent to America to live with one of her father’s cousins. Sara’s father hoped that Georg would eventually open a store there where he would sell the suits that he made. Sara was just turning fourteen years old when her sister Alice was to be married. There was a tradition in Sara’s family when a girl turned fourteen. On her fourteenth birthday the girl received her very own sewing machine. Sara really wanted a Minerva sewing machine. Would her parents surprise her with one? Trouble started for Sara’s family at her sister’s wedding reception and did not relent in any way from that point on.
One night, Sara had been invited to stay overnight at her older sister Alice’s and her husband Hershel’s apartment with their precious little daughter, Ruth, when a loud knock was heard at the door. Sara and Hershel were forcibly removed from the apartment and taken to a prison by the Gestapo. Helene, Sara’s older sister by eighteen months, arrived at the prison sometime during the night. Sara had suspected that Helene and Hershel had been involved with a resistance group. They must have been compromised by someone in their group. From the prison, Sara and Helene were transported to Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. Their sewing skills would come to serve them well. Both Sara and Helene were chosen to work in the textile workshop. The prisoners there were responsible for sewing military uniforms for the members of the Wehrmacht. After Sara and Helene were at Ravensbruck for a little over a month, they were joined by their mother, their aunt and Alice, their older sister and her daughter, Ruth. They all were assigned to the textile workshop where they reluctantly made sure they met their quotas. Hunger was a constant problem as was the presence of all kinds of brutality and rampant disease. Then their worst nightmare occurred. They were all selected for transport to Auschwitz.
Upon their arrival at Auschwitz, Sara and Helene were separated from their mother and aunt. When the guards attempted to separate Ruth from Alice, Alice managed to take Ruth over to her mother and aunt. That was the last time Sara, Helene and Alice ever saw their mother, aunt, and Ruth. After being tattooed, shown their barracks and given a meager amount of watery soup and bread, a guard asked the prisoners to name their skills. Sara, Helene and Alice all responded that they were trained seamstresses and dressmakers. The sisters were brought to the basement of the camp’s headquarters. They had entered the Auschwitz Fashion Salon. The commander’s wife was responsible for the creation of this fashion salon. In the midst of death, starvation, disease and suffering, the commander’s wife expected these women prisoners to sew elegant dresses for herself, her daughters, her friends, other SS wives and wives of the Nazi elite. Their skill as proficient seamstresses and dressmakers might save their lives but what they were doing was in such contrast to everything occurring at Auschwitz . They were expected to work hard for twelve long hours each day. At least they were protected from the elements and hard labor. Would all three sisters survive the atrocities of Auschwitz?
The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C. K. McAdam detailed life in both Ravensbruck and Auschwitz concentration camps. It portrayed liberation, displaced persons camps and the impossible decision of where to relocate. The anguish parents felt when they chose to separate their children from their families in order to protect them from the Nazis was also evident in this book. Sara’s youngest sister, Clara, was able to escape from Germany and find refuge in England. Survivors guilt, fears and loss of loved ones was not forgotten. The Seamstress of Auschwitz was about survival, hope, loss, friendship, sisterly love, taking chances and how to go on living after surviving the worst nightmare of all. This was a time in our history where humanity was tested and evil prevailed. It was a time that must be remembered by survivors telling their stories so that the Holocaust can never be repeated. The Seamstress of Auschwitz was hard to read at times but Sara’s story is an important one. I highly recommend reading The Seamstress of Auschwitz to learn Sara’s story.
Thank you to Book Whisperer for allowing me to read The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C. K. McAdam through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 10, 2024
lately I’ve been falling back into reading more historical fictions, especially surrounding the holocaust and World War II. it’s a time period in history that’s always been very interesting and devastating to me, to witness the amount of loss and destruction brought on by people. reading through sara’s story was so saddening yet full of hope.
the seamstress of auschwitz was a shorter book on Sara, following her and her family as they were brought to concentration camps. they depended heavily on their skills as seamstresses to survive their time at auschwitz, creating fashionable outfits for the wives of officers. sara finds love amidst the destruction, and when the war is over, she embarks on a journey of not only finding herself again, but finding her love in palestine. eventually, sara learns he didn’t make it to their meeting point, but his friend does who retells their journey. sara ultimately is able to get to america, where she has family awaiting her arrival and can provide safety and a new life for her.
the seamstress of auschwitz was a shorter book on Sara, following her and her family as they were brought to concentration camps. they depended heavily on their skills as seamstresses to survive their time at auschwitz, creating fashionable outfits for the wives of officers. sara finds love amidst the destruction, and when the war is over, she embarks on a journey of not only finding herself again, but finding her love in palestine. eventually, sara learns he didn’t make it to their meeting point, but his friend does who retells their journey. sara ultimately is able to get to america, where she has family awaiting her arrival and can provide safety and a new life for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
I have no words to express how much I love this deep story! It is all in my heart now.
I cried all my tears on the pages of the book. I love and don't forget it, never!
I cried all my tears on the pages of the book. I love and don't forget it, never!
July 19, 2024
I have to be honest and tell you i almost dnfed it at 20 % ,it. Started out so slow. But I continued on, and the book started to touch my heart. I starten to love the Main characters, i cried and laughed with them. So i highly recommend this book.
Thank you netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
Thank you netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
December 28, 2024
As a huge fan of historical fiction, I was really looking forward to "The Seamstress of Auschwitz". While the first few pages were a little slow, the story picked up and I couldn't put the book down. I cried, I grieved, I gasped and I found myself full of hope and love for Sara and her sisters. While fiction, stories like this one are important to make sure the atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten. If you're a fan of "The Tattooist of Auschwitz", I highly recommend "The Seamstress of Auschwitz".
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. #NetGalley
May 3, 2024
I love reading historical fiction and many times while reading I feel so many emotions, this book was no different. This read pulled on my heartstrings, couldn't help but feel for the characters and all of the horrific things they had to endure. Was well written and a bit different from other similar reads.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this story.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this story.
July 25, 2024
I absolutely loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz and this book is just as good as that book
C.K. McAdam has crafted a powerful and unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
Though difficult to read, this book is powerful and I felt all the emotions including their anguish and hopelessness.
This is an incredible story and one I won't forget soon. It is a definite recommend
C.K. McAdam has crafted a powerful and unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
Though difficult to read, this book is powerful and I felt all the emotions including their anguish and hopelessness.
This is an incredible story and one I won't forget soon. It is a definite recommend
August 27, 2024
Such a quick read. I always enjoy these stories and admire those who went through these horrific events in their lives and came out on the other side. They are so inspiring. This was another example of their resilience, courage and strength
January 9, 2026
Good storytelling
May 12, 2024
The Seamstress of Auschwitz tells the story of Sara and her Jewish family during the second world war. We follow them as their community turns against them, the family tailoring business is destroyed and Sara and her sisters end up in a Nazi concentration camp.
A well-written, historical novel showing the bravery and determination of the victims of the second world war and the horrors that they encountered.
A well-written, historical novel showing the bravery and determination of the victims of the second world war and the horrors that they encountered.
July 26, 2024
Living in the growing extreme unrest of Nazi Germany, Sara and her family are perpetrated due to their religion. Her father, described as a kind and gentle man, is murdered, their shop and home burnt down, and the discrimination against Jews in Germany only heightens from that point onwards.
Sara and her sister are taken to Ravensbrück, before shortly being joined by the rest of the females in their family, where they are forced to sew uniforms for the Wehrmacht. Later, they are deported to Auschwitz, where the older and younger members of her family are murdered, leaving Sara and her two sisters, Alice and Helene, as the sole surviving members of the family. They work as seamstresses for the commandant’s wife, designing and creating stylish dresses to suit her fashionable tastes.
Soon, Alice gives birth to a baby girl, conceived with her husband before their deportations. The pregnancy and birth is hidden from the SS by the Jewish doctors’ in the infirmary, but Alice makes the difficult decision to smother her baby - to stop her from being experimented on. Later, Alice develops an infection, coupled with her depression and grief, she passes herself.
The “fashion salon” is shut down when the commandant is caught fraternising with the prisoners, and the sisters are re-assigned to “Kanada” - a sorting area for the belongings of incoming prisoners. Soon after, the commandant is back and the salon reopened, they are requisitioned to better accommodation (single straw mattresses) and allowed to wear civilian clothes - albeit stolen from other prisoners on their arrival.
We meet Paul, a male prisoner also based in “Kanada”, who also acts as a courier around the camp. Paul, Sara’s beau, helps sneak medicine to Sara when she is taken to the infirmary and suffering from typhus.
Helene is discovered conspiring with the underground network, attempting to come up with plans to escape, she is executed in front of the camp, Sara is also in the audience.
Sara survives the evacuation of the camp by remaining in the infirmary, where she is sick with pneumonia, her fellow prisoners play dead when the SS enter to destroy documents. Afterwards, the camp is deserted and it is only a matter of time before the camp is liberated, it is just a matter of survival.
Sara eventually makes her way to Palestine, to the address Paul gave her. Whilst she doesn’t reunite with Paul (who unfortunately was shot on a death march), she does meet the man he saved in the process, Claude. Together, they make their way to her remaining family in America.
Whilst I enjoyed that this book was short in nature, I felt disheartened by the lack of detail and how hard I found the passage of time in the book. Things seemed to happen one after another with no space in between, and whilst it may have been months or years in the book, it felt significantly shorter. I enjoy historical fiction because it brings to life the stories of those that came before us, but in this case, I feel other authors have achieved this in a better way.
Sara and her sister are taken to Ravensbrück, before shortly being joined by the rest of the females in their family, where they are forced to sew uniforms for the Wehrmacht. Later, they are deported to Auschwitz, where the older and younger members of her family are murdered, leaving Sara and her two sisters, Alice and Helene, as the sole surviving members of the family. They work as seamstresses for the commandant’s wife, designing and creating stylish dresses to suit her fashionable tastes.
Soon, Alice gives birth to a baby girl, conceived with her husband before their deportations. The pregnancy and birth is hidden from the SS by the Jewish doctors’ in the infirmary, but Alice makes the difficult decision to smother her baby - to stop her from being experimented on. Later, Alice develops an infection, coupled with her depression and grief, she passes herself.
The “fashion salon” is shut down when the commandant is caught fraternising with the prisoners, and the sisters are re-assigned to “Kanada” - a sorting area for the belongings of incoming prisoners. Soon after, the commandant is back and the salon reopened, they are requisitioned to better accommodation (single straw mattresses) and allowed to wear civilian clothes - albeit stolen from other prisoners on their arrival.
We meet Paul, a male prisoner also based in “Kanada”, who also acts as a courier around the camp. Paul, Sara’s beau, helps sneak medicine to Sara when she is taken to the infirmary and suffering from typhus.
Helene is discovered conspiring with the underground network, attempting to come up with plans to escape, she is executed in front of the camp, Sara is also in the audience.
Sara survives the evacuation of the camp by remaining in the infirmary, where she is sick with pneumonia, her fellow prisoners play dead when the SS enter to destroy documents. Afterwards, the camp is deserted and it is only a matter of time before the camp is liberated, it is just a matter of survival.
Sara eventually makes her way to Palestine, to the address Paul gave her. Whilst she doesn’t reunite with Paul (who unfortunately was shot on a death march), she does meet the man he saved in the process, Claude. Together, they make their way to her remaining family in America.
Whilst I enjoyed that this book was short in nature, I felt disheartened by the lack of detail and how hard I found the passage of time in the book. Things seemed to happen one after another with no space in between, and whilst it may have been months or years in the book, it felt significantly shorter. I enjoy historical fiction because it brings to life the stories of those that came before us, but in this case, I feel other authors have achieved this in a better way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2024
: || I gave her a nod of gratitude and took up the needle and beautiful stitch pattern. The fabric was Dupion silk and very thin for which I wouldn't need much strength to push the needle through, but my hands were shaking, and my fingertips were numb. The needlework swam in front of my eyes. It wouldn't be easy. I searched for Helene and found her looking at me from across the room. I attempted a smile. She nodded encouragingly and turned her attention back to the laid-out patterns on the table in front of her. She then blew into her frozen fingers and picked up a pair of scissors. || :
This story is about Sara and her family who were ostracised, terrorised and subjected to the awful Nazi campaign during world war two. We were with her right at the start before things started to happen and then right at the end as she took her last breath. We watch her fight with hardly anything and come out on top, and although this was a story with fictional characters it really did have the emphasis and feelings of stories from different survivors. It was so hard to read.
I have to admit. This story made me cry and I have read quite a few stories from Auschwitz now. It doesn't get any easier. How could a human do that to another human? So much loss for what? One man's disgusting vendetta and mammy issues? My heart goes out to anyone affected by world war two. It was beyond evil.
Thank you so much to C.K. McAdam, Arc publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in return for honest voluntary feedback x
This story is about Sara and her family who were ostracised, terrorised and subjected to the awful Nazi campaign during world war two. We were with her right at the start before things started to happen and then right at the end as she took her last breath. We watch her fight with hardly anything and come out on top, and although this was a story with fictional characters it really did have the emphasis and feelings of stories from different survivors. It was so hard to read.
I have to admit. This story made me cry and I have read quite a few stories from Auschwitz now. It doesn't get any easier. How could a human do that to another human? So much loss for what? One man's disgusting vendetta and mammy issues? My heart goes out to anyone affected by world war two. It was beyond evil.
Thank you so much to C.K. McAdam, Arc publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in return for honest voluntary feedback x
September 1, 2024
Set in Germany during the beginning of WWII, this story follows a young Jewish girl, Sara Schonflies, and her family of artfully trained tailors/seamstresses. As the Nazi regime gains power, Sara’s world begins to crumble and her family is separated. Sara and her sisters ultimately find themselves in Auschwitz, where their survival is dependent on their gifted seamstress skills while making dresses for the wives of the SS officers in command. As Sara’s life continues to fill with loss and trauma, her ties to sewing, and therefore to her family, keep her moving forward in a world she no longer recognizes.
This was a well-paced read and, with under 300 pages, a quick one too! I was drawn into the story right from the start and felt that the author did a great job balancing the heavy grief and darkness of the setting with moments of hope and the portrayal of the strength of the human spirit amidst great adversity. I did feel that it lacked depth in certain areas, such as the deaths, and perhaps it’s because I’ve read a ton much WWII fiction, but there were moments while I was reading where it felt like something I’d read before vs. something entirely new.
If you enjoy WWII fiction and liked The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this one is for you!
A special thank you to Net Galley, Paper Forest Press, and especially to C. K. McAdam for the honor of reading this copy in exchange for an honest, thoughtful review 🤍
This was a well-paced read and, with under 300 pages, a quick one too! I was drawn into the story right from the start and felt that the author did a great job balancing the heavy grief and darkness of the setting with moments of hope and the portrayal of the strength of the human spirit amidst great adversity. I did feel that it lacked depth in certain areas, such as the deaths, and perhaps it’s because I’ve read a ton much WWII fiction, but there were moments while I was reading where it felt like something I’d read before vs. something entirely new.
If you enjoy WWII fiction and liked The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this one is for you!
A special thank you to Net Galley, Paper Forest Press, and especially to C. K. McAdam for the honor of reading this copy in exchange for an honest, thoughtful review 🤍
August 2, 2024
This story spans from 1932 and continues through the British pulling out of Palestine. Sara’s journey immerses us into the horrors of Auschwitz and gives us a glimpse what life was for the displaced persons in camps around Europe. Through the eyes of Sara a lot is said including the obstacles Jews faced in trying to enter Palestine.
All stories during this time are heart-wrenching and compelling this one is no exception. Apart from giving us a large timeline, this version of events recounts and rehashes the same experiences endured by the prisoners. We can find numerous books recounting these events. Nothing new here for those who are a fan and have read books of this era before.
Having said this “The Seamstress of Auschwitz “is nevertheless a very well- written and well-paced story and reading it you won’t get bogged down with unnecessary details. Even if I read many stories covering the camps in the past, I still had a hard time leaving my emotions in check flipping through the pages.
Ms. McAdam’s version is well crafted and powerful but to my eyes did not bring anything new.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalleys
All stories during this time are heart-wrenching and compelling this one is no exception. Apart from giving us a large timeline, this version of events recounts and rehashes the same experiences endured by the prisoners. We can find numerous books recounting these events. Nothing new here for those who are a fan and have read books of this era before.
Having said this “The Seamstress of Auschwitz “is nevertheless a very well- written and well-paced story and reading it you won’t get bogged down with unnecessary details. Even if I read many stories covering the camps in the past, I still had a hard time leaving my emotions in check flipping through the pages.
Ms. McAdam’s version is well crafted and powerful but to my eyes did not bring anything new.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalleys
August 3, 2024
To say that you enjoy a book about the holocaust seems a bit macabre. To say that you enjoyed a book about hope, faith, and resilience or the human spirit feels far more fitting.
I've read a lot of real accounts of auschwitz aswell as some of the bigger known fictional retellings and have even visited the camp with my mother (who I can honestly say sobbed the entire time and didn't even want to visit Birkenau)
But this book captured the heart and spirit of those who endured what no one should ever have to endure under the most dire of circumstances.
I truly felt for Sara and her family in this novel, and at points almost felt as if this was a real account.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book
I've read a lot of real accounts of auschwitz aswell as some of the bigger known fictional retellings and have even visited the camp with my mother (who I can honestly say sobbed the entire time and didn't even want to visit Birkenau)
But this book captured the heart and spirit of those who endured what no one should ever have to endure under the most dire of circumstances.
I truly felt for Sara and her family in this novel, and at points almost felt as if this was a real account.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book
May 12, 2024
"Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings." Heinrich Heine, German-Jewish Poet (1823)
Sara's story is bookended by events in 2019, but it's the story of her life from 1932-1948 that is given as fiction. Beginning with her home life with family and all contributing to he father's tailor shop, moving on through the book burnings, beatings, moving about, transportation to the camp, working at the camp, and all that life entailed in those year. A short but effective read.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Paper Forest Press via NetGalley. Thank you
Sara's story is bookended by events in 2019, but it's the story of her life from 1932-1948 that is given as fiction. Beginning with her home life with family and all contributing to he father's tailor shop, moving on through the book burnings, beatings, moving about, transportation to the camp, working at the camp, and all that life entailed in those year. A short but effective read.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Paper Forest Press via NetGalley. Thank you
May 28, 2024
WW2/the holocaust is a time in our history that is so interesting to me but also devastating.
Sara and her Jewish family of seamstresses are living in Germany during Hitler's rise to power. This story covers pre-war through her struggle to find a life after life in Auschwitz. It's a fictional story but based on events that could have actually happened. I don't cry often when reading, but this one got me all sorts of emotional.
While reading this book, I kept finding myself asking my husband, "Could you imagine if you had to do this?" "Could you imagine ______?!" "Could you imagine living after this _____?!" I can't imagine that time in our history.
If you like Kelly Rimmer's, 'The Warsaw Orphan' or 'The Things We Cannot Say,' give this one a go!
Sara and her Jewish family of seamstresses are living in Germany during Hitler's rise to power. This story covers pre-war through her struggle to find a life after life in Auschwitz. It's a fictional story but based on events that could have actually happened. I don't cry often when reading, but this one got me all sorts of emotional.
While reading this book, I kept finding myself asking my husband, "Could you imagine if you had to do this?" "Could you imagine ______?!" "Could you imagine living after this _____?!" I can't imagine that time in our history.
If you like Kelly Rimmer's, 'The Warsaw Orphan' or 'The Things We Cannot Say,' give this one a go!
May 1, 2024
There is a lot packed into this fast-paced book that actively begins in 1932 and continues through the British pulling out of Palestine. This one offers a different glimpse, even if you've read other books about Ravensbruk and Auschwitz. And yes, you will be horrified & heartbroken as this family is shattered. The author continues the story after WW II ends, into the displaced persons camps of Europe, including the obstacles Jews faced in trying to enter Palestine. I highly recommend this well-written, powerful novel detailing the plight of a German-Jewish family of seamstresses. If you love historical fiction, you won't want to miss this one. It's going to stay with me for a long time.
August 10, 2024
I finished it but there were a few times I wasn't sure if I really wanted to push through... I found the style very similar to 'the tattooist of Aushwitz', which I thought was hot garbage and DNF but if you liked it then you'll probably like this. There really was a fashion salon in Auschwitz so it's unfortunate that this book missed the mark in telling that story.
It reads like a watered down romanticized version of what the camps were actually like.
Sara was really hard to relate to and feel empathy for. She vehemently objects to sending her younger family members (one only a niece meanwhile the child's father is part of the resistance and would have taken any opportunity to save the kid) on the kinder transports but doesn't grasp the ramifications of her opinion until years later.
She somehow has all this freedom to run around the camp at all hours and has wild ambitions to sneak out her sister in a pile of corpses(?!) like WTF.
She declines a sure trip out of the country because she wants to try and meet up with a guy she only met a few times...
It reads like a watered down romanticized version of what the camps were actually like.
Sara was really hard to relate to and feel empathy for. She vehemently objects to sending her younger family members (one only a niece meanwhile the child's father is part of the resistance and would have taken any opportunity to save the kid) on the kinder transports but doesn't grasp the ramifications of her opinion until years later.
She somehow has all this freedom to run around the camp at all hours and has wild ambitions to sneak out her sister in a pile of corpses(?!) like WTF.
She declines a sure trip out of the country because she wants to try and meet up with a guy she only met a few times...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2024
The Seamstress of Auschwitz
By: CK McAdam
Publish Date: April 21, 2024
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖:
Thank you to NetGalley, Book Whisperer, and the author CK McAdam, for the advanced copy of The Seamstress of Auschwitz.
Any time I read a book about WWII period, and the Holocaust, I feel every emotion. Even in those unimaginable dark times, goodness, love and hope can shine through. I greatly enjoyed this book, being able to read from a different viewpoint, as a seamstress who received what could be considered better or privileged treatment in the worst of conditions but wasn't spared the losses.
#TheSeamstressofAuschwitz #CKMcAdam
#𝕃𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕
#𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕋𝕠ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝟘𝟜ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤
By: CK McAdam
Publish Date: April 21, 2024
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖:
Thank you to NetGalley, Book Whisperer, and the author CK McAdam, for the advanced copy of The Seamstress of Auschwitz.
Any time I read a book about WWII period, and the Holocaust, I feel every emotion. Even in those unimaginable dark times, goodness, love and hope can shine through. I greatly enjoyed this book, being able to read from a different viewpoint, as a seamstress who received what could be considered better or privileged treatment in the worst of conditions but wasn't spared the losses.
#TheSeamstressofAuschwitz #CKMcAdam
#𝕃𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕
#𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕋𝕠ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝟘𝟜ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤
May 31, 2024
*****I received this ARC ebook free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was an excellent historical fiction story! If you are a fan of The Tattooist of Auschwitz you will not be disappointed with this! So intense and heartbreaking. A must read!!!
This was an excellent historical fiction story! If you are a fan of The Tattooist of Auschwitz you will not be disappointed with this! So intense and heartbreaking. A must read!!!
April 4, 2026
A well-paced and historically accurate work of Holocaust Literature. I found the premise of Sara‘s story interesting and needed—women‘s histories are less frequently discussed even in the context of the Shoah, so the fact that this work draws from true events is encouraging.
May 14, 2026
Excellent account of what happened after liberation. How did people live in a war torn country. What was the normal after? The scenes when after liberation, people were taken into custody to another camp, the perspective was daunting.
June 11, 2026
Good story but poorly written
April 23, 2024
Received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this novel- the story moved at a good pace, encompassing various timelines, yet never losing sight of the storyarc.
I cared about the characters and found myself willing the main character, Sara, to survive and possibly find some sort of happiness or consolation in the midst of the atrocity that was Auschwitz.
It was apparent that the author had done their research on the concentration camp and made no attempts to glamorise or gloss over the reality and horrors that occurred at the hands of the Nazis.
I don't want to give anything away but this is a harrowing, heart-rending, lump-in-your-throat tale.
I really liked this novel- the story moved at a good pace, encompassing various timelines, yet never losing sight of the storyarc.
I cared about the characters and found myself willing the main character, Sara, to survive and possibly find some sort of happiness or consolation in the midst of the atrocity that was Auschwitz.
It was apparent that the author had done their research on the concentration camp and made no attempts to glamorise or gloss over the reality and horrors that occurred at the hands of the Nazis.
I don't want to give anything away but this is a harrowing, heart-rending, lump-in-your-throat tale.
July 16, 2026
I am deeply touched and moved by The Seamstress of Auschwitz. It brought out so many heavy emotions, yet it was so beautifully written that I simply couldn’t put it down. Each chapter left me eager to read the next, making it impossible to stop. It is a powerful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the final page.
August 26, 2024
What a great book! I love historical books! Fictional or not they are interesting to read and this one was no exception! Pick it up and give it a read and you’ll enjoy it too. Thank you for writing this book for us!,
July 17, 2024
This story is about Sara, a seamstress from Germany, of Jewish decent. It follows her shocking journey from Germany to Auschwitz. It wrote about love, loss, grief, unlikely friendships and the dark past of ww2.
I really enjoyed this book, reading about the atrocities of the holocaust served as a stark reminder of the past and the holocaust while reading about Sara’s will to survive.
I really enjoyed this book, reading about the atrocities of the holocaust served as a stark reminder of the past and the holocaust while reading about Sara’s will to survive.
June 1, 2024
C.D. McAdam is a great writer. Besides delivering a marvelous story, she captures the essential feelings that enable her characters to survive the worst experiences and come out whole.
I can't wait to read her next novel: The Poet's Daughter
I can't wait to read her next novel: The Poet's Daughter
August 27, 2024
I have never read a book by C. K. McAdams before the Seamstress of Auschwitz. I was reluctant at first to read another story of the horrors humanity heaped on one another during WWII. Often, these books read more like memoirs, diaries, or journals to me, and I wasn’t sure I could get through another accounting of life in one of these camps. When I first began reading this book, the writer’s choice to write in first-person almost had me putting the book back on my ‘maybe later pile.’
But I am so glad I did not neglect to continue reading this poignant portrayal of one young woman’s life surviving the loss of her father during the Night of Broken Glass and losing other loved ones as the war dragged on and on. I took a deep breath, got into my comfy recliner, put the kettle on, and read, often with tears streaming down my face, until it was done. Despite the tale being filled with unimaginable horrors and devastating losses, the author's honest and caring approach towards the victims who survived this ordeal had me reaching for the tissues frequently but unable to put the book down.
I have studied WWII and read many a book about the concentration camps in Germany and the conquered German countries, but this one stood out because it was an easy read. I know that sounds impossible and inaccurate based on the story. Still, the author wrote with such simplicity that I felt as if I was there, suspended in animation, watching this horror movie from above. Interspersed with moments of love, sacrifice, and impossible decisions, some side characters revealed pieces of humanity that made them dance off the pages and into my heart. The author’s ability to develop accurate, three-dimensional characters is incredible.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but this is not a typical story about Auschwitz and other camps; it is a story that C. K. McAdams had to tell. The realism of her settings, the words and thoughts of her main characters, and the hopes and dreams lost by millions in WWII make it obvious that the author put a great deal of herself into this novel.
I am glad I buckled down and stayed with the story, pulling an all-nighter. The character portrayals are so real, and the book so well-researched that I felt like I was reading a memoir. However, the occasional dash of humor and humanity that seeped through in some scenes, like the one in the infirmary, showed a story the author poured her soul into writing.
This is a five-star book all around. Put the kettle on, make sure you have a good snack or two on hand, and get into your favorite reading spot, keeping the tissues handy. This is one of the better books I have read on a subject that is not only educational and enlightening but also difficult for those who lived through it to remember, let alone share with the world. Please give it a whirl; you will not be disappointed.
I want to thank the author, C.K. McAdams, the publisher, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this free, advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
But I am so glad I did not neglect to continue reading this poignant portrayal of one young woman’s life surviving the loss of her father during the Night of Broken Glass and losing other loved ones as the war dragged on and on. I took a deep breath, got into my comfy recliner, put the kettle on, and read, often with tears streaming down my face, until it was done. Despite the tale being filled with unimaginable horrors and devastating losses, the author's honest and caring approach towards the victims who survived this ordeal had me reaching for the tissues frequently but unable to put the book down.
I have studied WWII and read many a book about the concentration camps in Germany and the conquered German countries, but this one stood out because it was an easy read. I know that sounds impossible and inaccurate based on the story. Still, the author wrote with such simplicity that I felt as if I was there, suspended in animation, watching this horror movie from above. Interspersed with moments of love, sacrifice, and impossible decisions, some side characters revealed pieces of humanity that made them dance off the pages and into my heart. The author’s ability to develop accurate, three-dimensional characters is incredible.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but this is not a typical story about Auschwitz and other camps; it is a story that C. K. McAdams had to tell. The realism of her settings, the words and thoughts of her main characters, and the hopes and dreams lost by millions in WWII make it obvious that the author put a great deal of herself into this novel.
I am glad I buckled down and stayed with the story, pulling an all-nighter. The character portrayals are so real, and the book so well-researched that I felt like I was reading a memoir. However, the occasional dash of humor and humanity that seeped through in some scenes, like the one in the infirmary, showed a story the author poured her soul into writing.
This is a five-star book all around. Put the kettle on, make sure you have a good snack or two on hand, and get into your favorite reading spot, keeping the tissues handy. This is one of the better books I have read on a subject that is not only educational and enlightening but also difficult for those who lived through it to remember, let alone share with the world. Please give it a whirl; you will not be disappointed.
I want to thank the author, C.K. McAdams, the publisher, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this free, advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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