What She Lost

by Melissa W. Hunter

For thirteen-year-old Sarah Waldman, life in the small Polish town of Olkusz is idyllic, grounded in her loving, close-knit family and the traditions of their Jewish faith. But in 1939, as the Nazis come to power, a storm is gathering-a relentless, unforgiving storm that will sweep Sarah and her family into years of misery in the ghetto and concentration camps, tearing them apart. Will Sarah's strong will and determination be enough for her to survive when everything she loves is taken from her? Is it possible to resurrect a life-and find love-from the ruins? Or will Sarah be forever haunted by the memories of what she lost? Part memoir, part fiction, What She Lost is the reimagined true-life story of the author's grandmother growing into a woman amid the anguish of the Holocaust. It is a tale of resilience, of rebuilding a life, and of rediscovering love. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Melissa W. Hunter is an author and blogger from Cincinnati, Ohio. She studied creative writing and journalism at the University of Cincinnati, receiving a BA in English literature and a minor in Judaic studies. She received the English Department's Undergraduate Essay Award and Undergraduate Fiction Award over two consecutive years. In her senior year, she received a grant to study and write about the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. Her articles have been published on Kveller.com and LiteraryMama.com, and her short stories have appeared in the Jewish Literary Journal. She is a contributing blogger to the Today Show parenting community, and her novella Through a Mirror Clear was published as a serial installment on TheSame.blog, an online literary journal written for women by women. Her novel What She Lost is inspired by her grandmother's life as a Holocaust survivor. When not writing, Melissa loves spending family time with her husband and two beautiful daughters. AUTHOR HOME: Mason, OH

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Young Adult, Holocaust

318 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2019

About the author

Melissa W. Hunter, author of What She Lost and other works, is a writer and blogger from Cincinnati, Ohio. She studied creative writing and journalism at the University of Cincinnati, receiving a BA in English literature and a minor in Judaic studies. She received the English Department’s Undergraduate Essay Award and Undergraduate Fiction Award over two consecutive years. In her senior year, she received a grant to study and write about the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. Her articles have been published on Kveller.com and LiteraryMama.com, and her short stories have appeared in the Jewish Literary Journal. She is a contributing blogger to the Today Show parenting community, and her novella Through a Mirror Clear was published as a serial installment on TheSame.blog, an online literary journal written for women by women. It is now available in its entirety on Amazon.com. Her novel What She Lost is inspired by her grandmother’s life as a Holocaust survivor. When not writing, Melissa loves spending family time with her husband and two beautiful daughters.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa W. Hunter takes her grandmother's story of survival, love, and loss and weaves a tale that is both heartbreaking and hopeful in turns. Sarah, a Jewish girl living in Poland, is a regular teenage girl who learns that war is on the horizon and that her family may be in the path of destruction. Sarah struggles with her own grief and fear while also trying to remain strong for her siblings and parents as the war takes hold of her tiny town and rips families apart.

I went into this story knowing that it was based on the author's grandmother, and knowing that made the story more genuine and heartfelt for me as I read it. The author is actually local, and she was kind enough to attend our last meeting and engage in a discussion of the book with us - from a safe social distance and with maskes, of course! Speaking with Melissa and hearing about her inspiration to tell her grandmother's story and the special bond they shared was so touching and it made me want to go back and reread certain parts of the book now that I had some fresh insights into the story.

I have to be honest that when I first picked up this book I though to myself, "ugh, not another WWII novel!" I am pleased to say that this book was wonderfully written and kept me engaged throughout. There were even a few times where I teared up while reading, and I am not a crier when it comes to books. If you love historical fiction, even if WWII novels are not your thing, I would wholeheartedly recommend What She Lost.

[Jody Hester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book and the story it portrayed of Melissa’s grandmother. The story was well written and painted a vivid picture of Sarah’s life and her struggles through the war and after. The story is an eye opening view of the physical and psychological trials faced by families during that time period and how each person deals internally and externally with grief and devastation.

[Tonya Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah’s story grabbed me from the beginning. From the early pages we learn war is brewing, and the tension mounts as the Nazis get closer and invade Sarah’s small town. What made this novel so poignant for me was the author’s way of letting us see Sarah first as a naïve thirteen-year-old with the hopes and dreams of an ordinary teen and how, over time, as Sarah grows older and is swept up in the machine of war, we see her as a young woman, doing her best to stay strong and resilient as the world as she knows it shatters and reshapes itself. That this story is based on the life of the author’s grandmother made the story even more real and heartbreaking. The story moves along at a good pace, the characters are wonderfully vivid, and Hunter’s prose is flawless. An impressive debut.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique aspect of the book that my Book Club liked was splitting the book into two parts - before and after the war. By doing this, we got to know the normal daily life of Sarah and her family and friends. We learned about her beautiful but sickly sister Esther, her brother Jacob who could play the violin beautifully, and her brother Sam who was more of a rebel who wanted to stand up to defend his country. This grounding into the characters made you really feel the fear and terror they experienced as their life was torn apart.

By skipping over the 3 years spread across various concentration camps and focusing instead on the end of the war - we were given a glimpse into the other worldliness Sarah felt once she was freed by the Russians, but left barely alive with little food and no home to return to. Very few books cover this aspect of the uncertainty the people faced as they searched for lost loved ones and for food and a place to live.

Our Book Club had the opportunity to discuss the book with the author - Melissa Hunter. She told us about sitting down with her grandmother and recording her life story. Then about the research she undertook to understand the various camps where her grandmother lived and the city where she lived upon being freed from the concentration camp. Melissa described the challenge of adding dialogue - trying to bring the relationships to life in the reader's mind. It was a special treat to get this "behind the scenes" insight into the writing and publishing process of the books that our Book Club enjoys to read.

We highly recommend the book, for both adults and young adults, who want to understand what happens when your world is turned upside down by war. It creates hope to see the strength people have to live and to create a new life out of the ashes.

[Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of seven children modestly raised by Orthodox Jewish parents who owned a bakery in a small Polish village, a young girl finds her life radically changed by one the world’s most horrific historical events. When she thinks she can’t, she can. When she thinks she wouldn’t, she would. When it seems hopeless, she finds hope. When loves are lost, others are found. Witness an extraordinary effort to survive, testing her whole being to find the courage and will to live through another day, and help others (and be helped by unlikely heroes) along the way. See glimpses of normalcy in an abnormal world; a first love, music that brings joy, the family and community sharing special moments. The losses are great, but what she eventually gains is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit that never gave up.

[Jenn Switz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a page turner from the minute it began. I couldn’t put it down and became attached to the characters right away. I love the past, present and past way in which the story is told. It blends nonfiction and fiction perfectly. Overall a great read.

[Energy Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

What She Lost tells the story of Sarah, a typical teenager growing up in Poland at the height of the war. When things start to get bad, her brother urges them to leave, but their parents know this is their home, and instead, they get torn apart. Told as a memory for Sarah's granddaughter, the story ranges from hope to despair and everything in between. What Sarah and her family went through was sadly typical of the terror of those years for Jewish people and anyone Hitler deemed different.

I feel Hunter glossed over some parts of what Sarah went through and then went into detail surrounding little things that probably didn't need as much detail (conversations that didn't move the story forward). I felt the ending was incredibly rushed, a bit of, oh remember how in the prologue I started the story with a grandmother getting on a plane to visit her family? It seemed that the prologue and ending were added as an afterthought.

Aside from what I didn't like about the book, there was a lot to like and I think the message is still strong and relevant today. What She Lost goes into detail of what happened for many after the war, they were displaced with no homes to return to and the likelihood that they would have no family to return to either. This is marketed as a YA and while Sarah and her siblings were teenagers, I think this could very easily be a genre for all ages. It's never easy reading about Hitler's reign, but it's a time in our history we must not forget.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautifully written book captured me from the very beginning. Haunting & hopeful at the same time. I’ve never read a novel about these horrific times that explored the aftermath. The “rescue” so often ends the story. But, exploration of after the camps, was gut wrenching and moving. I highly recommend this author and novel.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of a woman’s triumph over heart wrenching odds was both captivating and remarkable. In vivid, sometimes stomach turning, detail, the author allows us to experience a gruesome time in human history through the eyes of a survivor. Riveting.

[Danielle Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hauntingly beautiful book! Hunter tells her grandmother’s story in a way that depicts the horrors of the Holocaust and leaves the reader with hope. This book is a must read.

[Eva Davison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful story.

I found this a very moving and at times, upsetting story. Reading the author's notes I see that she tried to keep as close to the facts as possible. I had wondered about this as I found the romantic content a little " Mills and Boon " in parts.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and was genuinely relieved when Sarah, the main character, made it to safety.

[Kathy Wynkoop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished What She Lost a couple of weeks ago, and this thought-provoking story has come to mind every day at some point since. Historical fiction is one of my preferred reading genres, and on one hand, this book included common WWII themes, however, I found its perspective refreshing (if one can even use such a word to describe a novel including accounts of war, concentration camps, and the Holocaust). It always seems a bit strange to praise a book about the Holocaust, but I liked how the author chose to focus her narrative on pre-war and post-war events in the life of Sarah, the once teenager from Poland at the beginning of the war. Unlike other WWII books I've read, the aftermath of the war was developed so fully in Sarah's life, and it made me consider attributes I previously hadn't, such as the details of holocaust survivors during those first hours, days, and months leaving concentration camps...where to go- return home or not, what to do, how to start over, trying to locate and mend fractured families destroyed by the atrocities of WWII. Lastly, I enjoyed knowing Hunter's book was based on her grandmother's life, and I was often left wanting to know more and more specifics about the various people and storylines. What She Lost is one of those stories which will touch your soul. Happy reading!

[Kate Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grades 7-12. When Sarah turns 13, tragedy strikes with the death of her sister and the German invasion of Poland. What follows is a fictionalized account of Hunter's grandmother's experiences as her family endures Bloody Sunday, a march to the ghetto and eventual separation and transport to concentration camps. So much was lost by her grandmother and others during the holocaust. But what survived was the ability to love and hope. A powerful and beautiful story of survival.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there were a bit more to the ending, although I really enjoyed the story. Read this during the quarantine for COVID19 and it helps put things into perspective. I can stay home and keep people healthy, that is easy compared to the holocaust. No comparison.

[Debbie Wagner]

Love the book. Character development was great. Loved how they showed what happened after the Russians came and set them free from the camp. It was very eye-opening and enlightening. Strongly recommend

[Kim Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story-I loved it

[Sherin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. I couldn’t put it down. Been a long time since a book grabbed me like this. Even shed a tear or two.

[Arden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an impressive book! The story grabs you from the first page and you won't put the book down until you're done. I couldn't read it fast enough.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story, different than other books of this time, as it follows life before and after the war.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What She Lost was almost as hard to put down as it was to read. It's a very well-written Holocaust story that deserves to be told, but about such a horrific time in world history.

[Brandon Hoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What She Lost”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars

“What She Lost” follows the story of a young Jewish girl in Poland before, during, and after the Holocaust. All stories involving World War 2 and Nazis are always heartbreaking, but what makes this novel stand out is it’s a recreation of the author’s grandmother’s experience as she is the MC of the novel. Melissa, the author, crafted together her grandmother’s legacy with bits of fiction to bridge some gaps to tell the tale of her own family. I’m sure it was difficult for her to place herself in her grandmother’s shoes and talk about the atrocities her great aunts and uncles endured.

One truly unique difference with “What She Lost” is how it described the events after concentration camps were liberated. In all the stories I’ve read, I never read the aftermath of losing everything and being forced back into the world. I absolutely loved this section as it was brand new to me.

Honorable mention— the author’s descriptions and vocabulary were 🤌🏻 *chefs kiss*. I learned so many new words and different ideas for the iconic battle of show vs tell.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone that has family ties to the Holocaust, I expected to love What She Lost. Maybe if I had no expectations going in, it would have been perceived differently.

Not well written or thought out. Part I is dry and almost boring compared to Part II, as if they are written by different authors. And the placement of the photos spoils the rest of the story - you aren’t left wondering about the main character, when you already find out what happens to her.

Also, as a Pole whose grandparents were in Auschwitz, what the last chapter or two was insinuating was offensive. Don’t forget who the real enemy was!

The ending felt rushed and incomplete.

If you’re a fan of WWII/Holocaust stories, you can skip this.

[Nancy Schaumburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I was reluctant to read a book about the Holocaust during such a turbulent time with the pandemic but from the very beginning I could not put it down. It is so beautifully written and a story about resilience, perseverance and love. I am a social worker in a high school and I asked the school librarian to order it for the students. I think it should be required reading in high school. What She Lost is the best book I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait for the sequel and any other books written by Melissa Hunter!

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying reading books based on real experiences in the holocaust in WWII. I know it sounds odd to use the word enjoy, but I can't think of a better one. It is necessary to read these to know just how far the human race can go down the route of inhumanity; if we don't remember then we will do it again, our history tells us this.
This one was well written and you felt for Sarah through her life, from when she lost her sister to unknown illness to losing everyone else to the Nazi regime. I don't know how she did it, but she recovered from that; many wouldn't.

[Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not usually my genre of writing, I thoroughly enjoyed this moving novel. The writing was very descriptive and made me feel like I was there with the characters and their struggles. I usually love young adult fiction, and this novel is both appropriate for mature young adults as well as older readers. While it takes place during the Holocaust, it is more character-based and personal than about the war. It was very unique to see the aftermath of the war and how the survivors picked up the pieces and found a way to live once more. Highly recommend for all audiences.

[Margaret Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly amazing story. The horrors of WW11 is well documented in history but this book embodies the reality of what the Jewish people endured. Heart breaking in parts. I would recommend this book to those who wish to understand what and how this happened. How survival became a day by day experience in those camps. To the author Thankyou for writing this story, it was truly incredible.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellently told story is fiction based on the true reminiscences of the author's grandmother, Sarah. Though Sarah's story includes the time she was in concentration camps during WWII, the focus is on the strong family ties before the war and in the years after the war.

[Elaine Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A very personal account of the Holocaust as told through the survivor's granddaughter. It's good that these stories are being told and preserved so that the next generations do not forget.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm terrible about writing reviews, but want to make sure I posted a review because I loved this book so much. I haven't had as much time to read lately as I would like, so it took me a long time to finish it - but every time I passed by it on the counter, I was longing to find time to read - and when I picked it up, I had a hard time stopping myself from "just one more chapter."

I was so invested in the character that I really wanted to learn more about her, and hope that someday Melissa will share more about her life after. I loved that while the story had a large portion consisting of Sarah's life during the time of the Holocaust, I didn't feel like What She Lost was highlighting much of the terribleness of what Sarah went through as much as just who she was during that time and her feelings. I really enjoyed that Sarah and her feelings took control of the book, rather than letting the Holocaust win.

[Laura Lipton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book written by the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, is a gripping tale of what happened to her family and friends during the holocaust and after. A great read.