What do you think?
Rate this book
Mitka's Secret: A True Story of Child Slavery and Surviging the Holocaust
The remarkable life story of Mitka Kalinski, who survived seven years of enslavement—while still a child—to a Nazi officer during and after World War II
Mitka Kalinski had never revealed his past to anyone. Not even to his wife or his four children.
But in 1981, three decades after it had all ended, Mitka finally broke his silence about the horrors he had endured during the Holocaust and in the years immediately afterward: not only German concentration camps and sadistic medical experiments but also seven years of enslavement in the household of a Nazi officer, “Iron” Gustav Dörr.
Having been orphaned before the war, Mitka did not know his origins or even his name. Torture, slavery, and a false name stripped him of his identity entirely. Thus, when he immigrated to the United States in 1951, Mitka seized the opportunity to bury his past and forge a new life. He lived the American life in all its fullness and moved to Nevada with his beloved wife, Adrienne, and their children. But the secret he carried became an increasingly heavy burden, preventing wholeness and healing.
This is Mitka’s account of facing the past, confronting his captors, connecting with lost relatives, and finding peace in the rediscovery of his origins. For Mitka, this also meant reclaiming his Jewish heritage—a journey that gave him a new sense of purpose and freedom from the lingering effects of trauma that had filled his life to that point. By the end, Mitka’s Secret is less a story of survival and more one of redemption and transformation—from hidden suffering to abundant joy.
Mitka Kalinski had never revealed his past to anyone. Not even to his wife or his four children.
But in 1981, three decades after it had all ended, Mitka finally broke his silence about the horrors he had endured during the Holocaust and in the years immediately afterward: not only German concentration camps and sadistic medical experiments but also seven years of enslavement in the household of a Nazi officer, “Iron” Gustav Dörr.
Having been orphaned before the war, Mitka did not know his origins or even his name. Torture, slavery, and a false name stripped him of his identity entirely. Thus, when he immigrated to the United States in 1951, Mitka seized the opportunity to bury his past and forge a new life. He lived the American life in all its fullness and moved to Nevada with his beloved wife, Adrienne, and their children. But the secret he carried became an increasingly heavy burden, preventing wholeness and healing.
This is Mitka’s account of facing the past, confronting his captors, connecting with lost relatives, and finding peace in the rediscovery of his origins. For Mitka, this also meant reclaiming his Jewish heritage—a journey that gave him a new sense of purpose and freedom from the lingering effects of trauma that had filled his life to that point. By the end, Mitka’s Secret is less a story of survival and more one of redemption and transformation—from hidden suffering to abundant joy.
- GenresNonfiction
325 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2021
25 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 15, 2021
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Mitka’s Secret from the publisher with a request that I write an honest review.
Review:
Braillier tells the story of Mitka Kalinski from his earliest memories in an orphanage to his contemporary life some 80 years later. The story could be viewed as one about the impact of human cruelty; instead, it is one about a person who emerged from that cruelty scarred but undaunted.
Mitka’s story is complex. It is made up of events that most of us could only imagine. Braillier shares his story with great sensitivity, compassion, and honesty. Because Mitka’s memories of his childhood are marked by significant traumas, they might be dismissed as unreliable. The author, however, takes great pains to align these memories with historical events. As a result, Braillier corroborates his recollections and admits when he was not able to.
The book unfolds as a report of Mitka’s life. Braillier could take a distant perspective, but he doesn't. Instead, he finds a way to tell Mitka's story so that readers see life from Mitka’s perspective and come to understand what it is like to be Mitka at various times in his life.
In the first chapters, we see the world through the eyes of a child who cannot make sense of what is happening around/to him. We hear the stories through a child’s voice with uncertainty – and with strength. Although the early chapters are difficult to read, they are essential to learning more about Mitka’s formative years. In these chapters, the author balances the need to fully tell a story while maintaining a focus on Mitka. Like the reporter Lyanne Melendez who “grasped something about Mitka’s life that many [others] had missed” (p. 235), Braillier focused on the wounds to Mitka as a person, to his soul, and to his spirit. This focus is one of the book’s strengths.
As Mitka grows, we seem to experience this growth along with him. We witness his open heart, his curiosity about the world, his view of the U. S. as informed through films, and his sense that, in the end, nothing will stop him. We also share his moments of despair, confusion, and anger.
Over the course of the book, the stories become clearer because they are told from an adult's perspective. Like many people, he has had his share of bad times and good times.
This is also the story of a boy, then an adult, who is trying to uncover his family history, know his family, and discover his roots. The author helps us understand the pain of not knowing as well as the joy of discovery.
As I read the book, it occurred to me that history is written in ways that often overshadow individual stories. We learn about events, such as the Holocaust, but may only connect to the events in abstract ways. We must learn individual stories to bring history to life. One passage in the book brings this specific point into focus. While talking with Mitka, Adrienne (his wife), a rabbi, and a university professor realize they are “meeting an icon” (p. 184). At that moment, “Mitka was also a stand-in for every victim they could not touch or see or hear” (p. 184). So, too, Mitka becomes a proxy for the many stories we, the readers, have not heard or witnessed. This is an especially powerful lesson from this book.
Although the book is about Mitka, Adrienne emerges as a source of incredible strength. Even when she did not understand what Mitka was experiencing, even when she learned about his past well into their marriage, she never seemed to waver in her support of him. She is an important part of his life both before his disclosures and later in his efforts to come to terms with the past.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a compelling life story and learning more about the impact of the Holocaust. This is a story about a “man with reasons to hate who chose love” (p. 254).
Review:
Braillier tells the story of Mitka Kalinski from his earliest memories in an orphanage to his contemporary life some 80 years later. The story could be viewed as one about the impact of human cruelty; instead, it is one about a person who emerged from that cruelty scarred but undaunted.
Mitka’s story is complex. It is made up of events that most of us could only imagine. Braillier shares his story with great sensitivity, compassion, and honesty. Because Mitka’s memories of his childhood are marked by significant traumas, they might be dismissed as unreliable. The author, however, takes great pains to align these memories with historical events. As a result, Braillier corroborates his recollections and admits when he was not able to.
The book unfolds as a report of Mitka’s life. Braillier could take a distant perspective, but he doesn't. Instead, he finds a way to tell Mitka's story so that readers see life from Mitka’s perspective and come to understand what it is like to be Mitka at various times in his life.
In the first chapters, we see the world through the eyes of a child who cannot make sense of what is happening around/to him. We hear the stories through a child’s voice with uncertainty – and with strength. Although the early chapters are difficult to read, they are essential to learning more about Mitka’s formative years. In these chapters, the author balances the need to fully tell a story while maintaining a focus on Mitka. Like the reporter Lyanne Melendez who “grasped something about Mitka’s life that many [others] had missed” (p. 235), Braillier focused on the wounds to Mitka as a person, to his soul, and to his spirit. This focus is one of the book’s strengths.
As Mitka grows, we seem to experience this growth along with him. We witness his open heart, his curiosity about the world, his view of the U. S. as informed through films, and his sense that, in the end, nothing will stop him. We also share his moments of despair, confusion, and anger.
Over the course of the book, the stories become clearer because they are told from an adult's perspective. Like many people, he has had his share of bad times and good times.
This is also the story of a boy, then an adult, who is trying to uncover his family history, know his family, and discover his roots. The author helps us understand the pain of not knowing as well as the joy of discovery.
As I read the book, it occurred to me that history is written in ways that often overshadow individual stories. We learn about events, such as the Holocaust, but may only connect to the events in abstract ways. We must learn individual stories to bring history to life. One passage in the book brings this specific point into focus. While talking with Mitka, Adrienne (his wife), a rabbi, and a university professor realize they are “meeting an icon” (p. 184). At that moment, “Mitka was also a stand-in for every victim they could not touch or see or hear” (p. 184). So, too, Mitka becomes a proxy for the many stories we, the readers, have not heard or witnessed. This is an especially powerful lesson from this book.
Although the book is about Mitka, Adrienne emerges as a source of incredible strength. Even when she did not understand what Mitka was experiencing, even when she learned about his past well into their marriage, she never seemed to waver in her support of him. She is an important part of his life both before his disclosures and later in his efforts to come to terms with the past.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a compelling life story and learning more about the impact of the Holocaust. This is a story about a “man with reasons to hate who chose love” (p. 254).
February 2, 2021
What a story! Mitka's story will make you cringe, the story will make your heart hurt, and it will make you think.
Beautifully written.
Beautifully written.
March 11, 2021
What a wonderfully tragic story with some light of survival. I will never tire of reading the accounts of the Holocaust by the people who suffered in the camps or feared for their lives daily. I am so grateful that Mitka decided to come forward with his story.
February 13, 2021
Mitka’s Secret by Steven W. Brallier with Joel N. Lohr and Lynn G. Beck. I received access to this book through NetGalley and it is set to be published in July of 2021. I was first drawn to the title and the cover, and when I found it was a true story beginning during World War II I knew I wanted to read it. My Grandfather served in World War II and that time fascinates me greatly.
During and after World War II Mitka Kalinski survived orphanages, concentration camps, mass executions, and enslavement – all alone and before the age of 18. Mitka was of Jewish faith, and was forced to serve a Nazi officer as a slave before being rescued by American GIs and transferred to America. Once in America, Mitka was able to begin a new life working hard labor. He hid his past well and got along just fine even though he could not speak English, read, or write. He met his wife early in life, and as they made a home for themselves and their four children Mitka kept his past a secret. Almost three decades after Mitka came to America, he began having severe nightmares, depression, and anxiety. He finally decided it was time to tell his wife what had happened.
This is Mitka’s story from his earliest memories of being orphaned, not knowing his parents, and not even knowing his true name to living his American life in all its fullness, finally confronting his past and digging for the truth, and reclaiming his Jewish heritage. What begins as a story of survival, turns into one of redemption and growth.
Personally, I had the privilege of growing up in small town America without a worry in the world. I had present parents, a brother and sister, and too many friends to count. We had everything we needed and more. I’ve always been interested in WWII as my grandfather served in the war and I’ve heard too many stories to count. Besides the front line stories by Grandfather used to tell, what gets me the most are the stories that came out of the concentration camps. We had a couple presentations when I was in high school from survivors, and I have their autographed books on my shelf still. There is no describing the suffering, and I can’t even begin to understand, but I love books like these because they present learning opportunities I might not get otherwise.
While I have read other books on the subject, I absolutely love how this one is so in depth on Mitka’s life after being rescued and coming to America. I can’t even begin to imagine growing up not knowing where you were born, when, who your parents are, if you have siblings, etc. I also find it so strange to put myself in his shoes and thinking that my earliest memories are of mass executions and making bricks that would eventually be used to make furnaces where my friends would be burned to death. Then you go from that to being a slave for a single Nazi officer and all you know of being human is being hungry and cold and working yourself to the bone only to get beaten at night for no reason. That is literally how you think life is supposed to be. And not only to grow up that way, but then to get taken away from there and asked by other people why you don’t act and behave like a normal kid? And then, to be sent off to the United States where you basically just have to figure out how to be an adult like everyone else – not speaking the language, or knowing how to read and write?
If there is ever a day your find yourself mad over silly little things, pick up this book. If you ever think your life is so terrible because you only live in a $200,000 house and not a $500,000 house, pick up this book. If you think you aren’t living the American dream because you only get to eat out three times a week, pick up this book. This book is a reminder that if you have a warm place to live, food on your table, and family surrounding you, be grateful as there are folks out there that would do anything to have even one of those things!
On a slightly more technical note, I’m not giving this book a full 5 stars. While I loved the story itself, I felt like the writing was a bit dry at times. Very he said and then she said and then he said, and the feeling was lost on me during those portions.
4 stars
Content Warning: War, holocaust, slavery, starvation, child abuse, violence, death
During and after World War II Mitka Kalinski survived orphanages, concentration camps, mass executions, and enslavement – all alone and before the age of 18. Mitka was of Jewish faith, and was forced to serve a Nazi officer as a slave before being rescued by American GIs and transferred to America. Once in America, Mitka was able to begin a new life working hard labor. He hid his past well and got along just fine even though he could not speak English, read, or write. He met his wife early in life, and as they made a home for themselves and their four children Mitka kept his past a secret. Almost three decades after Mitka came to America, he began having severe nightmares, depression, and anxiety. He finally decided it was time to tell his wife what had happened.
This is Mitka’s story from his earliest memories of being orphaned, not knowing his parents, and not even knowing his true name to living his American life in all its fullness, finally confronting his past and digging for the truth, and reclaiming his Jewish heritage. What begins as a story of survival, turns into one of redemption and growth.
Personally, I had the privilege of growing up in small town America without a worry in the world. I had present parents, a brother and sister, and too many friends to count. We had everything we needed and more. I’ve always been interested in WWII as my grandfather served in the war and I’ve heard too many stories to count. Besides the front line stories by Grandfather used to tell, what gets me the most are the stories that came out of the concentration camps. We had a couple presentations when I was in high school from survivors, and I have their autographed books on my shelf still. There is no describing the suffering, and I can’t even begin to understand, but I love books like these because they present learning opportunities I might not get otherwise.
While I have read other books on the subject, I absolutely love how this one is so in depth on Mitka’s life after being rescued and coming to America. I can’t even begin to imagine growing up not knowing where you were born, when, who your parents are, if you have siblings, etc. I also find it so strange to put myself in his shoes and thinking that my earliest memories are of mass executions and making bricks that would eventually be used to make furnaces where my friends would be burned to death. Then you go from that to being a slave for a single Nazi officer and all you know of being human is being hungry and cold and working yourself to the bone only to get beaten at night for no reason. That is literally how you think life is supposed to be. And not only to grow up that way, but then to get taken away from there and asked by other people why you don’t act and behave like a normal kid? And then, to be sent off to the United States where you basically just have to figure out how to be an adult like everyone else – not speaking the language, or knowing how to read and write?
If there is ever a day your find yourself mad over silly little things, pick up this book. If you ever think your life is so terrible because you only live in a $200,000 house and not a $500,000 house, pick up this book. If you think you aren’t living the American dream because you only get to eat out three times a week, pick up this book. This book is a reminder that if you have a warm place to live, food on your table, and family surrounding you, be grateful as there are folks out there that would do anything to have even one of those things!
On a slightly more technical note, I’m not giving this book a full 5 stars. While I loved the story itself, I felt like the writing was a bit dry at times. Very he said and then she said and then he said, and the feeling was lost on me during those portions.
4 stars
Content Warning: War, holocaust, slavery, starvation, child abuse, violence, death
March 29, 2021
Honoured to be telling Mitka’s story, Steven W. Brallier, Joel N. Lohr, and Lynn G. Beck, have recorded the remarkable true account of Mitka Kalinski who survived enslavement to a Nazi officer during and after World War Two.
After enduring nightmares, depression and anxiety for decades, Mitka Kalinski finally revealed the tightly kept secret that had been gnawing away at him; he was a holocaust survivor. Nobody, not even his wife, knew details of his youth. In fact, Mitka is still trying to make sense of them.
As he understands it, his father left, presumably to war, and his mother, believing it was the best course of action, took him to the safest place she knew, a kinderheim, an orphanage. He doesn’t know how long he was there but remembers that fateful day in the autumn of 1941 when army trucks arrived outside the orphanage and all the children were ordered to get inside the vehicles. He ran away into the woods but ended up being grabbed by the SS and shoved into a railroad cattle wagon crammed with 150 other people heading to a German concentration camp.
Mitka reveals the atrocities of life in a concentration camp as well as the sadistic and horrific medical experiments conducted. The authors hold nothing back. In December 1942, Nazi officer ‘Iron’ Gustav Dorr, arrived at the camp, selected Mitka and took him to his home in Rotenburg an der Fulda. At 7 years old he’d survived 4 concentration camps and still wasn’t free. In addition to losing his family, his friends at the orphanage, and his freedom, he was stripped of his identity. He lost his connection to his Jewish faith and his birth name. A slave to the Nazi officer, he was renamed Martin and given a new birth date, making him 10 years old. For seven years he was enslaved by the Door family.
You’ll read about a boy who had reasons to hate, yet chose love. You’ll read of him refusing bitterness and replacing it with happiness. In his later years, you’ll read how he rejected victimhood and moved forward with grace. We won’t be subjected to the horrors Mitka was; however, we can take a lesson from his attitude. Regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, we can choose to survive and we can choose not to let it define us.
This remarkable memoir is to be published July 20, 2021. It was originally titled, “My Name Is Mitka,” because those were the first words he uttered as a liberated child. He’d almost forgotten his birth name. This emotional read is necessary to us understanding the evil that humans are capable of inflicting as well as appreciating the bravery and resilience of those who were captured and survived.
“The man who could not write his name made joy his unforgettable signature. In the end he found himself.”
I received this gift from Mitka Kalinski, his team of authors, the Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
After enduring nightmares, depression and anxiety for decades, Mitka Kalinski finally revealed the tightly kept secret that had been gnawing away at him; he was a holocaust survivor. Nobody, not even his wife, knew details of his youth. In fact, Mitka is still trying to make sense of them.
As he understands it, his father left, presumably to war, and his mother, believing it was the best course of action, took him to the safest place she knew, a kinderheim, an orphanage. He doesn’t know how long he was there but remembers that fateful day in the autumn of 1941 when army trucks arrived outside the orphanage and all the children were ordered to get inside the vehicles. He ran away into the woods but ended up being grabbed by the SS and shoved into a railroad cattle wagon crammed with 150 other people heading to a German concentration camp.
Mitka reveals the atrocities of life in a concentration camp as well as the sadistic and horrific medical experiments conducted. The authors hold nothing back. In December 1942, Nazi officer ‘Iron’ Gustav Dorr, arrived at the camp, selected Mitka and took him to his home in Rotenburg an der Fulda. At 7 years old he’d survived 4 concentration camps and still wasn’t free. In addition to losing his family, his friends at the orphanage, and his freedom, he was stripped of his identity. He lost his connection to his Jewish faith and his birth name. A slave to the Nazi officer, he was renamed Martin and given a new birth date, making him 10 years old. For seven years he was enslaved by the Door family.
You’ll read about a boy who had reasons to hate, yet chose love. You’ll read of him refusing bitterness and replacing it with happiness. In his later years, you’ll read how he rejected victimhood and moved forward with grace. We won’t be subjected to the horrors Mitka was; however, we can take a lesson from his attitude. Regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, we can choose to survive and we can choose not to let it define us.
This remarkable memoir is to be published July 20, 2021. It was originally titled, “My Name Is Mitka,” because those were the first words he uttered as a liberated child. He’d almost forgotten his birth name. This emotional read is necessary to us understanding the evil that humans are capable of inflicting as well as appreciating the bravery and resilience of those who were captured and survived.
“The man who could not write his name made joy his unforgettable signature. In the end he found himself.”
I received this gift from Mitka Kalinski, his team of authors, the Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 7, 2021
Of the many, many holocaust books I've read this is one of the most chilling, crushing and moving. What Mitka Kalinski endured is incomprehensible. Not only was he on his own since about the age of six during WWII, he was sent on cattle cars to...and miraculously survived...four concentration camps. At a Nazi farm he was enslaved, tortured and barely existed on animal's feed and had a new identity including name forced on him. Let me reiterate...he was by himself, no family.
Mitka's memories of a man and a woman with a few details are vague but he believes they are of his parents. He went through massacres, wore no shoes (only rags) and experienced unspeakable horrors. His will to survive was remarkable, his courage unsurpassable. Mitka's accounts gave me goosebumps as well as tears. The precious little boy! Fast forward to post war and Mitka works at "normal" jobs at which he did not know what to do, what the procedures and rules were. But he was clever and enterprising. He married and had a family. But he kept his experiences secret until much later. It was his way of coping.
After he finally told his wife much of his story and when his children were older, they returned to Germany to seek answers. I can't imagine the level of torment and fear he had. Thankfully he had good support. He was satisfied.
This poignant book is breathtaking. I really struggled and wrestled with it as it is so heart wrenching. Kudos to Mitka for telling his story. He is a true hero and then some. My utmost respect, Sir.
My sincere thank you to Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley for the honour of reading this extremely difficult and important book. It should be required reading.
Mitka's memories of a man and a woman with a few details are vague but he believes they are of his parents. He went through massacres, wore no shoes (only rags) and experienced unspeakable horrors. His will to survive was remarkable, his courage unsurpassable. Mitka's accounts gave me goosebumps as well as tears. The precious little boy! Fast forward to post war and Mitka works at "normal" jobs at which he did not know what to do, what the procedures and rules were. But he was clever and enterprising. He married and had a family. But he kept his experiences secret until much later. It was his way of coping.
After he finally told his wife much of his story and when his children were older, they returned to Germany to seek answers. I can't imagine the level of torment and fear he had. Thankfully he had good support. He was satisfied.
This poignant book is breathtaking. I really struggled and wrestled with it as it is so heart wrenching. Kudos to Mitka for telling his story. He is a true hero and then some. My utmost respect, Sir.
My sincere thank you to Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley for the honour of reading this extremely difficult and important book. It should be required reading.
August 14, 2021
This book was sent to me for review by the publisher and I have been thinking about it for weeks since reading the last page. The tragic childhood of Mitka is truly a remarkable story and one that is hard to fathom. His childhood resilience and his ability to withstand so much hardship is difficult to read. Yet through it all he finds love and family and eventually pride in his adopted country. The detailed research of this book is stunning and sometimes I felt it was too detailed for someone who did not need the exact documentation to follow the memoir. However as a reminder that we should never forget, this has undeniable proof of the horrors of those who were perpetrators of the despicable tragedy of the Nazis and their followers.
Stories like Mitkas always show how the survivors of the Holocaust have stories that must continue to be told and each is so very different.
Stories like Mitkas always show how the survivors of the Holocaust have stories that must continue to be told and each is so very different.
September 1, 2022
This book was really hard for me to read. Not because of the content, but the way it was written. I understand the author wanted to be 100% true and authentic to Mitka and what he remembers, but it made it quite bumpy and did not read as a story. It was quite slow and frankly hard to get into. But once Mitka was able to get some answers and met up with his family, it was a happy reunion that touched me. It goes to show that knowing about who we are, where we came from, and being connected to our roots truly does ground us and helps us to cope with life. I am a firm believer in this and love doing genealogy. I am happy that he received some answers. I would have loved to meet Mitka while staying in his campground and hear his stories…but unfortunately I didn’t love reading about it very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
What a beautiful tragedy.
This was a difficult book but not because of the subject matter, but because of the way it was written. I understand the author’s intention to stay completely authentic to Mitka’s perspective and memories, but that choice made the narrative feel uneven and at times hard to follow. The pacing was slow, and it didn’t always read like a cohesive story, which made it challenging to fully immerse myself.
That said, the emotional core of the book is undeniable. It highlights how deeply important identity, roots, and self-understanding are, and how searching for those answers can shape an entire life. There are moments that are genuinely touching and meaningful.
This is a powerful and heartfelt story, but for me, the execution held it back. A beautiful story let down by uneven writing.
This was a difficult book but not because of the subject matter, but because of the way it was written. I understand the author’s intention to stay completely authentic to Mitka’s perspective and memories, but that choice made the narrative feel uneven and at times hard to follow. The pacing was slow, and it didn’t always read like a cohesive story, which made it challenging to fully immerse myself.
That said, the emotional core of the book is undeniable. It highlights how deeply important identity, roots, and self-understanding are, and how searching for those answers can shape an entire life. There are moments that are genuinely touching and meaningful.
This is a powerful and heartfelt story, but for me, the execution held it back. A beautiful story let down by uneven writing.
October 27, 2022
I enjoy reading historical fiction books … especially those set during WWII. While such a difficult book to read emotionally, I really admire Mitka’s willingness to share his story as he survived the atrocities of WWII. From orphanages to concentration camps and being forced to serve as a slave for a Nazi officer, Mitka’s strength and efforts to survive will touch you deeply. What an awe inspiring read as you experience the horrors he endured. Yet through all of that, Mitka chose love and forgiveness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Eerdmans for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
Thank you to NetGalley and Eerdmans for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
October 27, 2025
A must for every personal narrative of the Holocaust!
Mitka's Secret: A True Story of Child Slavery and Surviving the Holocaust by Steven W. Brallier, Joel N. Lohr, and Lynn G. Beck is a profoundly moving and essential piece of Holocaust literature that goes far beyond a typical survival narrative.
This is the remarkable, harrowing true story of Mitka Kalinski, who, as a young boy, endured the horrors of the Holocaust and an exceptionally unusual form of trauma: seven years of enslavement in the household of a Nazi officer. The book meticulously chronicles his loss of identity, his torture, his years as a forced laborer, and his escape to the United States in 1951, where he buried his past for three decades.
Mitka's Secret: A True Story of Child Slavery and Surviving the Holocaust by Steven W. Brallier, Joel N. Lohr, and Lynn G. Beck is a profoundly moving and essential piece of Holocaust literature that goes far beyond a typical survival narrative.
This is the remarkable, harrowing true story of Mitka Kalinski, who, as a young boy, endured the horrors of the Holocaust and an exceptionally unusual form of trauma: seven years of enslavement in the household of a Nazi officer. The book meticulously chronicles his loss of identity, his torture, his years as a forced laborer, and his escape to the United States in 1951, where he buried his past for three decades.
May 12, 2024
Mitka’s Secret is unlike any other account of the holocaust. The first few chapters describe the horrific atrocities that Mitka witnessed and detail his incredible escapes. The remainder of the book deals with the remarkable story of how Mitka, who had been robbed of everything – his possessions, his family, his freedom, and even his name – persevered, re-invented himself, and then reclaimed his identity. Truly insping.
August 21, 2024
What an inspiring story. This is a story of a young Jewish boy who was enslaved by a Nazi family for seven years of his life. The story is a true narrative of a man who never allowed adversity to control his life. How can we ever complain about our lives when we read a story who suffered through horrific circumstances and was able to rise above these circumstances and affect so many lives as well. You must read this story.
November 15, 2023
This is an incredibly moving biography. Mitka's journey from orphan, to slave, to being a husband, father, and grandfather in a new country (United States) is one of incredible bravery. Raised with no social skills, no access to school, food, or clean water, Mitka somehow (bravely!) survived. This is the story of his return to himself. As I said, incredibly moving.
October 18, 2022
Unbelievable what Mitka went through . Felt a little choppy in spots and didn’t have a cohesive flow to it . The basis of the story on human triumph over evil was evident but felt the writing could have been better .
September 15, 2021
Great story of Mitka’s life—what an incredible human. Terrible writing.
January 31, 2022
Incredible story of pain, resilience, courage and the indomitable human spirit. Hard book to read because of the facts of the story. I teetered on the edge of tears the last third of the book.
September 7, 2022
Fascinating story, well researched. I’ve read quite a number of Holocaust accounts, but none quitter like this.
November 23, 2022
Amazing story of surviving true tragedy! I highly recommend this book of you are looking for a truly heartwarming story of finding out where we come from and where we belong. Loved this!
January 27, 2023
Thoughts
I rated this book a 5 star, it is a true story beautifully written.
Easy to read, I highly recommend "Mitka's Secret".
I rated this book a 5 star, it is a true story beautifully written.
Easy to read, I highly recommend "Mitka's Secret".
March 7, 2023
Fascinating love story
June 6, 2023
I've read many WWII books, but never one like this about a child. The authors really get into Mitka's mind and heart! What a story.
February 22, 2021
My heart goes out to all the survivors. The torture and inhuman ordeals they went through is heartbreaking.
Poor Mitka, an orphaned kid made to be a slave and endure horrible things no kid should go through. I am glad he was able to move on the best he could.
Poor Mitka, an orphaned kid made to be a slave and endure horrible things no kid should go through. I am glad he was able to move on the best he could.
April 6, 2021
This is an incredible biography - thank you to Mitka for finding the bravery to share his story and to the authors for bringing Mitka's story to life.
This story broke my heart and all I wanted to do was hug young Mitka, yet I couldn't stop reading it. Reading Mitka's Secret was hard, I wanted to put it down because I felt sad, scared, and hopeless for the young boy and the horrific experiences he endured. Yet, I knew that was part of the purpose of this book, and Mitka's unwavering spirit and incredible perseverance gives me hope.
This story is part narrative, part history lesson, and reminded me of how raw I felt when I first read Eli Wiesel's book Night many years ago. This is a story that will stay with you and may haunt you, but I hope it reminds other readers (as it did for me) of the resiliency of human nature and the impact that compassion and belonging has. If this story could replace history textbooks, I believe we would live in a more compassionate world.
This story broke my heart and all I wanted to do was hug young Mitka, yet I couldn't stop reading it. Reading Mitka's Secret was hard, I wanted to put it down because I felt sad, scared, and hopeless for the young boy and the horrific experiences he endured. Yet, I knew that was part of the purpose of this book, and Mitka's unwavering spirit and incredible perseverance gives me hope.
This story is part narrative, part history lesson, and reminded me of how raw I felt when I first read Eli Wiesel's book Night many years ago. This is a story that will stay with you and may haunt you, but I hope it reminds other readers (as it did for me) of the resiliency of human nature and the impact that compassion and belonging has. If this story could replace history textbooks, I believe we would live in a more compassionate world.
July 23, 2021
This is a compelling story that starts in tragedy and unrelenting horror. Mitka Kalinski is a story of triumph. In the early part of WWII he was swept up in the uncertainty of war - he got confined into several Nazi death camps until taken by a Nazi named Dorr who kept the boy as a slave. He survived was placed in a couple of camps for displaced children. He then was able to move to the US. He prospered in in the US, working a series of jobs that ultimately took him to Sparks, Nevada. But the story does not stop there. He strove to find out more about his family and was successful. In the end this is a story of hope.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews