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Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust
Meet Barbara Reichmann, once known as Gucia Gomolinska: smart, determined, independent, and steadfast in the face of injustice. A Jew growing up in predominantly Catholic Poland during the 1920s and ’30s, Gucia studies hard, makes friends, falls in love, and dreams of a bright future. Her world is turned upside down when Nazis invade Poland and establish the first Jewish ghetto of World War II in her town of Piotrko´w Trybunalski. As the war escalates, Gucia and her family, friends, and neighbors suffer starvation, disease, and worse. She knows her blond hair and fair skin give her an advantage, and eventually she faces a harrowing choice: risk either the uncertain horrors of deportation to a concentration camp, or certain death if she is caught resisting. She decides to hide her identity as a Jew and adopts the gentile name Danuta Barbara Tanska. Barbara, nicknamed Basia, leaves behind everything and everyone she has ever known in order to claim a new life for herself.
Writing in the first person, author Planaria Price and Helen Reichmann West, Barbara's daughter, bring the immediacy of Barbara’s voice to this true account of a young woman whose unlikely survival hinges upon the same determination and defiant spirit already evident in the six-year-old girl we meet as this story begins. The final portion of this narrative, written by Helen, completes Barbara’s journey from her immigration to America until her natural, timely death.
Includes maps and photographs
Writing in the first person, author Planaria Price and Helen Reichmann West, Barbara's daughter, bring the immediacy of Barbara’s voice to this true account of a young woman whose unlikely survival hinges upon the same determination and defiant spirit already evident in the six-year-old girl we meet as this story begins. The final portion of this narrative, written by Helen, completes Barbara’s journey from her immigration to America until her natural, timely death.
Includes maps and photographs
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2018
18 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Planaria Price
6 books26 followersAfter graduating from Berkeley and earning a Master's Degree in English Literature from UCLA, Planaria Price began her career teaching English to adult immigrants in Los Angeles. She has written several "out of the box" textbooks and lectured at over 100 conferences. In 2012, after the public ESL program was completely defunded, she sadly had to retire after having taught for 40 years. In addition to her passion for teaching, Planaria has worked with her husband, Murray, to save and restore over 30 Victorian and Craftsman homes in her historic Los Angeles neighborhood, Angelino Heights. Claiming My Place is her first book for young adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 11, 2018
Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust by Planaria Price enables readers of all ages to experience the horrors of that terrible time as if we, too, were living in Poland in the 30’s and early 40’s when Hitler came to power. Price has a gift for rendering everyday detail meaningful, and she is able to capture Barbara’s voice as if she were telling her own story directly to us—as if we were sitting in a living room with an old woman recalling the happiness of her early days, which, suddenly transformed into a life of terror. I loved the description of Barbara’s early days in Poland, the care she took about her clothes, her interest in her studies, the delicious food she enjoyed with her family, and then, almost overnight, the destruction of everything and almost everyone she loved. This is a book for young and old alike—a book that should not be overlooked, not only because it helps us remember a terrifying time in history, but also, and perhaps, more significantly, to realize that it could all happen again. I loved this book!
April 4, 2018
Totally surprised by this book! While I do have severe ADHD, and struggle with reading anything longer than a couple of pages, I was pleasantly surprised. It was so skillfully written, that it paints such a visual picture and creates an emotional feeling that made it so easy for me to stay with. I appreciate all of the work that went into this book, because now I really feel a bit like I was there - that I have witnessed the experience first-hand. And it feels like it came from the heart of someone who was neither bitter, nor had an “axe to grind” - so I don’t feel like I had to waste energy filtering things out.
March 11, 2019
My Thoughts:
Several reasons led me to award this book an excellent rating:
•A detailed account of Barbara Reichmann, from age 6 until post World War II. The book encompasses her home life, parents, siblings, neighborhood, hometown, schools, and university life. In addition, her plight of survival during the war. And, post World War II life: displacement.
•A strong teaching on the Jewish traditions, religion, holidays, and festivals. I enjoyed reading about the foods eaten during Passover, as well as the reasons behind the types of food eaten. During Passover, they sing songs and read from the Haggadah.
•Another point related to the previous. At the Seder meal, an empty chair is left for Elijah, even a cup of wine is left for him. I’d not heard of this custom before, and I loved hearing about the details of several other Jewish customs.
•Through Barbara’s voice, I became swept up in her story. I’ve read a long list of Holocaust stories. Barbara’s story is unique. The story of her survival is the expected reading, but I did not expect to learn about her life as a Jew. I feel this is an excellent teaching tool for students to learn about both the Holocaust and the Jewish religion.
•Barbara gave me a background on anti-Semitism in Europe. What the Jews had been accused of throughout the centuries. And, she gave an interesting perspective by stating it is what they’d come to expect. “Jews have learned to accept and endure the persecution off an on.”
•On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. This begins a thirteen day account of Barbara’s memories of this history. It gave me an overall picture of those first days.
•A horrifying life after Nazi Germany invaded Poland. The new laws, abuse, starvation, and murder. In one scene, Barbara and her family are eating dinner when they hear German voices outside their door shouting, “Schnell! Schnell!” The men come in their home going through the house and stealing, while the family still sits at their dinner table not wanting to take a breath.
Claiming My Place is described as a young adult book. Through most of the story, Barbara is in her twenties. The book is not descriptive about the death camps. I wanted to mention this last statement for a parent who may be thinking of this book for their child. I plan to pass this book along to my teenage granddaughter. However, she too has read extensively Holocaust stories.
Source: I received a complimentary copy, but was not required to leave a positive review.
Several reasons led me to award this book an excellent rating:
•A detailed account of Barbara Reichmann, from age 6 until post World War II. The book encompasses her home life, parents, siblings, neighborhood, hometown, schools, and university life. In addition, her plight of survival during the war. And, post World War II life: displacement.
•A strong teaching on the Jewish traditions, religion, holidays, and festivals. I enjoyed reading about the foods eaten during Passover, as well as the reasons behind the types of food eaten. During Passover, they sing songs and read from the Haggadah.
•Another point related to the previous. At the Seder meal, an empty chair is left for Elijah, even a cup of wine is left for him. I’d not heard of this custom before, and I loved hearing about the details of several other Jewish customs.
•Through Barbara’s voice, I became swept up in her story. I’ve read a long list of Holocaust stories. Barbara’s story is unique. The story of her survival is the expected reading, but I did not expect to learn about her life as a Jew. I feel this is an excellent teaching tool for students to learn about both the Holocaust and the Jewish religion.
•Barbara gave me a background on anti-Semitism in Europe. What the Jews had been accused of throughout the centuries. And, she gave an interesting perspective by stating it is what they’d come to expect. “Jews have learned to accept and endure the persecution off an on.”
•On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. This begins a thirteen day account of Barbara’s memories of this history. It gave me an overall picture of those first days.
•A horrifying life after Nazi Germany invaded Poland. The new laws, abuse, starvation, and murder. In one scene, Barbara and her family are eating dinner when they hear German voices outside their door shouting, “Schnell! Schnell!” The men come in their home going through the house and stealing, while the family still sits at their dinner table not wanting to take a breath.
Claiming My Place is described as a young adult book. Through most of the story, Barbara is in her twenties. The book is not descriptive about the death camps. I wanted to mention this last statement for a parent who may be thinking of this book for their child. I plan to pass this book along to my teenage granddaughter. However, she too has read extensively Holocaust stories.
Source: I received a complimentary copy, but was not required to leave a positive review.
February 28, 2019
Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust is a special read. It is a memoir of a Holocaust survivor. She tells a story of her family life growing up, the rise of anti-Semitism in her homeland, World War II and the years after. As a young woman of Jewish Heritage, she had to do everything possible to survive. My heart ache for her and her family.
I would give Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust 100 stars if I could. I highly recommend this book. It is important to read the stories from those who were affected from Holocaust. This one is very powerful.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I would give Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust 100 stars if I could. I highly recommend this book. It is important to read the stories from those who were affected from Holocaust. This one is very powerful.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
October 28, 2020
I listened to this on audiobook. I really loved the reader. Her voice was very pleasant and she was able to get across very well the emotions of the people mentioned in the book.
I enjoyed this book, in as much as you can enjoy a book about the Holocaust. I thought the writing was well done, the little details about life in the 1940s were informative, and finding out about the different ways in which people survived the war was fascinating. This is one I would definitely recommend.
Book description:
A Junior Library Guild selection
Claiming My Place is the true story of a young Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust by escaping to Nazi Germany and hiding in plain sight.
Meet Barbara Reichmann, once known as Gucia Gomolinska: smart, determined, independent, and steadfast in the face of injustice. A Jew growing up in predominantly Catholic Poland during the 1920s and ’30s, Gucia studies hard, makes friends, falls in love, and dreams of a bright future. Her world is turned upside down when Nazis invade Poland and establish the first Jewish ghetto of World War II in her town of Piotrko´w Trybunalski. As the war escalates, Gucia and her family, friends, and neighbors suffer starvation, disease, and worse. She knows her blond hair and fair skin give her an advantage, and eventually she faces a harrowing choice: risk either the uncertain horrors of deportation to a concentration camp, or certain death if she is caught resisting. She decides to hide her identity as a Jew and adopts the gentile name Danuta Barbara Tanska. Barbara, nicknamed Basia, leaves behind everything and everyone she has ever known in order to claim a new life for herself.
Writing in the first person, author Planaria Price and Helen Reichmann West, Barbara's daughter, bring the immediacy of Barbara’s voice to this true account of a young woman whose unlikely survival hinges upon the same determination and defiant spirit already evident in the six-year-old girl we meet as this story begins. The final portion of this narrative, written by Helen, completes Barbara’s journey from her immigration to America until her natural, timely death.
Includes maps and photographs
I enjoyed this book, in as much as you can enjoy a book about the Holocaust. I thought the writing was well done, the little details about life in the 1940s were informative, and finding out about the different ways in which people survived the war was fascinating. This is one I would definitely recommend.
Book description:
A Junior Library Guild selection
Claiming My Place is the true story of a young Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust by escaping to Nazi Germany and hiding in plain sight.
Meet Barbara Reichmann, once known as Gucia Gomolinska: smart, determined, independent, and steadfast in the face of injustice. A Jew growing up in predominantly Catholic Poland during the 1920s and ’30s, Gucia studies hard, makes friends, falls in love, and dreams of a bright future. Her world is turned upside down when Nazis invade Poland and establish the first Jewish ghetto of World War II in her town of Piotrko´w Trybunalski. As the war escalates, Gucia and her family, friends, and neighbors suffer starvation, disease, and worse. She knows her blond hair and fair skin give her an advantage, and eventually she faces a harrowing choice: risk either the uncertain horrors of deportation to a concentration camp, or certain death if she is caught resisting. She decides to hide her identity as a Jew and adopts the gentile name Danuta Barbara Tanska. Barbara, nicknamed Basia, leaves behind everything and everyone she has ever known in order to claim a new life for herself.
Writing in the first person, author Planaria Price and Helen Reichmann West, Barbara's daughter, bring the immediacy of Barbara’s voice to this true account of a young woman whose unlikely survival hinges upon the same determination and defiant spirit already evident in the six-year-old girl we meet as this story begins. The final portion of this narrative, written by Helen, completes Barbara’s journey from her immigration to America until her natural, timely death.
Includes maps and photographs
January 13, 2021
This was a wonderful look on how WW2 effected Jewish Polish woman and how she goes disguised a regular Polish woman to survive the war. She ends up moving to the states four years after the war.
October 14, 2019
Claiming My Place by Planaria Price and Helen Reichmann West, 250 pages. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018. $18.
Content: Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When World War II began, Barbara and her family lived in the Jewish community of Piotrkow in Poland. As the war developed, more and more restrictions were placed on her family and it became evident that the Jews were being removed from their homes. Barbara, formerly known as Gucia, was in her early twenties in 1942 when she left her family and the Jewish ghetto to hide in plain sight. She had blonde hair and was able to find forged papers which made her able to work throughout World War II in Germany as a servant. This book follows her experiences throughout her childhood and time in the war.
I am always interested in reading the different accounts from the Holocaust and Barbara’s account was a unique perspective. I admire her bravery and enjoyed reading about the Jewish beliefs and practices which are covered in detail. There are some photos included and the content is rated PG-13 for war violence.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Content: Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When World War II began, Barbara and her family lived in the Jewish community of Piotrkow in Poland. As the war developed, more and more restrictions were placed on her family and it became evident that the Jews were being removed from their homes. Barbara, formerly known as Gucia, was in her early twenties in 1942 when she left her family and the Jewish ghetto to hide in plain sight. She had blonde hair and was able to find forged papers which made her able to work throughout World War II in Germany as a servant. This book follows her experiences throughout her childhood and time in the war.
I am always interested in reading the different accounts from the Holocaust and Barbara’s account was a unique perspective. I admire her bravery and enjoyed reading about the Jewish beliefs and practices which are covered in detail. There are some photos included and the content is rated PG-13 for war violence.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
June 21, 2018
I am very grateful to Planaria Price for writing this amazing book. Through her writing I travelled to Poland with Gucha before the Second World War and lived with her family. I experienced the delicious tastes of Jewish traditional meals, learned about the life of Jewish communities, and fell in love with all her family! This book is truly captivating — a joy to experience. The part of the book where Barbara (Gucha) survives Nazism is especially thrilling. You will get very emotional, from feeling happy and sad to angry and loving. I would highly recommend this book to any reader.
January 10, 2019
I’ve read many holocaust survivor books. This one is the most detailed regarding the Jewish religion and their rituals. I loved hearing about it all. Loved hearing about her town in Poland also. And her grit and perseverance as a young women. I will make sure my kids read this one. I wish I could have met her.
March 20, 2019
A young woman with a bright future ahead of her finds herself trapped at the epicenter of the Holocaust. Using her wits as her only weapon, she is compelled to make a choice that will become her most closely guarded secret, one that will change the very trajectory of her life. Who is Barbara Reichmann? Find out in the unforgettable true story, Claiming My Place.
Growing up as a Jew in a mostly Catholic Poland during the 1920s and 30s, Gucia Gomolinska is bright, tenacious, independent and resolute in the face of discrimination. Undeterred by bitter opposition, she remains a good student, is well liked, and falls for a handsome boy.
Yet any dreams she has are quickly dashed as the Nazis invade Poland and turn her town of Piotrków Trybunalski into the first Jewish ghetto during World War II. As the madness of the war escalates, she endures hunger, pestilence, and more along with everyone she knows.
Unlike Anne Frank, however, she is blond and fair-skinned, traits that separate her from her peers and which she can use to her advantage if only she dares to. Because Gucia has a choice to make, she can risk certain death and resist the Nazi regime or face the horrors of deportation to a concentration camp.
Finally, she makes a heartbreaking decision and leaves everyone and everything she knows behind and claims a new life and a new identity as Danuta Barbara Tanska, and goes by the nickname Basia. What happens after that is a tale marked by bravery, virtue, and shrewd decisions. Utilizing maps and photographs, sit back and follow along as Barbara recounts her personal story in what is destined to become one of the most beloved biographies of our time.
Although Claiming My Place is marketed as a biography for young adults, it is a story that should be mandatory reading for any student of history and the human condition. Fueled by an indomitable spirit and unfathomable courage, this is the tale of a young woman who is at her core a survivor. Her candor and verve, even in the midst of one of the most heinous acts of humanity, are but one of the myriad stories that seem to continuously surface in the aftermath of World War II. But it is none the less impressive, life affirming, and sobering.
This is a biography that makes us take a long hard look at current world conditions and compare it to where we’ve been as a species. It forces us to examine the atrocities mankind has doled out in the name of intolerance, and begs us to choose a different path going forward. Once you read this fascinating life story, you too will become a witness to history, one who must help decide our fate in the years to come.
As originally published at jathanandheather.com.
Growing up as a Jew in a mostly Catholic Poland during the 1920s and 30s, Gucia Gomolinska is bright, tenacious, independent and resolute in the face of discrimination. Undeterred by bitter opposition, she remains a good student, is well liked, and falls for a handsome boy.
Yet any dreams she has are quickly dashed as the Nazis invade Poland and turn her town of Piotrków Trybunalski into the first Jewish ghetto during World War II. As the madness of the war escalates, she endures hunger, pestilence, and more along with everyone she knows.
Unlike Anne Frank, however, she is blond and fair-skinned, traits that separate her from her peers and which she can use to her advantage if only she dares to. Because Gucia has a choice to make, she can risk certain death and resist the Nazi regime or face the horrors of deportation to a concentration camp.
Finally, she makes a heartbreaking decision and leaves everyone and everything she knows behind and claims a new life and a new identity as Danuta Barbara Tanska, and goes by the nickname Basia. What happens after that is a tale marked by bravery, virtue, and shrewd decisions. Utilizing maps and photographs, sit back and follow along as Barbara recounts her personal story in what is destined to become one of the most beloved biographies of our time.
Although Claiming My Place is marketed as a biography for young adults, it is a story that should be mandatory reading for any student of history and the human condition. Fueled by an indomitable spirit and unfathomable courage, this is the tale of a young woman who is at her core a survivor. Her candor and verve, even in the midst of one of the most heinous acts of humanity, are but one of the myriad stories that seem to continuously surface in the aftermath of World War II. But it is none the less impressive, life affirming, and sobering.
This is a biography that makes us take a long hard look at current world conditions and compare it to where we’ve been as a species. It forces us to examine the atrocities mankind has doled out in the name of intolerance, and begs us to choose a different path going forward. Once you read this fascinating life story, you too will become a witness to history, one who must help decide our fate in the years to come.
As originally published at jathanandheather.com.
November 8, 2023
Claiming My Place. This biography is about a woman named Barbara Reichmann who survived the Holocaust by hiding in plain sight. I do not like reading non-fiction books so I just looked for anything to read that looked interesting. I decided to read this book because the Holocaust is interesting to me and I thought it would be cool to read about someone's life story who managed to survive such a terrible thing.
The story is a coming-of-age narrative about a Jewish girl named Basia, whose name was changed to look more Polish. Baisa’s family moved to Poland for better opportunities but they didn’t all pretend to be Polish. Once she was old enough Baisa left for college with her boyfriend Heniek. However, as Hitler's influence expanded, their lives took a darker turn. Hitler's troops were getting closer to Poland and Basia’s family began to worry along with the rest of the people in their town. Basia and Heniek would listen to his speeches on the radio and understood what would happen if he were to successfully invade Poland. When the German soldiers invaded Poland Basia’s family fled to the countryside for safety and stayed with a farmer they knew. After some time her family decided to return home and board up their house and avoid getting the attention of any soldiers. Basia decided to stick to posing as a Polish girl which led to her being sent to a concentration camp. She worked as a seamstress and played her part to survive. Then a British troop attacked the camp and freed everyone in it, including Basia. She managed to escape and stayed with Heniek but never fully got her family reunited again.
I like the way the book ended mostly because she ended up surviving which is incredible. Although it is a little sad that she didn’t get to see all of her family after escaping, I’m sure that was very hard for her. My favorite part of the book was when Basia first started dating Heniek because they were younger and things were simpler than for them. She was so happy and had so many good things going for her at that point in her life. It just really reminds me of how people always say enjoy the little things in life.
I thought this book was pretty decent and interesting because it was non-fiction. I think it helped that it was told in such a good story form. I felt like I was in the book or reading something fictional. It was just a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. I am very interested in the history of the Holocaust and reading this book has deepened my appreciation for it. I think anyone interested in the Holocaust or just history would enjoy this book.
The story is a coming-of-age narrative about a Jewish girl named Basia, whose name was changed to look more Polish. Baisa’s family moved to Poland for better opportunities but they didn’t all pretend to be Polish. Once she was old enough Baisa left for college with her boyfriend Heniek. However, as Hitler's influence expanded, their lives took a darker turn. Hitler's troops were getting closer to Poland and Basia’s family began to worry along with the rest of the people in their town. Basia and Heniek would listen to his speeches on the radio and understood what would happen if he were to successfully invade Poland. When the German soldiers invaded Poland Basia’s family fled to the countryside for safety and stayed with a farmer they knew. After some time her family decided to return home and board up their house and avoid getting the attention of any soldiers. Basia decided to stick to posing as a Polish girl which led to her being sent to a concentration camp. She worked as a seamstress and played her part to survive. Then a British troop attacked the camp and freed everyone in it, including Basia. She managed to escape and stayed with Heniek but never fully got her family reunited again.
I like the way the book ended mostly because she ended up surviving which is incredible. Although it is a little sad that she didn’t get to see all of her family after escaping, I’m sure that was very hard for her. My favorite part of the book was when Basia first started dating Heniek because they were younger and things were simpler than for them. She was so happy and had so many good things going for her at that point in her life. It just really reminds me of how people always say enjoy the little things in life.
I thought this book was pretty decent and interesting because it was non-fiction. I think it helped that it was told in such a good story form. I felt like I was in the book or reading something fictional. It was just a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. I am very interested in the history of the Holocaust and reading this book has deepened my appreciation for it. I think anyone interested in the Holocaust or just history would enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2018
I seized upon this book with great interest as it was about the town that my grandfather (himself a survivor of Auschwitz) and father grew up in (Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland). So I was super pumped about reading a book about someone who grew up in the same town and same era as my own grandfather.
The feeling didn't last long. About a third through the book, the author starts making basic spelling and translation mistakes. For example, the author writes about anti-Semitic signs at the Warsaw University where instead of the correct spelling of the Polish word for "Żyd", (with the Z having a dot on it) author claimed that the word "zhyd" was used on the sign. OK, so maybe a minor spelling mistake, perhaps and attempt by the author to anglocize a word with a difficult spelling.
But she made about 5 other errors in the first 100 pages, like "swinswo" which she claimed to mean "piggish". The Polish word "Świństwo " does indeed come from the root word "Świńia" meaning as the name suggests, swine, but not only does she spell it incorrectly, "Świństwo" is a noun and not an adjective. "Świństwo " quite literally means garbage. I don't know even know what "piggish" means.
Maybe I'm being picky, but if you're going to use the Polish accents for one word (the town name), use that convention through the entire book. I mean these are writing tips I remember from high school.
The author repeatedly refers to the protagonist's elementary school as "Maria Konopricka", which a simple google search would have given the result, "Do you mean 'Maria Konopnicka?' ".
Again, perhaps these details may mean nothing to the vast majority of readers but I personally believe that they should. Sadly, we are living in an age where the leaders of the free world would have us believe that any facts we don't agree with are simply fake news. As such, historians and authors of books based on history have an increased responsibility to be rock solid in their writing.
In the case of spellings of words and place names in another language, in the age of Google, there is simply no excuse. One incorrectly spelled word, OK, but after five or more in the first 100 pages, the credibility of the author will (and should) be called into question.
In the case of the holocaust, given the current political climate, given that the leaders of the free world are actually using words like "deportation" and "build a wall" and "special zones for illegals", putting forth what appears to be a poorly researched account of the holocaust in a young adult book is irresponsible.
The feeling didn't last long. About a third through the book, the author starts making basic spelling and translation mistakes. For example, the author writes about anti-Semitic signs at the Warsaw University where instead of the correct spelling of the Polish word for "Żyd", (with the Z having a dot on it) author claimed that the word "zhyd" was used on the sign. OK, so maybe a minor spelling mistake, perhaps and attempt by the author to anglocize a word with a difficult spelling.
But she made about 5 other errors in the first 100 pages, like "swinswo" which she claimed to mean "piggish". The Polish word "Świństwo " does indeed come from the root word "Świńia" meaning as the name suggests, swine, but not only does she spell it incorrectly, "Świństwo" is a noun and not an adjective. "Świństwo " quite literally means garbage. I don't know even know what "piggish" means.
Maybe I'm being picky, but if you're going to use the Polish accents for one word (the town name), use that convention through the entire book. I mean these are writing tips I remember from high school.
The author repeatedly refers to the protagonist's elementary school as "Maria Konopricka", which a simple google search would have given the result, "Do you mean 'Maria Konopnicka?' ".
Again, perhaps these details may mean nothing to the vast majority of readers but I personally believe that they should. Sadly, we are living in an age where the leaders of the free world would have us believe that any facts we don't agree with are simply fake news. As such, historians and authors of books based on history have an increased responsibility to be rock solid in their writing.
In the case of spellings of words and place names in another language, in the age of Google, there is simply no excuse. One incorrectly spelled word, OK, but after five or more in the first 100 pages, the credibility of the author will (and should) be called into question.
In the case of the holocaust, given the current political climate, given that the leaders of the free world are actually using words like "deportation" and "build a wall" and "special zones for illegals", putting forth what appears to be a poorly researched account of the holocaust in a young adult book is irresponsible.
May 9, 2018
Based on the true story of Gucia Gomolinska, this book tells yet another of those almost-lost stories from the Holocaust, and I am certainly glad that it does. I'd never heard anything about someone who hid right under the Germans' noses the way she managed to do once Hitler comes into power. Gucia grew up in Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland during the 1920s and 1930s. Because of her fair skin and blonde hair, she often escapes notice from those looking for Jews. Eventually as the Nazis move into Poland and force the Jews into a ghetto where food and space is hard to come by, Gucia is offered a choice to take on the identity of a Gentile and resettle in Germany until the war ends or be moved to one of the concentration camps. The author takes her time in telling Gucia's story, describing her formative years in detail as well as her political coming of age, and her dreams. Once the Nazis arrive, everything changes, and as Danuta Barbara (Basia) Tanska, she finds employment, food, and temporary safety, but always with the threat of having her actual identity uncovered. There are harrowing moments for Barbara, and when the Allies finally liberate the concentration camps, and Germany surrenders, she returns to her village to learn just how much she has lost. Still, she has survived against all odds. Barbara's daughter, Helen Reichmann West, provides readers with the rest of story and follows her once she moves to the United States. This is a rare and important story about what it was like to come of age during the Holocaust and the effects such an experience has on someone's personality. The author clearly spent a great deal of time crafting this story and trying to capture its subject's voice. I felt as though I were right alongside Gucia/Barbara all the way through the book. Perhaps the greatest triumph is that Barbara lived on and thrived in her new country, eventually dying at 91. The book contains several photographs, and readers will surely wonder about what might have happened if things had turned out differently or if Barbara had decided not to risk being caught with false identification.
March 8, 2019
The Story
A young Jewish girl in Poland grows up in the 1920s and 1930s during the rise of anti-antisemitism and the coming to power of the Nazis in Germany. Blessed with blonde hair she changes her name and hides in plain sight to survive. Along the way she tells the story of her education, her interest in Zionism and of the events happening around her to restrict and then end the lives of Europe’s Jews.
My Thoughts
This is a memoir for young people and is while sensitively written, it neither sensationalizes nor sugar-coats the story of real people enduring the true horrors of the Nazi regime and Hitler’s final solution. Students will easily see parallels in today’s world.
“Anti-semitism is so easy to foment. Humans all fear the Other. Is it because we Jews keep together in our neighborhoods, and often speak our own language? Because we eat different food, because we dress differently because we work so hard and are so successful? I don’t understand why we are so suspected, so despised, but I know we are” (p. 45).
Students may recognize similar ideas: The Nuremberg laws and our own Jim Crow laws. The forced relocation of the Jews and our Trail of Tears. The concentration camps [albeit not the death camps and final solution] and our Native American reservations and Japanese internment camps. They may see the way propaganda is used to vilify. In the after-war story, they may recognize those held at our Mexican border or see refugees held in European countries or on off-shore islands as the Displaced Persons of the post-war period.
This story personalizes the helplessness of the Jews and their situation. Gucia/Basia was a normal girl, with hopes, dreams, boyfriends, family, going to school, then to college and then…. She endures being forced to attend Jewish schools, forced to sit at the back of the classroom in college, forced to watch as more and more Jewish students are deliberately failed in their college exams and then the Nazi’s invade Poland. This shows how quickly things can change. An example in the USA today of such change would be the incredible speed with which change has been had for transgender acceptance. While not a death threat to anyone, it is a good issue for a speed comparison.
Thru her family and friends’ stories, we see how much of a role luck and risk- taking can have in survival. Those who went early to Palestine, for example, survived. The role of tenacity, faith, perseverance is also shown. In the after-war story, people are shown realizing they cannot just hate, they must keep moving forward–they must late go that burden and get on with life.
This is an excellent book for teaching the personal side of the Holocaust. It does not replace other first-person accounts, such as Ann Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, or novels such as The Boy in Striped Pajamas or alternative literary pieces such as Maus, but it adds to the canon of classroom-appropriate Holocaust memories for middle grades and upward.
A young Jewish girl in Poland grows up in the 1920s and 1930s during the rise of anti-antisemitism and the coming to power of the Nazis in Germany. Blessed with blonde hair she changes her name and hides in plain sight to survive. Along the way she tells the story of her education, her interest in Zionism and of the events happening around her to restrict and then end the lives of Europe’s Jews.
My Thoughts
This is a memoir for young people and is while sensitively written, it neither sensationalizes nor sugar-coats the story of real people enduring the true horrors of the Nazi regime and Hitler’s final solution. Students will easily see parallels in today’s world.
“Anti-semitism is so easy to foment. Humans all fear the Other. Is it because we Jews keep together in our neighborhoods, and often speak our own language? Because we eat different food, because we dress differently because we work so hard and are so successful? I don’t understand why we are so suspected, so despised, but I know we are” (p. 45).
Students may recognize similar ideas: The Nuremberg laws and our own Jim Crow laws. The forced relocation of the Jews and our Trail of Tears. The concentration camps [albeit not the death camps and final solution] and our Native American reservations and Japanese internment camps. They may see the way propaganda is used to vilify. In the after-war story, they may recognize those held at our Mexican border or see refugees held in European countries or on off-shore islands as the Displaced Persons of the post-war period.
This story personalizes the helplessness of the Jews and their situation. Gucia/Basia was a normal girl, with hopes, dreams, boyfriends, family, going to school, then to college and then…. She endures being forced to attend Jewish schools, forced to sit at the back of the classroom in college, forced to watch as more and more Jewish students are deliberately failed in their college exams and then the Nazi’s invade Poland. This shows how quickly things can change. An example in the USA today of such change would be the incredible speed with which change has been had for transgender acceptance. While not a death threat to anyone, it is a good issue for a speed comparison.
Thru her family and friends’ stories, we see how much of a role luck and risk- taking can have in survival. Those who went early to Palestine, for example, survived. The role of tenacity, faith, perseverance is also shown. In the after-war story, people are shown realizing they cannot just hate, they must keep moving forward–they must late go that burden and get on with life.
This is an excellent book for teaching the personal side of the Holocaust. It does not replace other first-person accounts, such as Ann Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, or novels such as The Boy in Striped Pajamas or alternative literary pieces such as Maus, but it adds to the canon of classroom-appropriate Holocaust memories for middle grades and upward.
July 27, 2020
Because I'm writing a family memoir that touches on that terrible part of history, I have read many books by Holocaust survivors and wasn't sure I would find one more of interest. But this is the story is of a young Jewish girl who, because of her blonde hair and blue eyes, hopes to 'pass' for a Polish Christian as she struggles to evade the Nazi roundups of Jews. She wends her way through her country, seeking, with intelligence, intuition and courage, the safety and the beloved people she craves. Along the way, she meets people who are kind and helpful; others who do their best to take advantage of her.
One charming aspect is the first section that describes the beautiful lives Barbara and her family lived, thanks in part to the success of her parents’ stores. This is very interesting and in addition, gives readers a sense of the life she has to lose, as well as her beloved family members, should they not be able to escape. When Barbara is finally convinced by the Rabbi to leave the family home and escape the invading Nazis, you understand and feel what she must leave behind. In addition, you feel for the whole family, some of whom have been taken by the Nazis to work as slaves for the Reich, others of whom simply disappear.
This is an important book.
It gives readers of all ages a strong understanding of what it was like to go through the suffering and feelings of confusion, terror and dislocation that Jews felt when the Nazi invaders took their country. Given what Americans are going through today, including White Supremacy, the grim and dangerous concentration camps at the Mexican border, and the general lawlessness of some of our leaders, this is a timely book indeed.
Written by talented author Planaria Price, who interviewed Barbara and her daughter Helen, who has contributed an Epilogue to the piece, the story is told in first person, present tense, which helped me feel very close to Barbara throughout. I couldn't put the book down. I started yesterday afternoon, woke up this morning at 4 o'clock, and finished by 7:30 AM!
I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
One charming aspect is the first section that describes the beautiful lives Barbara and her family lived, thanks in part to the success of her parents’ stores. This is very interesting and in addition, gives readers a sense of the life she has to lose, as well as her beloved family members, should they not be able to escape. When Barbara is finally convinced by the Rabbi to leave the family home and escape the invading Nazis, you understand and feel what she must leave behind. In addition, you feel for the whole family, some of whom have been taken by the Nazis to work as slaves for the Reich, others of whom simply disappear.
This is an important book.
It gives readers of all ages a strong understanding of what it was like to go through the suffering and feelings of confusion, terror and dislocation that Jews felt when the Nazi invaders took their country. Given what Americans are going through today, including White Supremacy, the grim and dangerous concentration camps at the Mexican border, and the general lawlessness of some of our leaders, this is a timely book indeed.
Written by talented author Planaria Price, who interviewed Barbara and her daughter Helen, who has contributed an Epilogue to the piece, the story is told in first person, present tense, which helped me feel very close to Barbara throughout. I couldn't put the book down. I started yesterday afternoon, woke up this morning at 4 o'clock, and finished by 7:30 AM!
I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
July 10, 2019
Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust doesn't directly provide details of experiences in any of the work or death camps. Instead the author, Planaria Price, tells the personal story of a Polish girl named Gucia Gomolinska who grew up and lived there before and during the Nazi occupation. The information given to the author came to her from Gucia's granddaughter, Helen West. She experienced the increasingly oppressive anti-Jewish laws passed and describes how it affected everyday life particularly for Jews and school children especially. Because of her fair hair and non-Jewish looks, she decides to change her name to one that sounds more Polish, and move to Nazi Germany to try to pass as a non-Jew. She has some close calls along the way but manages to survive through the war. She goes on to describe having to deal with the chaos in the immediate aftermath or the war. Although she did not actually get deported to the camps, she lost many family members and was constantly having to be on guard to stay safe. I found this aspect to be particularly of interest as well as the detailed descriptions of daily life under the occupation and the way the Nazis would suddenly burst in unannounced to rough people up and steal things from them leaving them with no recourse. This book is in the Young Adult category but it was well written. Another reviewer mentioned a number of spelling errors but I saw nothing that detracted from my reading of the book. I would recommend for all audiences.
April 13, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Really more like 3.5 stars.
While I've read a number of books about the Holocaust, this is the first I've read that is a first-person account of someone who survived by posing as a non-Jew. That aspect of the book is excellently done. It's based on interviews with Basia (the main character), and the author does a good job conveying her thoughts and feelings. The first 1/3 of the book is dedicated to her early life - it starts in 1st grade, while she's in her 20s when she escapes Poland - so it's a bit of a slow start. I would have been interested to read more about her life after the war ended, and maybe less about elementary/high school. However, I just noticed when I started this review that it's a young adult book, so it makes sense that the intended audience would be more interested in her younger life.
Since it's YA, you may want to know that this book inevitably talks about the murder and violence enacted against the Jews - but the descriptions are brief and never graphic, so it's probably ok for younger kids. (maybe late elementary?)
Unfortunately, the author chose to write entirely in present tense, which I find really distracting for a historical story. It also leads to some awkward sentences when Basia tries to tell how she felt about an event years after it happened.
Really more like 3.5 stars.
While I've read a number of books about the Holocaust, this is the first I've read that is a first-person account of someone who survived by posing as a non-Jew. That aspect of the book is excellently done. It's based on interviews with Basia (the main character), and the author does a good job conveying her thoughts and feelings. The first 1/3 of the book is dedicated to her early life - it starts in 1st grade, while she's in her 20s when she escapes Poland - so it's a bit of a slow start. I would have been interested to read more about her life after the war ended, and maybe less about elementary/high school. However, I just noticed when I started this review that it's a young adult book, so it makes sense that the intended audience would be more interested in her younger life.
Since it's YA, you may want to know that this book inevitably talks about the murder and violence enacted against the Jews - but the descriptions are brief and never graphic, so it's probably ok for younger kids. (maybe late elementary?)
Unfortunately, the author chose to write entirely in present tense, which I find really distracting for a historical story. It also leads to some awkward sentences when Basia tries to tell how she felt about an event years after it happened.
March 7, 2019
Claiming My Place was a fascinating read! It provides an intimate look at the life of Barbara Reichmann (formerly Gucia Gomolinska) in the years leading up to, during, and after World War II. Barbara's tale of survival was extraordinary and so different than anything I've read before.
One of my favorite parts about this book was all of the background information. I really appreciated getting the full story on who Barbara was as a child and her home and family life leading up to the war. There was a lot of detail describing her home, school, family business, and neighbors, and I enjoyed getting to see life in her Polish town through her eyes. I think this background information helped me to see how truly devastating things were for her family when the war started. I was also intrigued by the story of how Barbara survived the Holocaust. I have never heard a story quite like hers! To think she was literally hiding in plain sight, in Germany! It boggles the mind and I was in awe of her strength and fortitude throughout the war.
A big section of the book is written by Barbara's daughter, Helen, and she talks about her mother's life after the war from her point of view. You could see how much she loved her mother and really see what an amazing life Barbara had after the war. There were also photographs of many of the people mentioned in the book and it was really neat to get to see what everyone looked like. It was also kind of a gut punch as a number of the photographs were of people who had not survived the Holocaust.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in World War II/Holocaust. I enjoyed meeting Barbara and reading her tale of survival during one of the darkest periods in history. 3 1/2 stars.
One of my favorite parts about this book was all of the background information. I really appreciated getting the full story on who Barbara was as a child and her home and family life leading up to the war. There was a lot of detail describing her home, school, family business, and neighbors, and I enjoyed getting to see life in her Polish town through her eyes. I think this background information helped me to see how truly devastating things were for her family when the war started. I was also intrigued by the story of how Barbara survived the Holocaust. I have never heard a story quite like hers! To think she was literally hiding in plain sight, in Germany! It boggles the mind and I was in awe of her strength and fortitude throughout the war.
A big section of the book is written by Barbara's daughter, Helen, and she talks about her mother's life after the war from her point of view. You could see how much she loved her mother and really see what an amazing life Barbara had after the war. There were also photographs of many of the people mentioned in the book and it was really neat to get to see what everyone looked like. It was also kind of a gut punch as a number of the photographs were of people who had not survived the Holocaust.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in World War II/Holocaust. I enjoyed meeting Barbara and reading her tale of survival during one of the darkest periods in history. 3 1/2 stars.
January 17, 2020
This book was very captivating. It went in depth into the Jewish culture, I learned lots about their culture
in this book. Gucia is the main character of this story. She has a very big family. At a very young age she learned to be resilient in school and outside. As a teenager she joins a group that supported Zionism. It was interesting and refreshing to watch her grow into a talented young woman. After multiple chapters the war finally starts. Gucia and her family do everything they can to protect themselves while still working in their shops. A couple months of the war pass and her family sends her two brothers to work for the Germans. That decision was very risky. Gucia was constantly worrying about her brothers’ safety while trying to maintain her family during this tragedy. After being crammed into the ghetto, Typhus starts going around. Unfortunately Gucia’s mother gets infected. For weeks Gucia stays by her side caring for her. One morning Gucia wakes up to her mother’s cold dead body. Gucia falls into a deep depression. About a year after her moms death, she decides to escape the ghetto, pretend she is Polish and go start a new life in Poland. While in Poland she runs into many old friends and creates a new life for herself and her new identity. After the war is over she returns to her home and gets married, finally finding some happiness in her life.
in this book. Gucia is the main character of this story. She has a very big family. At a very young age she learned to be resilient in school and outside. As a teenager she joins a group that supported Zionism. It was interesting and refreshing to watch her grow into a talented young woman. After multiple chapters the war finally starts. Gucia and her family do everything they can to protect themselves while still working in their shops. A couple months of the war pass and her family sends her two brothers to work for the Germans. That decision was very risky. Gucia was constantly worrying about her brothers’ safety while trying to maintain her family during this tragedy. After being crammed into the ghetto, Typhus starts going around. Unfortunately Gucia’s mother gets infected. For weeks Gucia stays by her side caring for her. One morning Gucia wakes up to her mother’s cold dead body. Gucia falls into a deep depression. About a year after her moms death, she decides to escape the ghetto, pretend she is Polish and go start a new life in Poland. While in Poland she runs into many old friends and creates a new life for herself and her new identity. After the war is over she returns to her home and gets married, finally finding some happiness in her life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2021
What an excellent book. So glad I found it! I also watched the actual interview with Barbara Reichmann on the website, http://sfi.usc.edu/video/barbara-reic.... What a pleasure it was to see her beautiful face & hear her voice. How lucky people must have been to know her. I loved how the book explained the fortuitous manner of how the book came to be. After seeing the interview it highlighted to me what an excellent writer Planaria Price is. To weave such a harrowing story that is so beautifully explained in such detail is amazing. It also explained & highlighted many Jewish customs and her descriptions were very meaningful & interesting. I have read many Holocaust books, and this one certainly covered that more than any others I can remember. The self reflection & understanding of the events in her life were so honest & forthcoming. At the end of the book her daughter Helen discussing even more details about her mother that make you love her even more. I’m so grateful to everyone that made this book possible, it was truly a gift to all those who read it!
April 30, 2018
I am so happy to give my kudos to Ms. Planaria Price's wondrous tome. From the very beginning, I was drawn into this true story of an account of the life of Barbara Reichman, aka Gucia Comolinska, as a child growing up in Poland. As a matter of fact, I could hardly put it down from start to finish because Planaria was so adept at drawing in the reader in to care deeply about Gucia/Barbara as well as her family and friends from beginning to end. As a Christian, my heart broke for this dear Jewish woman, first as a young child, then as a young woman, and all the way to the end of her life as she struggled with the monstrous event of Nazism being foisted on her, her family and the Polish community. I have read other holocaust books, like "The Hiding Place" about a Dutch Christian woman hiding Jews in her house before being caught, and this true story of the life of Barbara/Gucia was equally as captivating, heartbreaking and ultimately triumphant as both woman each in their own way survive the horrors of the Nazi regime. If I could, I would give it more than 5 stars.
January 1, 2019
3.5 stars
This is the biography of Gucia Gomolinska, aka Danuta Barbara Basia Tanska Reichmann. She was a Jew who grew up in Poland in the 1920's and 30's. When the horrors of Hitler's regime started, she had to decide if she would face the atrocities of concentration camps or try to hide. She decided to hide in plain sight as she was fortunate enough to have blonde hair and blue eyes, so she pretended not to be a Jew in order to survive. I always find Holocaust books fascinating and this was no exception. What would I have done in that time in place? How can we do such horrible things to other people - would I have been an upstander? So many questions... Anyway, compelling story and how the author heard about Barbara is also interesting and how she did the research and fact checked it for authenticity seems solid.
This is the biography of Gucia Gomolinska, aka Danuta Barbara Basia Tanska Reichmann. She was a Jew who grew up in Poland in the 1920's and 30's. When the horrors of Hitler's regime started, she had to decide if she would face the atrocities of concentration camps or try to hide. She decided to hide in plain sight as she was fortunate enough to have blonde hair and blue eyes, so she pretended not to be a Jew in order to survive. I always find Holocaust books fascinating and this was no exception. What would I have done in that time in place? How can we do such horrible things to other people - would I have been an upstander? So many questions... Anyway, compelling story and how the author heard about Barbara is also interesting and how she did the research and fact checked it for authenticity seems solid.
March 12, 2019
Gucia grows up during the 1920-30s in Poland and this YA memoir tells her story as Hitler and his party rise to power. We know the horrible things that happen to Jews and her circle is not immune.
I went the audio route and am glad I did. It was an enjoyable story (though that does sound kinda horrible to say), but told in the first person it was like she was telling me her story. What a story it was, she does not hold back when describing the years as Hilter rises in power and its impact on her family and friends. Hiding in plain sight is what saved her, all that she went through made this for a gripping story.
With attention to detail Claiming My Place was an addictive read, I highly recommend the audio version - available both via Audible and Scribd.
I went the audio route and am glad I did. It was an enjoyable story (though that does sound kinda horrible to say), but told in the first person it was like she was telling me her story. What a story it was, she does not hold back when describing the years as Hilter rises in power and its impact on her family and friends. Hiding in plain sight is what saved her, all that she went through made this for a gripping story.
With attention to detail Claiming My Place was an addictive read, I highly recommend the audio version - available both via Audible and Scribd.
May 20, 2018
A marvel of storytelling, the moreso because it is true! How amazing that a young Jewish Polish girl was able to amass the courage to hide in the belly of the beast, taking a new identity and working in Germany as her homeland is invaded and the Jews sent to camps. We read this history, up close and personal, and it will widen the eyes of young girls everywhere as they watch Basha, threatened with uncertainty, bombs, betrayals, losses of all kinds, rape threats and indignities, find the determination to survive to tell the tale. It’s a beautifully written page-turner, and, I expect, it will make a wonderful movie.
June 2, 2018
5 stars
This true story is well written and a real page turner. Although I grew up Jewish with Orthodox grandparents, I was really surprised at how much I didn't know about Jewish life and traditions at the time before WW2. It's a wonderful read about an incredibly strong person and an important history of what normal Jewish life was like before the Holocaust and the details of the terrors during. The afterword by the daughter, Helen, tells the often untold story of what life was like for the survivors after the War.
This true story is well written and a real page turner. Although I grew up Jewish with Orthodox grandparents, I was really surprised at how much I didn't know about Jewish life and traditions at the time before WW2. It's a wonderful read about an incredibly strong person and an important history of what normal Jewish life was like before the Holocaust and the details of the terrors during. The afterword by the daughter, Helen, tells the often untold story of what life was like for the survivors after the War.
August 2, 2018
This book reads like historical fiction, but is the true story of Barbara Reichmann (born Sura Gitla Gomolinska) who survived the Holocaust in Poland. Based in interviews with Barbara and her daughter (co-author Helen West), the narrative draws the reader in to the horrors of the time. Raised in a prominent Jewish family, Barbara takes on an alternative identity as a non-Jew in order to survive. Always staying one step ahead of the Nazis & neighbors who would give her up, Barbara’s story is one of resilience.
September 20, 2018
I have turned away from Holocaust novels and movies in the last few years, as I feel I have been overwhelmed. But this story of a survivor provides new information that I have not seen before on exactly how some Jews were able to hide their Jewishness; and how life outside of the Jewish community went on pretty much as usual. It also contains the story of a woman who survived, who raised a family, and found some happiness in life despite her many losses. Additionally, the book is so clearly and beautifully written that it is a pleasure to read despite the nature of its subject.
September 2, 2019
Claiming My Place is an incredible tale of resilience. I learned so much about the past and felt as if I were living Barbara/ Guicia's life. It was especially interesting to see what life was like for Polish Jews before World War II. This book is both heartbreaking and a tale of courage. It was also fascinating to read about Guicia going into Germany to escape the Nazis. Stories of the Holocaust are always important to read, and I like how this one has a very different perspective, and is accessible to young adults. This is an important story. I can't recommend it enough.
July 29, 2018
This memoir recounts one young woman's courage, determination and luck to survive through the Nazi occupation of Poland.
This book was classified as Young Adult biography in my library system.
I loved how the recording and telling of this memoir came into being.
One can never truly fully comprehend the horrors and far-reaching impact of the Nazi regime on all the lives and families it impacted. This one story reminds one to think of the millions of other lives.
This book was classified as Young Adult biography in my library system.
I loved how the recording and telling of this memoir came into being.
One can never truly fully comprehend the horrors and far-reaching impact of the Nazi regime on all the lives and families it impacted. This one story reminds one to think of the millions of other lives.
December 30, 2019
Overall I thought certain parts of this book were moving, however, I did get lost at times due to the plethora of names. I also feel that some of the stories had too much detail, leaving the reader to feel, yet again, lost.
I will however agree that this book did open my eyes to the past, and I respect the great detail evoked from Basia’s memory. She lived one heck of a life, endured many hardships, and still came out strong
I will however agree that this book did open my eyes to the past, and I respect the great detail evoked from Basia’s memory. She lived one heck of a life, endured many hardships, and still came out strong
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