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The Young Survivors
What if everyone you loved was suddenly taken away? Five siblings struggle to stay together as the tides of war threaten to tear them apart. When Germany invades and occupies France in the Second World War, the five Laskowski children lose everything: their home, their Jewish community and most devastatingly their parents who are abducted in the night. There is no safe place left for them to evade the Nazis, but they cling together, never certain when the authorities will come for what is left of them. Inspired by the poignant, true story of the author’s mother, this moving historical novel conveys the hardship, the uncertainty and the impossible choices the Laskowski children were forced to make to survive the horrors of the Holocaust.
410 pages, ebook
Published July 23, 2020
42 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Debra Barnes
3 books15 followersDebra Barnes is the debut author of The Young Survivors. The book was inspired by her mother, Paulette, who was born in France in 1938.
Since studying journalism in London, Debra has worked in a number of different communications roles as diverse as PR for Newcastle Brown Ale and internal communications manager for Mothercare.
Debra joined The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) in 2017 to work on the My Story project. This initiative produces individual life-story books for Holocaust survivors and refugees with the participation of volunteers as interviewers.
Debra said, "I wanted to write this story to shed light on the fate of Jews in France during the war, something which is not often considered. The book is dedicated to my mother who managed to live a full and happy life despite the horrors of the Holocaust.
"My extensive research included numerous trips to France where I visited my mother’s birthplace in Metz, the Jewish children’s homes and orphanages in Paris and Louveciennes, and the lady who looked after my mother in the orphanages and reunited with her sixty years later in Cannes. Writing this book has been a bittersweet experience for me."
There is detailed information on Debra's research in the Blog section of her website. Debra lives in London with her family.
Since studying journalism in London, Debra has worked in a number of different communications roles as diverse as PR for Newcastle Brown Ale and internal communications manager for Mothercare.
Debra joined The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) in 2017 to work on the My Story project. This initiative produces individual life-story books for Holocaust survivors and refugees with the participation of volunteers as interviewers.
Debra said, "I wanted to write this story to shed light on the fate of Jews in France during the war, something which is not often considered. The book is dedicated to my mother who managed to live a full and happy life despite the horrors of the Holocaust.
"My extensive research included numerous trips to France where I visited my mother’s birthplace in Metz, the Jewish children’s homes and orphanages in Paris and Louveciennes, and the lady who looked after my mother in the orphanages and reunited with her sixty years later in Cannes. Writing this book has been a bittersweet experience for me."
There is detailed information on Debra's research in the Blog section of her website. Debra lives in London with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 5, 2021
The Laskowski family live in Metz, they have three boys Pierre, Samuel and Claude and they have just celebrated the birth of twin girls Henriette and Georgette. They have no idea that before the girls turn one, the family would have to leave Metz, to put some distant between them and the rapidly advancing German army. The Germans easily invade France, Jewish adults start being arrested in the middle of the night, they disappear and never to be seen again.
The Jewish agency does it’s best to keep the children safe, by hiding them on isolated farms, using various remote youth camps, the twin girls are looked after at orphanages and the catholic church also hides Jewish children. The five siblings desperately try to stay together, it’s difficult due to the age difference and girls being housed separately from boys. The situation in France gets worse, decisions have to be made quickly to move vulnerable children, it’s impossible to keep track of five siblings, after the war they try and reunite families, and it's utter chaos.
After reading The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman, discovering her own mother’s shocking childhood, and Debra Barnes wrote her book to pay tribute to the French Jewish children who suffered during the holocaust. The Young Survivors is a moving and inspiring true story, about surviving despite the terrible odds, and a generation of Jewish children losing the innocence of childhood and their parents. I recived a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it made a lasting impression and five stars from me.
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The Jewish agency does it’s best to keep the children safe, by hiding them on isolated farms, using various remote youth camps, the twin girls are looked after at orphanages and the catholic church also hides Jewish children. The five siblings desperately try to stay together, it’s difficult due to the age difference and girls being housed separately from boys. The situation in France gets worse, decisions have to be made quickly to move vulnerable children, it’s impossible to keep track of five siblings, after the war they try and reunite families, and it's utter chaos.
After reading The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman, discovering her own mother’s shocking childhood, and Debra Barnes wrote her book to pay tribute to the French Jewish children who suffered during the holocaust. The Young Survivors is a moving and inspiring true story, about surviving despite the terrible odds, and a generation of Jewish children losing the innocence of childhood and their parents. I recived a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it made a lasting impression and five stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KarrenReadsH...
June 22, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for the arc of The Young Survivors by Debra Barnes.
Thank you Debra Barnes for writing such a tear jerking, emotional and gripping book which i really enjoyed.
The Young Survivors is the tear-jerking story of which involves 5 siblings in which are all Jewish and where raised in France when Germans took over the country. They are forced in which to flee their apartment in Metz and relocated to the city of Sarry. They ended up living in a house with extended family and were quite happy despite the father having lost his business. Eventually the adults of the family are in which are arrested because they are Jewish and sent them off to concentration camps. This follows the children of the family and what happens with them.
The Young Survivors opens up a section about of the Holocaust narrative that is often overlooked and not spoke about very often which is sad as it is history in which needs to be spoken about and in which is the fate of the Jews in France. It is told through the eyes and POV of three children.
I really loved books about world war 2 and the holocaust so I knew before reading that I would love this in which I did!
Definitely recommend
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Debra Barnes for writing such a tear jerking, emotional and gripping book which i really enjoyed.
The Young Survivors is the tear-jerking story of which involves 5 siblings in which are all Jewish and where raised in France when Germans took over the country. They are forced in which to flee their apartment in Metz and relocated to the city of Sarry. They ended up living in a house with extended family and were quite happy despite the father having lost his business. Eventually the adults of the family are in which are arrested because they are Jewish and sent them off to concentration camps. This follows the children of the family and what happens with them.
The Young Survivors opens up a section about of the Holocaust narrative that is often overlooked and not spoke about very often which is sad as it is history in which needs to be spoken about and in which is the fate of the Jews in France. It is told through the eyes and POV of three children.
I really loved books about world war 2 and the holocaust so I knew before reading that I would love this in which I did!
Definitely recommend
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 6, 2021
I’ve read a good deal of Holocaust literature, both fact and fiction. Every story is important, and each shows through a unique experience, cruelty, tragedy, sacrifice and often the incredible risks some people will take to save the lives of strangers. The Young Survivors encompasses all of these things, wrapped in simple beautiful prose. It’s the story of the author’s mother and her family, told from the point of view of three of the young siblings, separated during the German Occupation. The telling of Georgette’s story, the author’s mother, and her twin sister, Henriette, is particularly poignant and wonderfully done. I don’t want to give away anything, but suffice to say here, it is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Congratulations to Debra Barnes for writing this book. I hope it is read and enjoyed by many, many people! It will appeal to all ages.
July 22, 2020
My Review
The Young Survivors concerns the children of the Laskowski family – eldest son, Pierre, his younger brothers, Samuel and Claude, and his two young sisters, twins Georgette and Henriette. Alternating between the first person narratives of Pierre, Samuel and occasionally Georgette, their experiences are related without any literary flourishes, reflecting both their youth and the fact they don’t always understand, at least to begin with, the full import or implications of the things they see and hear. Indeed, for the younger children, moving to a new place is often merely an opportunity for exploration or to make new friends.
Opening in 1938, initially the prospect of war seems a distant possibility despite the fact the family live in Metz, close to France’s border with Germany. They, like so many others, place their faith in the Maginot line. Only gradually do the youngsters become aware of the consequences of their Jewish faith as playground abuse by other children develops into more virulent anti-Jewish sentiment, fuelled by broadcasts of Hitler’s speeches, and then to legal restrictions on their daily lives. Forced to move to Sally, a village near Poitiers, it places them in the demarcation zone beyond Vichy France when the Germans invade.
Through the children’s faithful accounts of everything that happens to them, the book reveals how life in wartime France for Jewish families like the Laskowskis, whichever side of the demarcation line, becomes increasingly difficult and dangerous. The Vichy government collaborates in the implementation of anti-Jewish laws and the rounding up of Jews to meet German quotas. Only the courage of a few French men and women keeps the children safe, even if that does involve frequent moves. Nevertheless, they still suffer the anguish of separation and not knowing what has become of their parents.
As the end of the war approaches, there are increasingly dramatic scenes with narrow escapes and sudden changes of location. Yet when peace does finally come it does not necessarily bring an end to the challenges faced by the children. For me, it was at this point in the book that the author really captured the emotional and psychological toll of their experiences. In Samuel’s words: “The hope, the anticipation, the wait…and then the disappointment and despair”.
Pierre’s narrative gives the reader a picture of a young man with a keen sense of responsibility to protect his younger siblings. With the arrest of his mother and father, aunt and uncle, he’s suddenly thrust into the position of having to make potentially life or death decisions on behalf of others even as the world he knows crumbles around him.
The chapters narrated by Georgette I found especially poignant. As a twin, the threat of separation is even more overwhelming and, for such a young child, the hatred her family face is difficult for her to understand. “Without our parents to explain it to us, we had no idea what it was to be Jewish except it meant the Germans and many of the French hated us.” It was heart-warming to witness her enjoyment of simple, if rare, pleasures like a visit to the park or playing with her doll.
In war, there are rarely happy endings but in the final chapters the reader does at least get some answers to the questions raised in the prologue.
Books, even if works of fiction, that tell the stories of Holocaust survivors are often difficult to read. However, they are usually an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The Young Survivors is no exception. In her introduction, Debra writes, “As the generation of Holocaust survivors pass away, the mantel of responsibility for telling survival stories rests on the second generation.” I would go further and say even those with no direct connection owe it to those who suffered to ensure their stories continue to be heard. Indeed, the fact The Young Survivors is written from the perspective of the Laskowski children, I think means the book would be both accessible and educational for teenage readers.
I found The Young Survivors an absorbing story of loss, separation, courage and hope.
The Young Survivors concerns the children of the Laskowski family – eldest son, Pierre, his younger brothers, Samuel and Claude, and his two young sisters, twins Georgette and Henriette. Alternating between the first person narratives of Pierre, Samuel and occasionally Georgette, their experiences are related without any literary flourishes, reflecting both their youth and the fact they don’t always understand, at least to begin with, the full import or implications of the things they see and hear. Indeed, for the younger children, moving to a new place is often merely an opportunity for exploration or to make new friends.
Opening in 1938, initially the prospect of war seems a distant possibility despite the fact the family live in Metz, close to France’s border with Germany. They, like so many others, place their faith in the Maginot line. Only gradually do the youngsters become aware of the consequences of their Jewish faith as playground abuse by other children develops into more virulent anti-Jewish sentiment, fuelled by broadcasts of Hitler’s speeches, and then to legal restrictions on their daily lives. Forced to move to Sally, a village near Poitiers, it places them in the demarcation zone beyond Vichy France when the Germans invade.
Through the children’s faithful accounts of everything that happens to them, the book reveals how life in wartime France for Jewish families like the Laskowskis, whichever side of the demarcation line, becomes increasingly difficult and dangerous. The Vichy government collaborates in the implementation of anti-Jewish laws and the rounding up of Jews to meet German quotas. Only the courage of a few French men and women keeps the children safe, even if that does involve frequent moves. Nevertheless, they still suffer the anguish of separation and not knowing what has become of their parents.
As the end of the war approaches, there are increasingly dramatic scenes with narrow escapes and sudden changes of location. Yet when peace does finally come it does not necessarily bring an end to the challenges faced by the children. For me, it was at this point in the book that the author really captured the emotional and psychological toll of their experiences. In Samuel’s words: “The hope, the anticipation, the wait…and then the disappointment and despair”.
Pierre’s narrative gives the reader a picture of a young man with a keen sense of responsibility to protect his younger siblings. With the arrest of his mother and father, aunt and uncle, he’s suddenly thrust into the position of having to make potentially life or death decisions on behalf of others even as the world he knows crumbles around him.
The chapters narrated by Georgette I found especially poignant. As a twin, the threat of separation is even more overwhelming and, for such a young child, the hatred her family face is difficult for her to understand. “Without our parents to explain it to us, we had no idea what it was to be Jewish except it meant the Germans and many of the French hated us.” It was heart-warming to witness her enjoyment of simple, if rare, pleasures like a visit to the park or playing with her doll.
In war, there are rarely happy endings but in the final chapters the reader does at least get some answers to the questions raised in the prologue.
Books, even if works of fiction, that tell the stories of Holocaust survivors are often difficult to read. However, they are usually an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The Young Survivors is no exception. In her introduction, Debra writes, “As the generation of Holocaust survivors pass away, the mantel of responsibility for telling survival stories rests on the second generation.” I would go further and say even those with no direct connection owe it to those who suffered to ensure their stories continue to be heard. Indeed, the fact The Young Survivors is written from the perspective of the Laskowski children, I think means the book would be both accessible and educational for teenage readers.
I found The Young Survivors an absorbing story of loss, separation, courage and hope.
October 31, 2020
The Laskowski children, during the Second World War, have to endure the painful fate that comes with being Jews. With their parents arrested, they have to go their separate ways for a chance at survival. Until the war is over and with the hope of being one day reunited.
Even if we study at school about the Holocaust and we have watched, probably, hundreds of movies about it, I still can’t shake the dreadful feelings I feel when reading the survivors testimonies.. this book based on the author’s mother story is heartbreaking. Those innocent kids having to endure so much pain and experiencing such a traumatising fate.. and when everything is over they are left with the grief of loosing their loved ones, at the expenses of a group of fanatics.. honestly it just upsets me!
Anyway the story was wonderfully written, from the point of views of the 5 kids. While reading is palpable the pain and grief they experience during the war and the hope of being reunited with their family once everything is over. Thanks to the many testimonies, everything is super detailed and accurate.
If you enjoyed reading the tattooist of Auschwitz or the boy in the striped pyjamas then give this book a go!
Even if we study at school about the Holocaust and we have watched, probably, hundreds of movies about it, I still can’t shake the dreadful feelings I feel when reading the survivors testimonies.. this book based on the author’s mother story is heartbreaking. Those innocent kids having to endure so much pain and experiencing such a traumatising fate.. and when everything is over they are left with the grief of loosing their loved ones, at the expenses of a group of fanatics.. honestly it just upsets me!
Anyway the story was wonderfully written, from the point of views of the 5 kids. While reading is palpable the pain and grief they experience during the war and the hope of being reunited with their family once everything is over. Thanks to the many testimonies, everything is super detailed and accurate.
If you enjoyed reading the tattooist of Auschwitz or the boy in the striped pyjamas then give this book a go!
August 1, 2021
Mi-ar plăcea tare mult ca acest roman, împreuna cu Jurnalul Annei Frank, sa fie inclus pe lista de lecturi obligatorii in școala generală. Copiii au nevoie de acces la o astfel de lume, ca sa învețe sa aprecieze ce au si sa se bucure de familiile lor asa cum sunt ele.
March 25, 2020
The Young Survivors is the story of five Jewish siblings that were raised in France when Germans occupied the country. The family is first forced to flee their apartment in Metz and relocated to Sarry. There they lived in a house with extended family and were quite happy despite the father having lost his business. Eventually all the adults are arrested and hauled off to concentration camps. This is the story of what happens to the children.
It did take me a couple of chapters to get invested in the story but once I did, I really wanted to know what happened to Pierre, Samuel, Claude, Henriette and Georgette. Each chapter is told from a different child’s point of view and I liked that.
One of things I had a hard time with was the use of foreign language words throughout the book. I found myself googling Yiddish and French phases more than once. I found that a bit annoying. Thankfully toward the last third of the book, the author seemed to get away from that. The ending was pretty emotional and I really liked it.
I received an ARC copy of this book from netgalley in return for my honest review.
It did take me a couple of chapters to get invested in the story but once I did, I really wanted to know what happened to Pierre, Samuel, Claude, Henriette and Georgette. Each chapter is told from a different child’s point of view and I liked that.
One of things I had a hard time with was the use of foreign language words throughout the book. I found myself googling Yiddish and French phases more than once. I found that a bit annoying. Thankfully toward the last third of the book, the author seemed to get away from that. The ending was pretty emotional and I really liked it.
I received an ARC copy of this book from netgalley in return for my honest review.
July 10, 2020
"The Young Survivors is a tribute to the 76,000 French Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust" - Author Debra Barns
After reading the acknowledgements, it made it more touching and heartbreaking the similarities Debra incorporated to mirror her moms life as a Holocaust survivor. This read was effortless. I enjoyed the story alternating perspectives of the Laskowski children since not many books capture that viewpoint especially Jewish children. I think I hyped the plot too much so it fell a little short for me. I found the end a bit rushed compared to how the story flowed. There was closure between all the characters but I would have preferred if the events were spaced out or elaborated on more. Other than that, the story itself was memorable and gripping. An amazing debut novel.
Side note: I absolutely loved the prequel short story, 'The Laskowski Brothers' that got me hooked and was a perfect lead into The Young Survivors. You can get a free copy at this link: https://www.duckworthbooks.co.uk/the-....
Thank you Duckworth Books through Netgalley for approving my request to read The Young Survivors in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the acknowledgements, it made it more touching and heartbreaking the similarities Debra incorporated to mirror her moms life as a Holocaust survivor. This read was effortless. I enjoyed the story alternating perspectives of the Laskowski children since not many books capture that viewpoint especially Jewish children. I think I hyped the plot too much so it fell a little short for me. I found the end a bit rushed compared to how the story flowed. There was closure between all the characters but I would have preferred if the events were spaced out or elaborated on more. Other than that, the story itself was memorable and gripping. An amazing debut novel.
Side note: I absolutely loved the prequel short story, 'The Laskowski Brothers' that got me hooked and was a perfect lead into The Young Survivors. You can get a free copy at this link: https://www.duckworthbooks.co.uk/the-....
Thank you Duckworth Books through Netgalley for approving my request to read The Young Survivors in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2020
Genocide doesn’t start with concentration camps and gas chambers. Hate doesn’t appear from nowhere. People need to take a stand against racism, whenever they see it.
Three statements that you would think would be perfectly obvious in 2020. Yet, as I started reading this book, a storm was raging on the internet, where rap artist Wiley, the ‘Godfather of Grime’ was indulging in an hours-long rant against Jews, unchecked by either Twitter or Instagram, supported by his followers and ignored by most people until some prominent Jewish voices started to make some noise.
The story of the Laskowski children charts the insidious erosion of the rights of Jews in France, the creeping hate, the arrests, the hardships, the hiding, the deportations. We all know where the story finished for Jews during the Vichy regime, but the interest lies in where it started.
Debra Barnes has woven an intricate and very moving tale, the Laskowskis are engaging and their voices are both realistic and familiar. They don’t feel like characters in a novel, rather they could be the voices of any of our parents or grandparents, talking about their lives as they shifted inexorably into a nightmare.
Debra presented a copy of her book to The Little Local Book Hub and it will be going into the Edgware Broadfields box. I am hoping that it will be returned each time so as many people as possible can ready this story.
Three statements that you would think would be perfectly obvious in 2020. Yet, as I started reading this book, a storm was raging on the internet, where rap artist Wiley, the ‘Godfather of Grime’ was indulging in an hours-long rant against Jews, unchecked by either Twitter or Instagram, supported by his followers and ignored by most people until some prominent Jewish voices started to make some noise.
The story of the Laskowski children charts the insidious erosion of the rights of Jews in France, the creeping hate, the arrests, the hardships, the hiding, the deportations. We all know where the story finished for Jews during the Vichy regime, but the interest lies in where it started.
Debra Barnes has woven an intricate and very moving tale, the Laskowskis are engaging and their voices are both realistic and familiar. They don’t feel like characters in a novel, rather they could be the voices of any of our parents or grandparents, talking about their lives as they shifted inexorably into a nightmare.
Debra presented a copy of her book to The Little Local Book Hub and it will be going into the Edgware Broadfields box. I am hoping that it will be returned each time so as many people as possible can ready this story.
March 28, 2020
The Young Survivors by Debra Barnes is a haunting story of five young Jewish siblings that end up being alone after their parents and adult family members are taken away by Gestapo during the occupation in France during WWII.
The harrowing journey that these children went through, and all that they lost, was horrible and heartbreaking. The chapters alternated with different siblings and the reader was able to see those alternate viewpoints which added to the complexity of the novel. We see their journey throughout this devastating time.
This is a great novel with such strong, resilient children that grew up much too soon. Anyone that enjoys reading historical fiction about WWII and the people it affected would enjoy this read.
5/5
Thank you NetGalley and Duckworth Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
The harrowing journey that these children went through, and all that they lost, was horrible and heartbreaking. The chapters alternated with different siblings and the reader was able to see those alternate viewpoints which added to the complexity of the novel. We see their journey throughout this devastating time.
This is a great novel with such strong, resilient children that grew up much too soon. Anyone that enjoys reading historical fiction about WWII and the people it affected would enjoy this read.
5/5
Thank you NetGalley and Duckworth Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
August 4, 2020
The Young Survivors by Debra Barnes is a marvellous historical debut novel. It is completely absorbing and I could not put it down.
The novel is grounded in fact as it is based on the author’s mother’s wartime experiences. It is a tribute to the indomitable human spirit and to the six million who perished in the holocaust.
Set between 1938-1945 in France the story follows the plight of a Jewish family. There are some truly heart-breaking scenes to read. The five siblings have a strong bond and love for each other. Along the way they meet the very good and the completely evil. The youngsters are so brave, even the youngest twins who were born in 1938.
Debra Barnes is clearly a talented author and I look forward to more by her.
Being hated for merely the circumstances of being born Jewish is horrendous. This quote sums it all up. I found it extremely powerful and absolutely heart-breaking:
“We had no idea what it meant to be Jewish except it meant the Germans and many of the French hated us.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel is grounded in fact as it is based on the author’s mother’s wartime experiences. It is a tribute to the indomitable human spirit and to the six million who perished in the holocaust.
Set between 1938-1945 in France the story follows the plight of a Jewish family. There are some truly heart-breaking scenes to read. The five siblings have a strong bond and love for each other. Along the way they meet the very good and the completely evil. The youngsters are so brave, even the youngest twins who were born in 1938.
Debra Barnes is clearly a talented author and I look forward to more by her.
Being hated for merely the circumstances of being born Jewish is horrendous. This quote sums it all up. I found it extremely powerful and absolutely heart-breaking:
“We had no idea what it meant to be Jewish except it meant the Germans and many of the French hated us.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
July 28, 2020
The Laskowskis were content living in Metz France 🇫🇷, (very close to the Maginot line). In 1938, brothers Pierre, Claude and Samuel, visited their mom in the hospital to welcome the newest members of their family, twins Georgette and Henriette on the day of their birth. At this same time, the family knew the invasion of France by #Germany 🇩🇪 was inevitable.
While some members of the extended Laskowski family left France for England and America, Mr. Laskowski, Albert (father), chose to remain in France. When war is declared, the Laskowskis are forced to leave Metz. Then the Laskowski parents are arrested, and, Pierre, at 14 yo, (& the eldest of the 5 children), is suddenly in charge of his siblings, the twin girls are barely even toddlers. The children struggle to stay together in spite of the war which is pulling the family apart at its seams.
Author Debra Barnes’ mother’s life story served as her inspiration to write this fictional tale. Growing up, Debra’s mother avoided talking about the war, in fact the subject was taboo. This all changed in 2006, when her mother’s picture (as a young girl during the war), appeared on the cover of a book, written by another survivor. This inspired conversations that ultimately led Debra Barnes to write this fictional novel based on her mother’s story. Now she also helps other survivors write books telling their war stories.
I really enjoyed reading #theyoungsurvivors by @debra_author. I give it #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you @NetGalley for the digital copy of the book in return for my honest review.
@duck_books #metz #condenorthern #sarry #drancy #louveciennes #poitiers #beaulieusurdordogne #vichy #milice
While some members of the extended Laskowski family left France for England and America, Mr. Laskowski, Albert (father), chose to remain in France. When war is declared, the Laskowskis are forced to leave Metz. Then the Laskowski parents are arrested, and, Pierre, at 14 yo, (& the eldest of the 5 children), is suddenly in charge of his siblings, the twin girls are barely even toddlers. The children struggle to stay together in spite of the war which is pulling the family apart at its seams.
Author Debra Barnes’ mother’s life story served as her inspiration to write this fictional tale. Growing up, Debra’s mother avoided talking about the war, in fact the subject was taboo. This all changed in 2006, when her mother’s picture (as a young girl during the war), appeared on the cover of a book, written by another survivor. This inspired conversations that ultimately led Debra Barnes to write this fictional novel based on her mother’s story. Now she also helps other survivors write books telling their war stories.
I really enjoyed reading #theyoungsurvivors by @debra_author. I give it #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you @NetGalley for the digital copy of the book in return for my honest review.
@duck_books #metz #condenorthern #sarry #drancy #louveciennes #poitiers #beaulieusurdordogne #vichy #milice
July 21, 2020
What if everyone you loved was suddenly taken away? Five siblings struggle to stay together as the tides of war threaten to tear them apart.
When Germany invades and occupies France in the Second World War, the five Laskowski children lose everything: their home, their Jewish community and most devastatingly their parents who are abducted in the night.
There is no safe place left for them to evade the Nazis, but they cling together, never certain when the authorities will come for what is left of them.
Inspired by the poignant, true story of the author’s mother, this moving historical novel conveys the hardship, the uncertainty and the impossible choices the Laskowski children were forced to make to survive the horrors of the Holocaust.
There isn’t much I could put down in words about this book. Written with lyrical prose and such pounding emotion 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 is a truely heartbreaking story. I read it in one sitting and would recommend to all historical fiction readers.
When Germany invades and occupies France in the Second World War, the five Laskowski children lose everything: their home, their Jewish community and most devastatingly their parents who are abducted in the night.
There is no safe place left for them to evade the Nazis, but they cling together, never certain when the authorities will come for what is left of them.
Inspired by the poignant, true story of the author’s mother, this moving historical novel conveys the hardship, the uncertainty and the impossible choices the Laskowski children were forced to make to survive the horrors of the Holocaust.
There isn’t much I could put down in words about this book. Written with lyrical prose and such pounding emotion 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 is a truely heartbreaking story. I read it in one sitting and would recommend to all historical fiction readers.
August 15, 2020
From the first chapter, I was drawn into this wonderfully warm, brave family. The story, which primarily follows the journey of the children, is totally engrossing and there was no way I could put it down until I knew the fate of each and every one.
Set in wartime France, The Young Survivors visits the less-often told story of the French Jewish experience. I was amazed at how quickly this family’s life was turned upside-down, and how they went from being a close-knit, multi-generational household to every man (or child) for himself. The author writes so beautifully about the strength of the human spirit, and the love and dedication of the family members to each other.
The pace of the book increases as it progresses and by the end, I had to remind myself to breathe between pages, it was so dramatic!
This is a beautifully written but very accessible book, recommended to adults and teens alike.
Set in wartime France, The Young Survivors visits the less-often told story of the French Jewish experience. I was amazed at how quickly this family’s life was turned upside-down, and how they went from being a close-knit, multi-generational household to every man (or child) for himself. The author writes so beautifully about the strength of the human spirit, and the love and dedication of the family members to each other.
The pace of the book increases as it progresses and by the end, I had to remind myself to breathe between pages, it was so dramatic!
This is a beautifully written but very accessible book, recommended to adults and teens alike.
July 24, 2020
Historical and compelling
I couldn’t put this book down - as hard as it is to read a book about the Holocaust - because it intrigues the reader to know what happened to this French family. Well written, the characters become your friends and you follow each one with hope that they will survive.
The history of France during WW2 is not one which Is generally covered and I learned much about the attitude of the French during this time.
Happily a descendant was able to write the book - something that so many families could not do
Thank you for this insight and for keeping the memory of this family alive.
I couldn’t put this book down - as hard as it is to read a book about the Holocaust - because it intrigues the reader to know what happened to this French family. Well written, the characters become your friends and you follow each one with hope that they will survive.
The history of France during WW2 is not one which Is generally covered and I learned much about the attitude of the French during this time.
Happily a descendant was able to write the book - something that so many families could not do
Thank you for this insight and for keeping the memory of this family alive.
November 18, 2021
What if everyone you loved was taken away?
This is a harrowing book based on the true story of the authors mother and her family.
The five Laskowski siblings, struggle to stay together and fend for themselves during the war when their family are taken through the night by the Nazi’s.
A beautifully written, but sad story about what happened to the French Jews when France was occupied by the Nazi’s during WW2!
Each chapter is written from the POV of one of the siblings / children and tells the story through their eyes.
A story of family, friendship, hope and survival.
I would definitley recommend this to anyone who enjoyed historical fiction set during WW2. But be warned, I needed tissues!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Duckworth Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This is a harrowing book based on the true story of the authors mother and her family.
The five Laskowski siblings, struggle to stay together and fend for themselves during the war when their family are taken through the night by the Nazi’s.
A beautifully written, but sad story about what happened to the French Jews when France was occupied by the Nazi’s during WW2!
Each chapter is written from the POV of one of the siblings / children and tells the story through their eyes.
A story of family, friendship, hope and survival.
I would definitley recommend this to anyone who enjoyed historical fiction set during WW2. But be warned, I needed tissues!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Duckworth Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
July 27, 2020
I was given an ARC of this book for a review but that last few months have been crazy and I finally got to the book a couple of days ago. I thought I would read a few chapters one afternoon but once I got started I stayed up the whole night reading. I Had to know what happened to each child.
The book tells the story of the five Laskowski children and their family in France during World War II. The book is told by the various children as their experiences varied so widely. Separated from their parents and all other adult family members, they are left to survive on their own..They had to be constantly on the move and always watchful. The help and kindness of the many French people who helped them along the way was astounding. The survivors could not have lived but for the help of so many people all over France from organizations to individuals.
I cannot recommend this book enough but give yourself plenty of time because you will not be able to put it down!
Thank you for the reminder from the publisher to check out this book!
Also it is based on a true story which makes it even better.
The book tells the story of the five Laskowski children and their family in France during World War II. The book is told by the various children as their experiences varied so widely. Separated from their parents and all other adult family members, they are left to survive on their own..They had to be constantly on the move and always watchful. The help and kindness of the many French people who helped them along the way was astounding. The survivors could not have lived but for the help of so many people all over France from organizations to individuals.
I cannot recommend this book enough but give yourself plenty of time because you will not be able to put it down!
Thank you for the reminder from the publisher to check out this book!
Also it is based on a true story which makes it even better.
August 2, 2020
The Young Survivors is sad but uplifting, compelling and gripping. Although set during the darkness of the Holocaust, the book is about the children of the Laskowski family rather than the horrors of the war itself.
A real page turner with vivid and memorable characters, I read the book in less than a week, not able to put it down.
Highly recommend for all ages - thank you Debra Barnes for a wonderful debut novel.
A real page turner with vivid and memorable characters, I read the book in less than a week, not able to put it down.
Highly recommend for all ages - thank you Debra Barnes for a wonderful debut novel.
December 31, 2020
I enjoyed this moving historical novel - a Holocaust survival story of five Jewish children after their parents were abducted. The sory is fiction but based on a true story of the author's mother.
It is beautifully written. The characters are well written, realistic and relatable. I cant say that it was an enjoyable read, but it was a worthwhile read.
I certainly recommend it.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for sending me this ARC.
It is beautifully written. The characters are well written, realistic and relatable. I cant say that it was an enjoyable read, but it was a worthwhile read.
I certainly recommend it.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for sending me this ARC.
July 24, 2020
Inspired by a true story, this novel drips with authenticity. It takes a look at the persecution of Jewish families during the Second World War through the eyes of children. Taking the perspectives of various siblings who were living in France at the time, you see the callousness of their treatment and the barbarity which occurred. You share with them, the inexplicable nature of what was happening and how powerless they were to avoid it. Their innocence makes the cruelty all the starker.
I was also struck by the courage of those who helped the children to survive and avoid the camps. Pierre, the oldest, had to grow up fast. I must say that the most poignant moment for me was when Georgette looked in the mirror and wondered about her twin sister. It is clear that even surviving the horror does not wash away their experiences or bring people back. Love and affection are strong bonds and the need to find people immense. It is a sobering book but one I found at the same time, a fascinating and important read.
In short: An inspiring testament to all- the survivors and those who did not.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.
I was also struck by the courage of those who helped the children to survive and avoid the camps. Pierre, the oldest, had to grow up fast. I must say that the most poignant moment for me was when Georgette looked in the mirror and wondered about her twin sister. It is clear that even surviving the horror does not wash away their experiences or bring people back. Love and affection are strong bonds and the need to find people immense. It is a sobering book but one I found at the same time, a fascinating and important read.
In short: An inspiring testament to all- the survivors and those who did not.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.
July 31, 2020
An absolutely beautiful, yet haunting book. Based on the author's own mother's story this book tells of five siblings and their journey through WWII. It's very difficult to imagine adults during this time, let alone children. And for these children to have survived so long without their parents is amazing. The author did a wonderful job of telling their stories without being maudlin and yet making you feel attached to these children. Beautiful job!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
July 12, 2021
Debra Barnes based this book on family. Book is a Novel ; however, based on her Mother being a Holocaust survivor. You were with the characters all the way. Germany/France during the war. The German treatment of the Jews. German soldiers were so so cruel. Covers the war for one family. Amazing to read.
July 27, 2020
This is a fiction story based on the true story of the surviving of Debra Barnes Jewish mother of occupied France during WWII. This is written from the Laskowski children’s perspective as both parents and other close family members were arrested by the Nazi’s early in the war. Pierre, Samuel, and twins Georgette and Henriette.
Amazing read detailing the experiences, and hardships of the children taking care of each other after all adults have been removed and the hard decisions that must be made for the care of each of the children. The struggles and tenacity of finding the survivors of the family and then again making hard decisions to ensure the well-being of each member to ensure the best health and well-being of all.
Thank you Duckworth Books and NetGalley for this book for an honest review.
#Netgalley #DuckworthBooks
Amazing read detailing the experiences, and hardships of the children taking care of each other after all adults have been removed and the hard decisions that must be made for the care of each of the children. The struggles and tenacity of finding the survivors of the family and then again making hard decisions to ensure the well-being of each member to ensure the best health and well-being of all.
Thank you Duckworth Books and NetGalley for this book for an honest review.
#Netgalley #DuckworthBooks
October 10, 2023
A good book, even great!!!
A book about children and survival. It read as a testimony about what actually happened to Jewish people and Jewish orphans. It had event after event happening. Jacqueline and Pierre lost so much and so many people.
The end with Georgette was so poignant.
A book about children and survival. It read as a testimony about what actually happened to Jewish people and Jewish orphans. It had event after event happening. Jacqueline and Pierre lost so much and so many people.
The end with Georgette was so poignant.
August 1, 2020
Such an emotional page turner. Couldn’t put it down. There’s definitely a follow on book with the lives of the surviving children after the war.
December 22, 2020
A book worth reading!
March 4, 2021
Another great story...not a typical Holocaust story. This was a great gift from a friend in the UK from their Mystery Book Club. Loved it!
April 23, 2021
Beautiful and poignant story about the children that survived the Holocaust. The prose written by Debra Barnes was simple yet moving and emotional. A wonderful debut novel from her!
February 17, 2021
Heart rendering and soulful. This has to be the most touching account of the horrific treatment suffered by the Jewish race in Europe by nazis and their collaborators and other New haters. I have read many accounts of the holocaust a d have felt the pain, grief, fear and horror that is spread all over the pages dedicated to the memories of the millions of innocents slaughtered by the thousands. The style and approach that Debra chose to narrate her story, I found totally different from any other in this genre. Written through the eyes of children who face up to their
Way of life and appear to accept hardships as an adventure is remarkable. The story after the arrest of the adults left me continually wondering about t the fate of the parents. The end brought me too tears, something that no other holocaust story has managed to do. I just pray that there is a heaven and all those poor children are there...
Way of life and appear to accept hardships as an adventure is remarkable. The story after the arrest of the adults left me continually wondering about t the fate of the parents. The end brought me too tears, something that no other holocaust story has managed to do. I just pray that there is a heaven and all those poor children are there...
February 22, 2021
A childhoods and families pulled apart and not knowing what happened to them I enjoyed this book of enjoy overweight word the every day trying to survive as best as you can
I enjoyed this book it enjoy is the right word not all French surround to the Nazi and many did . the religious orders some of tried to save the children but couldn't save all
I enjoyed this book it enjoy is the right word not all French surround to the Nazi and many did . the religious orders some of tried to save the children but couldn't save all
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