Always Remember Your Name: A True Story of Family and Survival in Auschwitz
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- Create Date：2022-01-17 17:20:57
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Andra Bucci
- ISBN：1662600712
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Summary
A haunting WWII memoir of two sisters who survived Auschwitz that picks up where Anne Frank's Diary left off and gives voice to the children we lost。
On March 28， 1944， six-year-old Tati and her four-year-old sister Andra were roused from their sleep and arrested。 Along with their mother， Mira， their aunt， and cousin Sergio， they were deported to Auschwitz。
Over 230，000 children were deported to the camp， where Josef Mengele， the Angel of Death， performed deadly experiments on them。 Only a few dozen children survived， Tati and Andra among them。
Tati， Andra， and Sergio were separated from their mothers upon arrival。 But Mira was determined to keep track of her girls。 After being tattooed with their inmate numbers， she made them memorize her number and told them to “always remember your name。” In keeping this promise to their mother， the sisters were able to be reunited with their parents when WWII ended。
An unforgettable narrative of the power of sisterhood in the most extreme circumstances， and of how a mother’s love can overcome the most impossible odds， the Bucci sisters' memoir is a timely reminder that separating families is an inexcusable evil。
On March 28， 1944， six-year-old Tati and her four-year-old sister Andra were roused from their sleep and arrested。 Along with their mother， Mira， their aunt， and cousin Sergio， they were deported to Auschwitz。
Over 230，000 children were deported to the camp， where Josef Mengele， the Angel of Death， performed deadly experiments on them。 Only a few dozen children survived， Tati and Andra among them。
Tati， Andra， and Sergio were separated from their mothers upon arrival。 But Mira was determined to keep track of her girls。 After being tattooed with their inmate numbers， she made them memorize her number and told them to “always remember your name。” In keeping this promise to their mother， the sisters were able to be reunited with their parents when WWII ended。
An unforgettable narrative of the power of sisterhood in the most extreme circumstances， and of how a mother’s love can overcome the most impossible odds， the Bucci sisters' memoir is a timely reminder that separating families is an inexcusable evil。
Reviews
Charise
，
I learnt so much。 I am very grateful this story has been translated and I had the opportunity to read it！
Kellyann
，
Beautifully written and such an important story to be told and listened to for generations to come。 It blows my mind how far and wide the devastion that Hitler caused， I cant even begin to comprehend how so many people allowed it to happen。 How many innocent lives forever changed by one man's ideology， it makes me so very sad。 I'm grateful to the Sisters for sharing their experience with us。 Beautifully written and such an important story to be told and listened to for generations to come。 It blows my mind how far and wide the devastion that Hitler caused， I cant even begin to comprehend how so many people allowed it to happen。 How many innocent lives forever changed by one man's ideology， it makes me so very sad。 I'm grateful to the Sisters for sharing their experience with us。 。。。more
Ciara
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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review。 This is the story of two sisters who as children found themselves deported from their home in Italy to Auschwitz concentration camp。 Later when the camp was liberated they were moved to different countries until the were reunited with their parents。 Today the provide testimony to their experiences。This is such an interesting read I have read a lot of biographical works regarding holocaust survivors but this b Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review。 This is the story of two sisters who as children found themselves deported from their home in Italy to Auschwitz concentration camp。 Later when the camp was liberated they were moved to different countries until the were reunited with their parents。 Today the provide testimony to their experiences。This is such an interesting read I have read a lot of biographical works regarding holocaust survivors but this book is different。 The reader learns about sisters experiences in the camp but there is more of a focus on their lives after the holocaust and how they came to terms with what had happened to them。 In particular I found the cruel fate of Sergio one of the most horrific things I have ever read。 While the strength the sisters mother showed and the devotion she had to them one of the most touching。 This is a fantastic read I would 100% recommend。 My only complaint and the reason I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is it isn’t very long。 I feel there was definitely room to expand on more parts of the sisters lives and tell the reader more。 。。。more
Jordan | jord_reads_books
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A powerful memoir about not only two sisters survival of Auschwitz， but their journey after liberation and the long reaching effects of the Holocaust on their lives。 Very much enjoyed the “we” narration—never read anything like that before！
Jo
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As the granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor this was always going to be a poignant read for me。 I found it fascinating to hear of the sisters story and what they endured and overcame。 Like my Grandmother they didn't speak much of their experiences after they reclaimed their lives until much later when they realised their story needed to be told so it would never be forgotten or repeated。It is humbling to understand the fortitude and resilience of their generation to overcome such events （espec As the granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor this was always going to be a poignant read for me。 I found it fascinating to hear of the sisters story and what they endured and overcame。 Like my Grandmother they didn't speak much of their experiences after they reclaimed their lives until much later when they realised their story needed to be told so it would never be forgotten or repeated。It is humbling to understand the fortitude and resilience of their generation to overcome such events （especially in current times when being told to 'Stay at home' is considered a hardship）。An thought provoking read my only reservation is that the narrative is slightly light on details and potentially a deeper explanation of some events could have given a more in-depth vision of their memoirs。 。。。more
Maddy
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Always Remember Your Name by Andre and Tatiana BucciThis is a true story of two miracle children。 A six year old and a four year old who were deported to Auschwitz in 1944 and managed to survive。 Very very few children survived the camps， and especially not ones so young。 This is their tale， told in their own words but translated into English。 This is not made into a novel， with dialogue made up by the author， but the actual testimony of these remarkable survivors。 The tale doesn't stop at the l Always Remember Your Name by Andre and Tatiana BucciThis is a true story of two miracle children。 A six year old and a four year old who were deported to Auschwitz in 1944 and managed to survive。 Very very few children survived the camps， and especially not ones so young。 This is their tale， told in their own words but translated into English。 This is not made into a novel， with dialogue made up by the author， but the actual testimony of these remarkable survivors。 The tale doesn't stop at the liberation of the camps。 These children finished their internment believing their parents had died， and were taken with other survivors to a refuge in England。 Their remarkable story continues almost to the present day， with details of their children and grandchildren， and how they cope with their memories of their time in the camps to this day。A remarkable piece of history， and one everyone should read。 。。。more
Thelma
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great story as always very moving and very hard to assimilate what these women went through。 I really love the book and the story so much。 the only thing that I really didn't like was the way it was written as I had a hard time keeping up， somehow felt like I was reading different chapters in a journal but didn't connect very well with one and other。 overall it was a good book。 great story as always very moving and very hard to assimilate what these women went through。 I really love the book and the story so much。 the only thing that I really didn't like was the way it was written as I had a hard time keeping up， somehow felt like I was reading different chapters in a journal but didn't connect very well with one and other。 overall it was a good book。 。。。more
Grace
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What a good book， the book is one of the better ones I’ve read on this time period and comes from a very different perspective （to what I’ve read so far）， great it’s been translated and is to the point and captures the feeling of how the two sisters felt。 I just wish there had been more！！！ Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy
Ginny
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This survivor story is a must read for anyone interested in the Holocaust。 To hear an account of the events from the perspective of children is in equal measure devastating and fascinating。 I was particularly intrigued to read about the wider family， the stages of recovery and supporting facilities in the aftermath of the war， not to mention the incredible story of those who survived and their reunion。 I have since been driven to research Lingfield House and hope to follow up on some of the othe This survivor story is a must read for anyone interested in the Holocaust。 To hear an account of the events from the perspective of children is in equal measure devastating and fascinating。 I was particularly intrigued to read about the wider family， the stages of recovery and supporting facilities in the aftermath of the war， not to mention the incredible story of those who survived and their reunion。 I have since been driven to research Lingfield House and hope to follow up on some of the other books mentioned by the authors。 The fact that this true story accounts for both sisters’ recollections and is delivered in the first person plural， adds to the many unique factors in their experience。 It is well told and effective in the translation from Italian too。Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy in return for an honest review。 。。。more
Brenda
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Always Remember Your Name is a heart crushing account of two sisters who were arrested by Nazis and Italian fascists from their home in Fiume （present day Rijeka in Croatia） and taken to Auschwitz。 They were only four and six so some memories have faded， others vivid of their time spent in hellish and humiliating conditions where very， very few children survived。 Most were gassed immediately but for some unknown reason （they looked like twins and were there when Josef Mengele's was performing ex Always Remember Your Name is a heart crushing account of two sisters who were arrested by Nazis and Italian fascists from their home in Fiume （present day Rijeka in Croatia） and taken to Auschwitz。 They were only four and six so some memories have faded， others vivid of their time spent in hellish and humiliating conditions where very， very few children survived。 Most were gassed immediately but for some unknown reason （they looked like twins and were there when Josef Mengele's was performing experiments） they survived。 Their mother， aunt and cousin were also taken to Auschwitz where they were separated。 Their mother was able to visit them occasionally and instilled in them the importance of keeping their names， Italian culture and identity rather than their tattoo numbers。 They were also not "full" Jews as they were Italian Catholics which is another possible reason they were "safe"。 Whatever the explanation for their survival， their lives were eternally changed there and in the aftermath。 After the war they lived in Trieste where they could be Italian citizens。The photographs are as moving as the writing， gripping and personal。 The stories are told by both sisters as adults， raw and unpolished， evocative and haunting。 Decades after their excruciating experience， continually surrounded by death which became "normal" they returned to the camp and conduct（ed） talks there。 Their goal is to "bear witness"。 I am very grateful they have told their story。 Knowing beautiful Rijeka and Trieste very well， I can envision the topography， architecture and so on， their home they left so abruptly and cruelly。 Readers of the Holocaust ought to prioritize this book。 What this family endured is impossible to fathom。 Evil comes in many shapes。 But so does hope。 My sincere thank you to Astra Publishing House and NetGalley for the honour of reading this breathtaking and powerful book which should be required reading。 。。。more
Janilyn Kocher
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WWII continues to deliver untold stories。 Two sisters， both younger than 6， survived Aushwitz。 It's a moving story， one of endurance and poignancy。 Stories like this are a marvel and the fact they survived and were also reunited with their parents is nothing short of miraculous。 Thanks to Edelweiss and Astra Books for the advance copy。 WWII continues to deliver untold stories。 Two sisters， both younger than 6， survived Aushwitz。 It's a moving story， one of endurance and poignancy。 Stories like this are a marvel and the fact they survived and were also reunited with their parents is nothing short of miraculous。 Thanks to Edelweiss and Astra Books for the advance copy。 。。。more
Catherine
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Andra and Tatiana were two Italian sisters who were sent to Birkenau in April 1944 。 On arrival there they were tattooed with a number 76483 and 76484 on their wrists。 They were taught to always remember your name。From their memories of standing naked with their mother waiting for their heads to be shaved ， to the constant smell of burning。 Their memories are a remarkable testament to what happened in Birkenau。The book also covers their lives after liberation。 How for a long time they could not Andra and Tatiana were two Italian sisters who were sent to Birkenau in April 1944 。 On arrival there they were tattooed with a number 76483 and 76484 on their wrists。 They were taught to always remember your name。From their memories of standing naked with their mother waiting for their heads to be shaved ， to the constant smell of burning。 Their memories are a remarkable testament to what happened in Birkenau。The book also covers their lives after liberation。 How for a long time they could not talk about the time they spent in the camp。 To me this book gives enough detail of what happened during this horrific time without going into gory details。 This is a perfect memoir for younger people to understand history。Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an arc。 。。。more
Lorraine
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Always remember your name is a true account of Andra and Tatiana Bucci， who were aged 4 and 6 when they were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp along with 14 other members of their family。Separated on arrival and sent to the kinderblock， to this day they do not know why they survived the atrocities。 Their memories are quite sketchy about the time in Auschwitz， a blessing in disguise maybe， and I was horrified to read about their time after liberation when they were sent to a children's home in Always remember your name is a true account of Andra and Tatiana Bucci， who were aged 4 and 6 when they were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp along with 14 other members of their family。Separated on arrival and sent to the kinderblock， to this day they do not know why they survived the atrocities。 Their memories are quite sketchy about the time in Auschwitz， a blessing in disguise maybe， and I was horrified to read about their time after liberation when they were sent to a children's home in Prague。 It was very interesting to read about life after the holocaust and accounts like these need to be read so that history doesn't repeat itself ever again。Recommended reading for historians， especially those with interests in the holocaust and world war two。 。。。more
Lozzi Counsell
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A really good and informative read。 The book just focused on the wrong aspects for what I expected。 If you are looking for details of the sisters being reunited with family members after the war and information on how their lives developed afterward， this is the perfect read for you。 My interests were more towards the Josef Mengele experiments and what they went through in Auschwitz。 Unfortunately， that period of time had a lot of "we can't remember" and all they saw of the experiments were chil A really good and informative read。 The book just focused on the wrong aspects for what I expected。 If you are looking for details of the sisters being reunited with family members after the war and information on how their lives developed afterward， this is the perfect read for you。 My interests were more towards the Josef Mengele experiments and what they went through in Auschwitz。 Unfortunately， that period of time had a lot of "we can't remember" and all they saw of the experiments were children being picked to leave and not coming back。 I struggled a bit with the POV， as the book was written from the POV of BOTH sisters， so it was a lot of "we"， which wasn't an issue but then they'd still have to differentiate between themselves and so would use their names too， which I'd often mistake for them talking about another character temporarily。 Maybe it's because I've never read a book with two people as one narrator before that made it a bit jarring for me。 But it really provides a massive insight into how a lot of what went on was hushed immediately after the war， how adults who ended up in these camps often moved on and how people dealt with the grief of often not knowing if a relative was alive or dead and not being able to accept the ones confirmed dead。 。。。more
Cheri
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On March 28， 1944， Tatiana and her sister Andra， six and four years old respectively， were woken during the night， apprehended by German and Italian soldiers， and banished to Auschwitz， where virtually all children were put to death upon their arrival。 Their father was born in Fiume， which is where he met their mother who was Jewish， and although both she and the girls had converted to Catholicism in anticipation of growing antagonism against Jews， they had been exposed by someone。 The records s On March 28， 1944， Tatiana and her sister Andra， six and four years old respectively， were woken during the night， apprehended by German and Italian soldiers， and banished to Auschwitz， where virtually all children were put to death upon their arrival。 Their father was born in Fiume， which is where he met their mother who was Jewish， and although both she and the girls had converted to Catholicism in anticipation of growing antagonism against Jews， they had been exposed by someone。 The records show that 29 males， 53 females managed to make it through that day， and for the remaining 103， including their grandmother， and their aunt， that day would be their last。Their mother， who was separated from them in Auschwitz， managed to visit them often， instilling in them the need to remember their names， ’always remember your name，’ she would tell them each time she was able to visit。 She knew it was the key to any chance of being able to find them， once the war was over， providing they all survived。 Despite the statistics showing that children rarely lasted in Auschwitz for even a year， they survived。 This is their story。Reading these stories， even the fictional ones， are always gutting， but the personal aspect of this one， the ages of these young girls added another level of atrocity， despite knowing that they will survive。 So many others were lost， which made me think of those parents who survived， only to ultimately find that their children did not。 A neverending heartbreak。 But these sisters survived， as did their memories of this time in their life， and so their stories will live on。 And from their life story， others will know， and learn， hopefully。 Older now， they are able to share their stories， and share their personal truth of this time， teaching those who did not live through this time the truth of those years。 And so these stories will never be forgotten， and hopefully， never be repeated。 A story of evil against the power of a mother’s love and the bond of sisters。 Pub Date: 18 Jan 2022Many thanks for the ARC provided by Astra Publishing House / Astra House 。。。more
Bex
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It's not uncommon to read stories about the survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau， despite there having been very few people who made it out comparatively。 But what is uncommon is to feel as though you experienced the days afterwards with those people。 Imagine the suffering of the concentration camps and you can probably recreate an image of that in your mind， but of the after-effects， PTSD and subsequent struggles of each individual， unique only to them， in the years of their lives afterwards？ Not so It's not uncommon to read stories about the survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau， despite there having been very few people who made it out comparatively。 But what is uncommon is to feel as though you experienced the days afterwards with those people。 Imagine the suffering of the concentration camps and you can probably recreate an image of that in your mind， but of the after-effects， PTSD and subsequent struggles of each individual， unique only to them， in the years of their lives afterwards？ Not so easy to conjur a thought in your mind。This story is about two Italian sisters， only six and four years old when they reached Birkenau， who were determined to be more than the numbers tattooed on their wrists。 They talk us through the memories they have following their liberation and shed a new light on a tragic time。I really appreciated that this took a different direction to many of the stories like it。 It was a unique insight to share the impact on their lives thereafter， and actually it makes you realise that the trauma was much more than the concentration camp - they stole far more than those years of the prisoners lives， but instead changed or redirected the remainder of them too。 A valuable insight， bravely shared。Arc provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Estelle Howes
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Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book to read。 I enjoyed reading the story of sisters Andra and Tati。 It was an emotional read， but very interesting。 What I liked was that we also got the background of their family and how their parents met。 I'd recommend this book。 Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book to read。 I enjoyed reading the story of sisters Andra and Tati。 It was an emotional read， but very interesting。 What I liked was that we also got the background of their family and how their parents met。 I'd recommend this book。 。。。more
Lana
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Potresno svjedočenje dviju sestara o vremenu provedenom u logoru Birkenau i njihovom životu nakon rata， nakon što su pukom srećom izbjegle smrt u logoru。
Helen
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A book that needs to be read。 Powerful， honest and unsettling read。 Told at times in one voice and then at others as if in conservation between the two sisters。A testament to courage and resilience of the sisters but their mother and other family members as well。Memories of home， removal to the concentration camps and their daily life。 The end and repatriation to England and eventually reunited with family。Their lives unfold with marriage， children and grand children。 It is not till a later peri A book that needs to be read。 Powerful， honest and unsettling read。 Told at times in one voice and then at others as if in conservation between the two sisters。A testament to courage and resilience of the sisters but their mother and other family members as well。Memories of home， removal to the concentration camps and their daily life。 The end and repatriation to England and eventually reunited with family。Their lives unfold with marriage， children and grand children。 It is not till a later period the atrocities are accepted as what happened。Very powerful as it should be。 。。。more
Jeanniehay64
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This book is the story of two Italian sisters who along with other members of their family were transported to Auschwitz。 Only four members of the family survived and eventually the sisters returned home。 Their experiences followed them and the horrifying memories haunted them daily。 The impact of this time in history is unimaginable on many Jewish people。 We must never forget the horrors which occurred and the bravery of authors who share their personal painful experiences 。This book was more a This book is the story of two Italian sisters who along with other members of their family were transported to Auschwitz。 Only four members of the family survived and eventually the sisters returned home。 Their experiences followed them and the horrifying memories haunted them daily。 The impact of this time in history is unimaginable on many Jewish people。 We must never forget the horrors which occurred and the bravery of authors who share their personal painful experiences 。This book was more a personal account of events in contrast to others which I have read which are more story based。 Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this powerful book。 。。。more
Angela M
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Two Italian sisters， six and four years old， sent to Birkenau in April 1944 where number 76483 and 76484 were tattooed on their wrists。 They did not forget their names while at this extermination camp， where few survived， because their mother， also there told them : “Remember， your name is Liliana by Bucci。” Remember， your name is Andra Bucci。”After liberation， they had memories of “fear and terror”， of being cold， of “a constant smell of burning”， but they didn’t speak of that horrific time for Two Italian sisters， six and four years old， sent to Birkenau in April 1944 where number 76483 and 76484 were tattooed on their wrists。 They did not forget their names while at this extermination camp， where few survived， because their mother， also there told them : “Remember， your name is Liliana by Bucci。” Remember， your name is Andra Bucci。”After liberation， they had memories of “fear and terror”， of being cold， of “a constant smell of burning”， but they didn’t speak of that horrific time for decades not even to each other， not even with their mother。 Today， I am grateful that they are bear witness， teach younger generations， and in this moving， jointly told memoir they remind us that it is imperative to remember。I received an advanced copy of this book from Bonnier Books through NetGalley。 。。。more
Julia
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Always Remember Your Name by Andra and Tatiana Bucci， translated by Ann Goldstein is a powerful true account of the sisters’ survival as children in Auschwitz。Tatiana was born in 1937 and Andra in 1939 to Catholic Jewish parents in Italy。 They entered Auschwitz with their mother on April 4th 1944 and remained their until liberated by the Russian army on January 27th 1945。The sisters’ story is one of survival。 Separated from their mother on arrival， they lived in the kinderblock。 To this day they Always Remember Your Name by Andra and Tatiana Bucci， translated by Ann Goldstein is a powerful true account of the sisters’ survival as children in Auschwitz。Tatiana was born in 1937 and Andra in 1939 to Catholic Jewish parents in Italy。 They entered Auschwitz with their mother on April 4th 1944 and remained their until liberated by the Russian army on January 27th 1945。The sisters’ story is one of survival。 Separated from their mother on arrival， they lived in the kinderblock。 To this day they do not know why they were spared the fate of so many children who were sent to the gas chambers on arrival at Auschwitz。 They wondered if it was because the Nazis believed them to be twins。 “There on the ramp our fate was sealed。” It is impossible for us to imagine the horrors they faced but as young children do， they ‘normalised’ what they saw。 “Even the idea of ‘going out through the chimney’ seems normal to us。”Following Auschwitz the sisters spent time in an orphanage in Prague before entering Lingfield House near London in April 1946。 This was a home for Jewish children who had survived。 Here the sisters received kindness and home comforts for the first time in years。As with many Holocaust survivors， the sisters did not talk about their experiences until 1995。 They first re-visited Auschwitz in 1996。Having each other in Auschwitz helped their will to survive。 I loved the inclusion of photos so the reader can put faces to the names mentioned。 The sisters were as beautiful as they were brave。Theirs is a story that needs to be told in memory of the six million who no longer have a voice。 We must never forget them。Thank you Andra and Tatiana Bucci for telling your story。I received a free copy from the publishers via Net Galley。 A favourable review was not required。 All opinions are my own。 。。。more
LilyRose
，
Always Remember Your Name by Andra and Tatiana Bucci is a haunting and hopeful memoir。 In 1944， the two sisters were arrested with their mother， aunt and cousin and deported to Auschwitz。 Upon arrival they were separated from their mother but she reinforced the need to “always remember your name”。 That their identity couldn’t be taken from them too。 It was a message that not only gave the girls strength but helped them to be reunited after the war had ended。 Of the 230，000 children deported to A Always Remember Your Name by Andra and Tatiana Bucci is a haunting and hopeful memoir。 In 1944， the two sisters were arrested with their mother， aunt and cousin and deported to Auschwitz。 Upon arrival they were separated from their mother but she reinforced the need to “always remember your name”。 That their identity couldn’t be taken from them too。 It was a message that not only gave the girls strength but helped them to be reunited after the war had ended。 Of the 230，000 children deported to Auschwitz only a handful survived including Andra and Tatiana。 The memoir is told through their eyes as they were as children which makes their story even more powerful and disorienting as we the reader try to grasp how such a place can be endured and understood by a child。 It is also a book about their lives after the war how they were shaped by their experiences but also found the ability to move forward with hope， courage and understanding。 It is a remarkable journey。 The book beautifully explores the light and shade of the authors story as children who clasped hands in solidarity against darkness and who as adults with their own families now extend a hand to others so that history should never be repeated or forgotten。 4。5 stars ⭐️Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback。 。。。more
=^。^= Janet
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Publication date: January 20， 2022 （English edition）Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book。 This in no way affects my review， all opinions are my own。From the publisher， as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews， I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸。On 28 March 1944， six-year-old Tati and her four-year-old sister Andra were roused from their sleep and arrested。 Along with their mother， Publication date: January 20， 2022 （English edition）Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book。 This in no way affects my review， all opinions are my own。From the publisher， as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews， I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸。On 28 March 1944， six-year-old Tati and her four-year-old sister Andra were roused from their sleep and arrested。 Along with their mother， Mira， their aunt， and cousin Sergio， they were deported to Auschwitz。Over 230，000 children were deported to the camp， where Josef Mengele， the Angel of Death， performed deadly experiments on them。 Only a few dozen children survived， Tati and Andra among them。Tati， Andra， and Sergio were separated from their mothers upon arrival。 But Mira was determined to keep track of her girls。 After being tattooed with their inmate numbers， she made them memorize her number and told them to 'always remember your name。 In keeping this promise to their mother， the sisters were able to be reunited with their parents when the Second World War ended。An unforgettable narrative of the power of sisterhood in the most extreme circumstances， and of how a mother's love can overcome the most impossible odds， the Bucci sisters' memoir is a timely reminder that separating families is an inexcusable evil。This is a short but searing story of a horror that no current-day child or millennial could survive！ It is well written and a potent reminder of something that should never happen again！ I will recommend this book to friends， family， patrons， book clubs， and people reading books in the park as we do … I have had some of my best conversations about books down by the Thames！ 。。。more
Karen R。
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This is an exceptionally well written memoir about the Holocaust， specifically the horrors inflicted upon twins。 Often singled out by Josef Mengele， accounts from twins are rare， because not many made it out。
Tiffany
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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a DRC of this book。It is a common belief that there were no children in Auschwitz， outside of the family camps that briefly existed and the twins that were forced to participate in medical experiments。 This was what I believed， as well。 Children weren't allowed to exist within the death camp。 This memoir takes that belief and disproves it。This memoir is unlike just about any other Holocaust memoir I've ever read。 It is the story of two sisters who， wi Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a DRC of this book。It is a common belief that there were no children in Auschwitz， outside of the family camps that briefly existed and the twins that were forced to participate in medical experiments。 This was what I believed， as well。 Children weren't allowed to exist within the death camp。 This memoir takes that belief and disproves it。This memoir is unlike just about any other Holocaust memoir I've ever read。 It is the story of two sisters who， with their mother and extended family， were deported to Auschwitz from Italy at a very young age。 Instead of being sent to the gas chambers like the other children， the two sisters were selected to live and entered the camp （along with their mother， aunt， and her young son）。 The girls lived in the Kinderblock， the barracks for children from which Mengele and other doctors chose their test subjects。 The girls managed to survive to liberation， and were then sent to a string of orphanages and homes for refugee children。 Throughout it all， they remembered their birth names because of the secret visits their mother made to them in Auschwitz。The sisters were very young at the time of their deportation， and so they recount their memories collectively。 Their memories are often unclear。 For example， the sisters don't remember why they weren't killed upon arrival in Auschwitz， but believe their mother must have said something to the Nazis to spare them （perhaps that the girls were half-Catholic on their father's side）。 The memoir is also told collectively， using the third-person plural。 It gave the memoir a feeling of listening to them telling their story， rather than reading it。 Likewise， it is very short （more like a transcribed talk rather than a written book）。Overall， this is an interesting addition to Holocaust memoirs that disproves a common misconception and adds something new to the existing literature。 。。。more
iva°
，
s obzirom da su bile stvarno male djevojčice kad su bile odvedene u auschwitz （5 i 7 godina）， njihova ispovijest je narušena što zubom vremena， a što selektivnim pamćenjem/zaboravom。 nadala sam se detaljnijem uvidu u taj sramotni dio povijesti， ali to je izostalo。。。 jedva da je iznesena neka nova informacija。 vrijednost ove knjige jest kao osobno svjedočanstvo dviju sada odraslih žena/baka koje su， čudom， preživjele logor， više nego kao izvor informacija。
Sara Ruggeri
，
C'è poco da dire su questo libro。 Ennesima testimonianza che non va dimenticata， ma diffusa e ricordata il più possibile。 Un motivo in più per aprire gli occhi， ringraziare per ciò che abbiamo， e ascoltare chi purtroppo ha conosciuto la sofferenza e la morte da troppo vicino， anche in un'età eccessivamente giovane。 C'è poco da dire su questo libro。 Ennesima testimonianza che non va dimenticata， ma diffusa e ricordata il più possibile。 Un motivo in più per aprire gli occhi， ringraziare per ciò che abbiamo， e ascoltare chi purtroppo ha conosciuto la sofferenza e la morte da troppo vicino， anche in un'età eccessivamente giovane。 。。。more
Irene
，