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The Boy From The Forest: The Heart-Wrenching WW2 True Story of a Holocaust Survivor
June, 1941. 11-years-old Shmuel Sucha is startled awake by the sound of German planes over his hometown in western Ukraine. As the Nazi shadow begins to fall on their small Jewish community, Shmuel’s parents smuggle their son away to a local farm, just on the border of the surrounding forest.
While the Nazi systematic annihilation of Jews begins to spread, Shmuel escapes into the nearby forest. With nothing but birch trees and death to surround him, Shmuel begs, cheats, and steals in order to survive. For the span of two long years, Shmuel witnesses the kindness of Jewish and gentile strangers; the hostility of the local villagers experiences the cruelty of the Nazi soldiers; and shares his fellow survivors’ uncanny will to live another day.
The Boy From The Forest is the riveting account of Shmuel Sucha’s story of survival in the desolate Ukrainian forests. A story of betrayal and revenge, despair, and ultimately – hope.
While the Nazi systematic annihilation of Jews begins to spread, Shmuel escapes into the nearby forest. With nothing but birch trees and death to surround him, Shmuel begs, cheats, and steals in order to survive. For the span of two long years, Shmuel witnesses the kindness of Jewish and gentile strangers; the hostility of the local villagers experiences the cruelty of the Nazi soldiers; and shares his fellow survivors’ uncanny will to live another day.
The Boy From The Forest is the riveting account of Shmuel Sucha’s story of survival in the desolate Ukrainian forests. A story of betrayal and revenge, despair, and ultimately – hope.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2022
434 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 21, 2023
The Boy From the Forest: The Heart-Wrenching World War Two True Story of a Holocaust Survivor is by Shay Efrat. The author first met Shmula Sucha at the petting zoo at the Kibbutz Shamir when he was ten and Shmula was in charge of the zoo. Over the years, they became close friends as the author learned more and more about the Holocaust and Shmula. Over the years, Shmula’s story was told over and over to many different groups. He felt it was his calling to tell his story as it kept the memories of those who didn’t have the good fortune he did to live.
Shmula was about 10 or 11 when the war came to his village in the Ukraine. He and his family were put in a ghetto in their hometown. As food became scarce, his father made arrangements for his son to go to a nearby farm to help the farmer in exchange for food and board. It was the only way his father could figure out to keep him fed. It meant fewer mouths to feed in the ghetto. Shmula didn’t want to go but his parents insisted. He returned once with peas for the family; but his mother sent him back immediately. Shmula wished he could take his sister with him at least; but she was too young. As he left, they didn’t realize that soon, he would be the only one left of his family. They were soon marched out of town to a pit dug earlier and shot. When Shmula was told of their deaths, he was sad; but the true magnitude of their deaths didn’t hit him until later.
The farmer became scared when the Nazis declared that anyone hiding a Jew would be killed and he turned Shmula out into the forest. For years, Shmula lived in the forests living on what he could find. Sometimes he was with a family and sometimes alone.
The book includes excerpts from the interviews with Shmula’s son, daughter, and grandson. It is a compelling book and very unusual.
Shmula was about 10 or 11 when the war came to his village in the Ukraine. He and his family were put in a ghetto in their hometown. As food became scarce, his father made arrangements for his son to go to a nearby farm to help the farmer in exchange for food and board. It was the only way his father could figure out to keep him fed. It meant fewer mouths to feed in the ghetto. Shmula didn’t want to go but his parents insisted. He returned once with peas for the family; but his mother sent him back immediately. Shmula wished he could take his sister with him at least; but she was too young. As he left, they didn’t realize that soon, he would be the only one left of his family. They were soon marched out of town to a pit dug earlier and shot. When Shmula was told of their deaths, he was sad; but the true magnitude of their deaths didn’t hit him until later.
The farmer became scared when the Nazis declared that anyone hiding a Jew would be killed and he turned Shmula out into the forest. For years, Shmula lived in the forests living on what he could find. Sometimes he was with a family and sometimes alone.
The book includes excerpts from the interviews with Shmula’s son, daughter, and grandson. It is a compelling book and very unusual.
September 28, 2022
This is going to make me sound really bad. But, The Holocaust is my favorite time in history to learn about and to research. I am not sure why I find that part of history to be the one I find the most interesting, but it is.
In school, we read The Diary of Anne Frank and Night. I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and watched the movie (even though that is fiction).
This book, The Boy from the Forest, tells a true story of Schmuel Sucha a Jew from the Ukraine. A journalist has interviewed him about his time in the Holocaust, about how he is the only surviving member of his household. The story tells of how Mr. Sucha survived by hiding in the forests near him home along with being hid by brave neighbors.
A lot of people don't speak of the Holocaust anymore unless you are in school. However, Mr. Sucha said somethings in this book that I really liked.
"The greatest danger is forgetting. The worst death is the death of memory."
"Humans tend to want to forget the horrible things. And yet - if this horrible chapter of history is forgotten, men will not be afraid to do evil."
I think that those both could be used in a lot of circumstances involving history. The first one could even reference relatives or friends that have passed away.
In school, we read The Diary of Anne Frank and Night. I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and watched the movie (even though that is fiction).
This book, The Boy from the Forest, tells a true story of Schmuel Sucha a Jew from the Ukraine. A journalist has interviewed him about his time in the Holocaust, about how he is the only surviving member of his household. The story tells of how Mr. Sucha survived by hiding in the forests near him home along with being hid by brave neighbors.
A lot of people don't speak of the Holocaust anymore unless you are in school. However, Mr. Sucha said somethings in this book that I really liked.
"The greatest danger is forgetting. The worst death is the death of memory."
"Humans tend to want to forget the horrible things. And yet - if this horrible chapter of history is forgotten, men will not be afraid to do evil."
I think that those both could be used in a lot of circumstances involving history. The first one could even reference relatives or friends that have passed away.
December 14, 2022
Once I started this book, I had a hard time putting it down. This is a very well documented and very well written book about Schmuel Sucha, an 11-year-old Jewish boy from the Ukraine whose family was all sent to their death while he was able to escape. This is a story of his survival hiding out in the woods or occasionally with families until liberation. This is a fascinating story and one we must not forget.
November 17, 2022
The Boy From the Forest
This book is the true story of a Jewish boy who survived the Holocaust, but no other member of his family survived. He had to learn to make his way in a world who wanted all Jews to die. He lived with other survivors in a forest and they worked together to get enough food to live while hiding from those who wanted the remaining Jews to die. I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. It may haunt my dreams. But, I am happy I learned how people worked together to survive.
This book is the true story of a Jewish boy who survived the Holocaust, but no other member of his family survived. He had to learn to make his way in a world who wanted all Jews to die. He lived with other survivors in a forest and they worked together to get enough food to live while hiding from those who wanted the remaining Jews to die. I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. It may haunt my dreams. But, I am happy I learned how people worked together to survive.
January 1, 2024
First biography I have read
I had to read this book because I had spent a lot of time reading about the holocaust. I have read magazines and watched movies and documentaries. I was stationed in Germany and tried to ask questions but the nationals all said it never happened. But yet when I walked from barracks to an apartment I rented in a tiny village nearby I d hid see the damage done to certain buildings in surrounding villages as I walked home. ( It was 9 ks to my apt, and if I had to do it today I'd probably fall over from the walking.) It was 1986 I was in Germany. I have learned a lot more since then. It is heart breaking to read and learn about this. I have been drawn to this part in history since I was in middle school in civics class. ( My teacher touched on this subject but no great length.) Thank you for writing and teaching the world as to what happened. It took me a while to read this book, having to alternate reading a chapter or two in this book and then reading a couple of chapters in my usual horror novels. When I reached about halfway through this book I realized it was a different type of horror. ( It actually happened to people and it needed to be told. As you have said, live to tell the tale. ) What bothers me today is nobody is remembering that a whole race of people was almost wiped out and it continues to happen today. I am not Jewish but I wish all good tidings and blessings to all, and may all your stories be told and repeated to be remembered throughout history. I was in the Army and my husband and we both were stationed in Germany at the same time. My father was a Marine and in the Army. I believe he saw something in Germany at the wwII timeframe but I don't know what since he has never talked about it. And now that he's no longer here I can't ask. I only hope that more Jewish folk come forward and write about this subject before they leave this earth. Its a story that needs to be told. Shouted from the rooftops if possible. The truth needs to be told. Thank you for sharing.
I had to read this book because I had spent a lot of time reading about the holocaust. I have read magazines and watched movies and documentaries. I was stationed in Germany and tried to ask questions but the nationals all said it never happened. But yet when I walked from barracks to an apartment I rented in a tiny village nearby I d hid see the damage done to certain buildings in surrounding villages as I walked home. ( It was 9 ks to my apt, and if I had to do it today I'd probably fall over from the walking.) It was 1986 I was in Germany. I have learned a lot more since then. It is heart breaking to read and learn about this. I have been drawn to this part in history since I was in middle school in civics class. ( My teacher touched on this subject but no great length.) Thank you for writing and teaching the world as to what happened. It took me a while to read this book, having to alternate reading a chapter or two in this book and then reading a couple of chapters in my usual horror novels. When I reached about halfway through this book I realized it was a different type of horror. ( It actually happened to people and it needed to be told. As you have said, live to tell the tale. ) What bothers me today is nobody is remembering that a whole race of people was almost wiped out and it continues to happen today. I am not Jewish but I wish all good tidings and blessings to all, and may all your stories be told and repeated to be remembered throughout history. I was in the Army and my husband and we both were stationed in Germany at the same time. My father was a Marine and in the Army. I believe he saw something in Germany at the wwII timeframe but I don't know what since he has never talked about it. And now that he's no longer here I can't ask. I only hope that more Jewish folk come forward and write about this subject before they leave this earth. Its a story that needs to be told. Shouted from the rooftops if possible. The truth needs to be told. Thank you for sharing.
January 17, 2024
This is going to make me sound really bad. But, The Holocaust is my favorite time in history to learn about and to research. I am not sure why I find that part of history to be the one I find the most interesting, but it is.
In school, we read The Diary of Anne Frank and Night. I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and watched the movie (even though that is fiction).
This book, The Boy from the Forest, tells a true story of Schmuel Sucha a Jew from the Ukraine. A journalist has interviewed him about his time in the Holocaust, about how he is the only surviving member of his household. The story tells of how Mr. Sucha survived by hiding in the forests near him home along with being hid by brave neighbors.
A lot of people don't speak of the Holocaust anymore unless you are in school. However, Mr. Sucha said somethings in this book that I really liked.
"The greatest danger is forgetting. The worst death is the death of memory."
"Humans tend to want to forget the horrible things. And yet - if this horrible chapter of history is forgotten, men will not be afraid to do evil."
I think that those both could be used in a lot of circumstances involving history. The first one could even reference relatives or friends that have passed away.
In school, we read The Diary of Anne Frank and Night. I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and watched the movie (even though that is fiction).
This book, The Boy from the Forest, tells a true story of Schmuel Sucha a Jew from the Ukraine. A journalist has interviewed him about his time in the Holocaust, about how he is the only surviving member of his household. The story tells of how Mr. Sucha survived by hiding in the forests near him home along with being hid by brave neighbors.
A lot of people don't speak of the Holocaust anymore unless you are in school. However, Mr. Sucha said somethings in this book that I really liked.
"The greatest danger is forgetting. The worst death is the death of memory."
"Humans tend to want to forget the horrible things. And yet - if this horrible chapter of history is forgotten, men will not be afraid to do evil."
I think that those both could be used in a lot of circumstances involving history. The first one could even reference relatives or friends that have passed away.
April 8, 2023
Authentic look into the mind and heart of a Holocaust survivor
I have always had an interest in the Holocaust and the stories of survivors and their families. This book is an authentic look at one such survivor from Ukraine. His story, like all others, is harrowing and heartbreaking. I enjoyed the perspectives offered by Schmuel's family members growing up with a father/grandfather who survived the Holocaust. The pain and trauma is generational and can impact generations. Everyone's perspective is unique and offers insight into the after effects of this tragedy.
My only criticism of this book is the conversational and repetitive manner of Schmuel's stories. The narrative isn't as structured as neatly as I would have liked and things jump around a bit and reflections are repeated. This may be because of how interviews were conducted with Schmuel, because this is how Schmuel recounts his experiences, or due to lack of organizational structure provided by the author.
Despite this, there is a lot of value in Schmuel's experiences and I appreciate the efforts put forth to record his stories for others to read and learn from. Overall an important and impactful book!
I have always had an interest in the Holocaust and the stories of survivors and their families. This book is an authentic look at one such survivor from Ukraine. His story, like all others, is harrowing and heartbreaking. I enjoyed the perspectives offered by Schmuel's family members growing up with a father/grandfather who survived the Holocaust. The pain and trauma is generational and can impact generations. Everyone's perspective is unique and offers insight into the after effects of this tragedy.
My only criticism of this book is the conversational and repetitive manner of Schmuel's stories. The narrative isn't as structured as neatly as I would have liked and things jump around a bit and reflections are repeated. This may be because of how interviews were conducted with Schmuel, because this is how Schmuel recounts his experiences, or due to lack of organizational structure provided by the author.
Despite this, there is a lot of value in Schmuel's experiences and I appreciate the efforts put forth to record his stories for others to read and learn from. Overall an important and impactful book!
March 8, 2024
What an autobiographical account from an elderly Holocaust victim! Shmuel Sucha never forgot his harrowing, miraculous survival against all odds nor did he forget his promise to himself to tell the world about it. His detailed accounts are incredible as he describes the hourly threat of death by either Germans, Russians or Ukrainians. Antisemitism was by far the majority attitude in his time and place. That he had the stamina and intelligence to outsmart all of his potential killers is astonishing.
Shmuel’s sense of humor is priceless. His admitted love for metaphors is charming.
His story is so remarkable it was made into a Canadian film.
Shmuel’s sense of humor is priceless. His admitted love for metaphors is charming.
His story is so remarkable it was made into a Canadian film.
March 5, 2023
While the story told is an important one to tell, I feel that the telling of it could have better. Much of the book appears to be primarily a transcript of interviews with the main character and his family. Interviewing the principal characters is certainly an important step in researching the story, but I would have preferred that the author tell the story in his own words and then quote them as needed. I had a hard time making it through this book as is shown by the 11+ weeks it took me to get through it.
March 15, 2024
5 stars! I highly recommend this book! Alarmingly shocking story of the author’s survival in The Holocaust as an 11 year old boy. He survived the Holocaust after his familyhid him with a farmer near the border of Ukraine. He managed to flee deep into the Ukrainian forest . It’s amazing how he came out 2 yrs. on the run, only to find his entire family killed by the Nazis. His uncle survived but was ultimately killed by Ukrainians. A difficult, emotionally charged storyline which will pull you in immediately. As the old adage says, “Read it and weep,” and I guarantee you WILL weep.
November 20, 2024
This is a true holocaust story of an eleven-year-old boy sent to live as a cow-tender during the early years of WWII by his family for safety. In doing so, he survives the annihilation of his family but endures a few years of living in the forest. He finds other Jews whom he joins. As the war ends, he is bounced from one refuge camp before finally arriving in Israel. This is his account in the first part and then his children's accounts on how it affected them as the next generation. Worth the read to understand all that occurred during this horrendous time in history.
March 5, 2024
Thank you little boy you will never be forgotten God looked out for you on those dreadful days x,
This is an amazing story told in the eyes of a frightened little boy .the struggles he overcame on his known .
He was afraid wanting to be beside his family . His courage and strength is incredible one of the most heartbreak
Story of that time .he never forgot and the memories are etched on his mind forever so pleased you continue to remember
And share your story .
This is an amazing story told in the eyes of a frightened little boy .the struggles he overcame on his known .
He was afraid wanting to be beside his family . His courage and strength is incredible one of the most heartbreak
Story of that time .he never forgot and the memories are etched on his mind forever so pleased you continue to remember
And share your story .
March 29, 2023
A true story. I’ve grown weary reading historical fiction, which too often turns into a romance novel.
I learned more than I ever knew before about those who survived by living in the forests.
I’d add, it is so important to learn and remember.
I learned more than I ever knew before about those who survived by living in the forests.
I’d add, it is so important to learn and remember.
March 26, 2024
Anytime a Holocaust survivor has the courage to tell their story, I feel it deserves five stars. We do not need to forget this time in our history. There are many readers that respond to different writing styles.
While I appreciate what is said, sometimes I felt that it was repetitive.
While I appreciate what is said, sometimes I felt that it was repetitive.
February 4, 2023
Survival
One never knows and an eye opener to what one can endure to survive. A truly wonderful story. We must all remember and never let it happen again.
One never knows and an eye opener to what one can endure to survive. A truly wonderful story. We must all remember and never let it happen again.
Read
June 8, 2023Very sad, but hopefull at the same time.
June 20, 2023
I love this story and it opens my eyes more to the cruelty of nazis’ era. I could put the book down !
July 7, 2023
This is a historically accurate recounting of holocaust events told by a survivor.
March 12, 2024
Wow!
What an amazing story from not only a survivor but his family. A must-read! I was hooked from the first sentence.
What an amazing story from not only a survivor but his family. A must-read! I was hooked from the first sentence.
January 14, 2023
interesting
This is an intriguing book. I particularly found the second half where the psychological impact of the Holocaust on survivors and their descendants is discussed absorbing.
This is an intriguing book. I particularly found the second half where the psychological impact of the Holocaust on survivors and their descendants is discussed absorbing.
August 30, 2024
Told by an old man who survived the Holocaust by running away to the forest. He is telling his story of survival to children today. Well done.
September 9, 2022
A riveting account of the Holocaust
Israeli author Dr. Shay Efrat serves as a psychologist, historian, educator, and Holocaust researcher, having developed a learning model on the subject Holocaust, society, education, and morality. His books to date – HOLOCAUST LEARNING AND MORALITY and now THE BOY FROM THE FOREST, translated form the Hebrew by Gilad Friedman.
Though there are many books written by and about Holocaust survivors, there can never be enough to continue to remind us of that event. Dr. Efrat writes the history of Shmuel Sucha as well as that of his family, from the year 1941 as the Germans invaded Ukraine – a story even more pungent today as we note the war in Ukraine. The forest of the title is the Ukrainian forest where Shmuel survived two years of terror – a time of resistance, heroism, understanding and accepting the friendship of both Jews and gentiles – and ultimate regeneration. The story is related from information drawn from conversations with Shmuel and his family, making the reportage of the story immediate and memorable. This is a very fine account of the Holocaust, both historically, and through the life of a remarkable lad. Recommended
Israeli author Dr. Shay Efrat serves as a psychologist, historian, educator, and Holocaust researcher, having developed a learning model on the subject Holocaust, society, education, and morality. His books to date – HOLOCAUST LEARNING AND MORALITY and now THE BOY FROM THE FOREST, translated form the Hebrew by Gilad Friedman.
Though there are many books written by and about Holocaust survivors, there can never be enough to continue to remind us of that event. Dr. Efrat writes the history of Shmuel Sucha as well as that of his family, from the year 1941 as the Germans invaded Ukraine – a story even more pungent today as we note the war in Ukraine. The forest of the title is the Ukrainian forest where Shmuel survived two years of terror – a time of resistance, heroism, understanding and accepting the friendship of both Jews and gentiles – and ultimate regeneration. The story is related from information drawn from conversations with Shmuel and his family, making the reportage of the story immediate and memorable. This is a very fine account of the Holocaust, both historically, and through the life of a remarkable lad. Recommended
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews