Forgiveness: The Story of Eva Kor, Survivor of The Auschwitz Twin Experiments

by Joe Lee

In March of 1944, at age 10, little Eva was arrested with her entire family, including her twin sister, Miriam, for the "crime" of being Jewish.

Nazis loaded Eva and her family into a cattle car with other men, women, and children headed to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Within moments of their arrival, the twins lost their entire family to the gas chambers without a chance to say goodbye. Because twins were considered valuable for research, the girls were spared immediate death by Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor and war criminal, in favor of experimentation and torture.

This stunning, heartbreaking illustrated biography tells the story of a tenacious girl's fight to survive a horrific childhood ravaged by tragedy; her growing anger as an adult who settled in Terre Haute, Indiana; and her eventual discovery that forgiveness might just save her life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Holocaust, History, Biography, Graphic Novels, Comics, War

136 pages, Paperback

Published October 5, 2021

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. I loved Eva Kor’s resilience even after all she suffered at Auschwitz she was later an outcast bc people didn’t want to hear or understand her story but she pushed forward with her truth. The story is truly Devastating. Really did cry a lot reading the ugly horrors of concentration camps and the atrocities visited upon children and just humans overall.

How can we do these things to each other and not learn lessons from it?? I really don’t know!

There’s a brief section in the beginning that shows how Hitler bullied his way into power and it was a chilling reminder of the demagoguery facing 21st century lives. We really do have to be better to each other!

[Sara J Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Holocaust book tears my heart with its tragedy. The twin girls experience terror and anguish in this very graphic story. Literally graphic: the black-white illustrations show the stark history and violence inflicted by the Nazis. However, this book differs from others not only for the graphic format but also the last third of the book that advocates forgiveness, its title. TBH, I got a little distracted from the ending, feeling like it was too preachy. I’d really give the book 4.5 stars. Especially if a reader is new to Holocaust reading, this is an excellent choice.

[Jim Borman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teacher of students with diverse learning needs in the inner city of Chicago, I often looked for outstanding written, oral, and visual materials that would grab the attention of students with reading and attention deficits. Forgiveness by Bloomington, Indiana artist, Joe Lee, fills that need in so many ways. This wonderfully drawn and authored graphic novel portrays the lives of Eva and Miriam Kor during World War II. Both were experimented on by the Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele. Throughout their experiences, Eva and Miriam never gave up the fight for life. As more time passes and fewer survivors are alive to tell their stories, this type of "out of the box" portrayal is more critical. I highly recommend it in order to put a human face on a tragic period of history.

[Muffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this at the CANDLES Museum in Terre Haute. The illustrations are great and it provides a solid overview of Eva Kor’s life and work. It did the thing that a lot of graphic novels do, where it’s like handwritten paragraphs accompanied by illustrations, rather than using the medium to tell a distinct story. Which is fine! But not my favorite. Definitely a great way to learn more about Eva Kor and her cohort of twins tortured at Auschwitz.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of a girl and her twin taken from their family and experimented on and abused by nazis. It tells her of story and how she chose forgiveness, which wasn’t necessarily a popular decision in the survivor community. Eva was always outspoken and forged her own path. The telling in a graphic novel was a new and palatable experience for me.

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A harsh story indeed, but one that needed to be told.

Highly informative, non-fiction/biographical graphic novel with a grisly black and white art that sure fits the bill.

Great insight into the live and approach to tragedy of Eva Kor, whose forgiveness might feel shocking given the circumstances, but I liked how she insisted on it being her personal response to her own experience, and not the expected answer for everyone subjected to the same abominations.

Remarkable woman.

[K Gover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgiveness The story of Eva Kor, survivor of the auschwitz twin experiments
This black and white graphic novel begins with a historic account of WWI, Hiltler’s regime, WW II and other important political events. Chapter two introduces Eva and Miriam Mozes, who were born into a family with two older sisters and parents who lived on a . Farm in Portz Transylvania. When the family gets sent to Auschwitz, many horrid of these death camps are illustrated. The twins struggle to survive Dr Mengele’s horrific experiences is explained through detailed accounts of their illnesses and close calls with death. After ten months of torture,they were able to hide and escape the Nazis. The remaining chapters outline Eva and Miriam’s lives after the camps closed. This includes orphanages, marriage, families, kidney transplants and Miriams death. Eva chooses to forgive all those that harmed her. She started the CANDLES institute and took pilgrimages to Auschwitz with student and adult groups. She is well known for her interviews and adamant voice of forgiveness.

[Crystan M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first want to thank the author and publisher for the free copy of this book that I received in a Goodreads giveaway. I didn't realize when I entered the giveaway, but this biography is a graphic novel, and although not a book form I normally choose, I did enjoy it.

Eva Kor is person who went through events that should never take place anywhere, but she chose to share those experiences and the lessons that she learned from them and afterward in her life. This woman's story tackles some hard subjects but they are presented in a way that is approachable and the book is of a length that it would be easy to share as a family or in a classroom.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This illustrated biography may help Eva Kor’s story reach a new audience, although it is not as strong as Ted Green’s film in capturing Kor’s indomitable spirit and impact. Lee’s work is a fine complement that adds more historical background to the environment that allowed horrors such as Mengele’s experiments to transpire. I feel privileged to have witnessed one of Eva Kor’s powerful speaking engagements and hope this book helps to keep her story in the public eye, within and beyond the boundaries of her adopted state of Indiana.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard for us to fathom the the insanity and horror of the Nazi concentration camps. This is a true story of twins Eva and Miriam. Josef Mengele selected the girls for his awful experiments at Auschwitz. The book is wonderfully illustrated, making the horrors of what the girls come to life. Eva tells the story and her road to forgiveness. This book is important because it shows how the Nazi's took over through propaganda, fear, and hatred. Sound familiar? I really recommend this book.

[Liz Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe Lee brings life to Eva Kor’s story. I have previously read several books about Eva, but this one is a MUST READ. The beautiful and poignant illustrations bring a new and stronger understanding to Eva’s life, and the atrocities of The Holocaust. I will definitely be adding this to my curriculum for my Holocaust unit.

[Marie Kos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe Lee’s art and tender reverence for Eva Kor’s story are perfect for getting this important account into the hands of as many people as possible. I read it in a night, and will be rereading it in the future. Highly recommend.

[Amber Hughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very profound, interesting story. The graphic novel medium fits it very well, and the lack of color makes the story itself more important.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel is beautiful in every way. I’ve watched Interviews that Eva has done before and her story is so moving.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw it. It did not disappoint.

[Olivia Ankrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

So informative

[wildct2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive work

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical fiction graphic novel. Very quick read.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strong woman.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend. I work in pharmaceutical research and this little book describes such a beautifully heartbreaking piece of history in sharing a Holocaust survivors story, as they all should be told, in a unique and personal way. I like to read about historical human experiments because it has impacted the work I do today dealing with the protection of human research subjects, including informed consent. The graphics are beautiful. I am from Indiana and also love that the author is a local artist in my area.