Escape or Die : True Stories of Young People Who Survived the Holocaust

by Ina R. Friedman

In this extraordinary collection of true stories, some new to this edition, 12 Jewish men and women--all under the age of 20 at the time--recount their incredible tales of surviving the Holocaust. Covering the years 1933 to 1948 and encompassing ten countries and as many destinations, these stories of escape are more than dramatic adventure tales and are particularly moving for young people. Filled with episodes of luck, courage, endurance, and ingenuity, each first-person narrative is an authentic and moving testimony to the human struggle for life against all odds and all costs.

Genres: Holocaust, Nonfiction, History

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

I am a writer and storyteller, and I have appeared throughout the United States sharing stories from my books and receiving in return stories from my audiences. Gathering material for my books on the Holocaust and World War II (Young Adult) has taken me to five continents and enabled me to meet and interact with people of all ages and from many cultures whom I otherwise would not have met. I am married to an engineer. I have four grown children, two stepdaughters, and six grandchildren–my best critics. I have a B.A. from Penn State University in Psychology and a Master’s degree from Lesley in Storytelling.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow....I mean wow.

After reading the first surviving teenager's memoir, I couldn't put it down. The way Friedman organised the novel by country was helpful, with the history blurb about the previous Jewish generations. I have read many books regarding the traumatic years of the Holocaust, but never one like this. The will and perseverance to survive throughout the story is impeccable. Reading Friedman's novel makes bad hair days, under average grades, and plain school drama seem like a daydream compared to the horrors of those 12 years until the end in 1945.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Increadable true stories we had not been told of the atrocities of WWII, laced with courage and defiance againt unspeakable odds. Facts and figures are provided pre and post war which illustrate the grave magnitude of how our world was forever changed.

I consider this a must read.

[Diana Gagliardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting to see the different places and ways people moved in WWII. Unlike many stories, none of these people spoke much about camps, only mentioning them in passing.