THE GIRL WHO ESCAPED FROM AUSCHWITZ by Ellie Midwood

“We must die standing up for something.”
“And what are we standing up for?”
“The most important thing there is. Freedom.”

Millions of people walked through Auschwitz’s gates, but she was the first woman who escaped. This powerful novel tells the inspiring true story of Mala Zimetbaum, whose heroism will never be forgotten, and whose fate altered the course of history…

Nobody leaves Auschwitz alive.

Mala, inmate 19880, understood that the moment she stepped off the cattle train into the depths of hell. As an interpreter for the SS, she uses her position to save as many lives as she can, smuggling scraps of bread to those desperate with hunger.

Edward, inmate 531, is a camp veteran and a political prisoner. Though he looks like everyone else, with a shaved head and striped uniform, he’s a fighter in the underground Resistance. And he has an escape plan.

They are locked up for no other sin than simply existing. But when they meet, the dark shadow of Auschwitz is lit by a glimmer of hope. Edward makes Mala believe in the impossible. That despite being surrounded by electric wire, machine guns topping endless watchtowers and searchlights roaming the ground, they will leave this death camp.

A promise is made––they will escape together or they will die together. What follows is one of the greatest love stories in history…

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and The Orphan Train will love this breathtakingly beautiful tale, of courage in the face of tragedy and bravery in the face of fear. Based on a true story, The Girl Who Escaped Auschwitz shows that, in darkness, love can be your light…

My Thoughts:

First let me say that this is my first book by Ellie Midwood. I bought The Violinist of Auschwitz and The Aftermath by the same author. When I'll be able to read them is another story as this one has left me truly weeping. To think that people can be this cruel. Cold hearted and so filled with hatred is beyond anything that my mind can honestly comprehend. It's completely mind boggling to me. And the sad truth is that it could happen again. If we don't stay on top of things and keep history alive it certainly could. I believe with all my heart that it almost has on an occasion or two through the years. I hope beyond hope that we as humans will never let it happen though. But with all the hatred that is in the world never think that it can't. We must be bigger than that. Love each other. Cherish what we have. Stop the hate.....

This book is told from two people's POV who were in the Auzchwitz concentration camp. Both had jobs and both were prisoners. Not that they did anything wrong but because they were hated. They might do something. They were different. What happened to the people in this camp is completely unacceptable. It should never ever be forgotten. We all need to remember and make sure that our children and our grandchildren know. We never what anything like this to happen in this world or any other world again. Two people, yet also thousands upon thousands were killed. Gassed, tortured, treated like they were the lowest of the low. Like they were nothing. 

The two people telling this story are Mala, a young woman, and Edek, a young man. They both did a lot in this place. They helped the other prisoners as much as they could. In every manner possible. Both were strong and respected. Respected by their fellow inmates and even by some of the guards it seems. They fell in love. Deeply in love and plotted to escape together. To be free. This book takes you through their story. From start to dramatic finish you will learn so much about each of them and how they came together. How they planned and how they fell in love. What each did for others that made them admired and loved. Their strength was unimaginable. Their lives were horrid yet they didn't complain. They did what they had to do to survive.

This is a story that will make you weep. It will give you insight as to what happened in Auschwitz. What cruelty was dealt. How people found what happiness they could when they could. What horrors they saw and faced each and every day of their lives. How it stayed with some long after the war was over and they were rescued from this atrocious place. If you are human you will feel the sadness that was their lives. 

It's hard to read this type of book often but it's one that needs to be read. I personally can't imagine what it was like to live during this time but I do have relatives who did. My daddy was Polish. He had relatives who died in prison camps. His parents were here in the USA where he was born and raised but they had friends and relatives who were not so lucky. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, #EllieMidwood, #Bookouture for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

5/5 stars and a high recommendation. Please read this one. It's very well written, researched and just a good one to read. Sad yes. Good yes. It has some parts that will make you smile too. Just read it.