The Will to Remember: BOUND BY HOPE: A Polish Family's Journey of Survival during the Holocaust

by Roger D. Evans

Some histories are written in dates and numbers. Others survive only because someone refuses to forget.

The Will to Remember is a literary historical novel set during the Holocaust, where identity is under siege and memory becomes an act of moral defiance. In a world designed to erase names, languages, and lives, remembrance itself carries risk—and meaning. Through restrained, intimate prose, the novel inhabits the interior lives of ordinary people confronted with extraordinary terror. Their days unfold in small rooms, forced journeys, and unguarded moments where love, fear, and conscience collide. Survival is never assured; dignity is never surrendered lightly.

This is not a novel of grand gestures, but of accumulated consequence. Silence can save a life—or cost one. Kindness is both dangerous and necessary. History presses inward, shaping choices whose weight is not fully known until it is too late.

The Will to Remember is ultimately a meditation on What endures when everything else is stripped away, and on the obligation borne by those who come after—to remember faithfully, and without consolation.. It is a work that lingers, asking not only what happened, but what must still be carried forward.

Ideal for readers of thoughtful, historically grounded novels, The Will to Remember blends meticulous research with emotional restraint. It is particularly well suited for book clubs, educators, and readers seeking fiction that deepens understanding while honoring lived experience.

536 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2025

Reviews

[Bruce Ochs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't an easy read because it hits you hard emotionally. That said, it's a meaningful read. I kept thinking about the characters long after I finished. What stayed with me most was the focus on memory--not what just happened, but why remembering matters. There's quite an emotional weight to this novel. It doesn't rely on the horrors of the Holocaust, but on consideration. It is a heartbreaking story, but never without compassion. I appreciated how the novel allowed time for reflection rather than overwhelming the reader. By the end, I felt changed and more aware of the human stories behind the history of the Holocaust. This is the kind of book you need time to sit with after finishing.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful historical fiction. I was over taken by so many emotions. I think I was holding my breath through the whole thing. Tears of sadness, of relief, and of joy. The author takes you on a journey through a evil part of history and introduces you to various perspectives. I didn't expect to read about the German Order Police and come to understand what that meant for those men. It's a history lesson and emotional journey. Must read.

[Shelley M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful, well-told story that stays with you and one I’m very glad I read. While the themes are serious, there were moments of warmth and hope that made the novel feel balanced and deeply human. This first time author did a great job and I am looking forward to his next book.

[Roger D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Will to Remember, I committed myself wholeheartedly to creating a Holocaust novel that is both deeply researched and emotionally resonant. Every chapter reflects not only the immense weight of history, but also my personal dedication to telling this story with honesty, humility, and respect. My goal was to do everything possible to honor those who lived through these events—by illuminating forgotten corners of the past and crafting characters whose struggles and triumphs feel truly human.

I hope readers will see the care woven into the details, the character journeys shaped by courage and loss, and the effort to portray the profound human cost of hatred and war. More than anything, I wrote this novel as an invitation: to engage with a powerful chapter of history, to reflect on its lessons, and to carry its memory forward. If you are drawn to stories of resilience, moral complexity, and the enduring strength of the human spirit, I believe The Will to Remember will speak to you.