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Sarah's Key  By  cover art

Sarah's Key

By: Tatiana de Rosnay
Narrated by: Polly Stone
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Editorial reviews

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is the heart-breaking tale of 10-year-old Sarah Stravinsky, a French Jew, and her journey during the Holocaust in 1942. Paralleling her story is the account of American journalist Julia Jarmond, in the year 2002, who is living in France and assigned to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vél' d'Hiv', the French round-ups in which little Sarah and her family were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The two women have a tie that binds, as Julia discovers her French in-laws have owned the apartment that Sarah once lived in since her family was removed from it. As Julia desperately searches for Sarah, hoping she was one of the lucky few who escaped death at Auschwitz, she uncovers the unspeakable horror that Sarah endured in the very same apartment - a secret that has haunted her in-laws for 60 years.

If the superb simplicity of this saga isn't enough to draw you in, Polly Stone's flawless narration will. She gives each character a distinct voice (complete with accurate accent and pitch), which lends authenticity, as if the characters themselves have come alive within her. This novel, like most accounts of the Holocaust, is weighty, ridden with horrific details. Stone's tone is subtle, letting these details ring out and strike your heart. She's also a master at building suspense, and you'll find yourself so endeared by little Sarah, that you will be white-knuckled for her during her frightening journey.

The last portion of the novel is a bit drawn out, but this is forgivable, as the denouement is touching, and Sarah's struggle is one that will stick with you long after you've finished listening to it. (Colleen Oakley)

Publisher's summary

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

©2007 Tatiana de Rosnay (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Polly Stone's delivery of Sarah's story is riveting with its spare emotional power.” —AudioFile Magazine

“This is a remarkable historical novel, a book which brings to light a disturbing and deliberately hidden aspect of French behavior towards Jews during World War II. Like Sophie's Choice, it's a book that impresses itself upon one's heart and soul forever.” —Naomi Ragen, author of The Saturday Wife and The Covenant

Sarah's Key unlocks the star crossed, heart thumping story of an American journalist in Paris and the 60-year-old secret that could destroy her marriage. This book will stay on your mind long after it's back on the shelf.” —Risa Miller, author of Welcome to Heavenly Heights

What listeners say about Sarah's Key

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    5 out of 5 stars

Very good listen! great voice great story! ******

very good listen. author great as well as narrative. felt every emotion of each character.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Uneven Transitions

This story is a based-on-fact Holocaust story from the French perspective, and the story itself was lively, all encompassing and kept me hanging on for more details; however, I felt that the transitions from the historic story to the modern day were too abrupt. When listening, I often found it hard to identify the young girl's narration from the modern woman's narration. The narrator could have done a much better job of distinguishing between the two.

This being said, my book club read this book and the hard-copy book readers enjoyed the transitions. The listeners & the Kindle readers had trouble with them. Maybe a clearer chapter heading would have helped?

At any rate, I loved the story!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic book

Everyone should read this important book that does a great job of bringing the horrors of this time in history to life. I've never heard or read about what happened to the Jews in France. The French looked the other way, just as the average German person did....an important lesson for us all! I'm amazed that this piece of the war story is not more widely known!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful description of a true event

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I already have numerous times .. holds your attention

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sarah's Key?

Harrowing description of the events of 1942

What about Polly Stone’s performance did you like?

She brought the story alive

Any additional comments?

Thank you for bringing to light a part of history that is hidden

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not as expected

It was ok but didn't think it was as great as everyone made it out to be. The narrator did not fit the book, so maybe that had something to do with it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

Best story I have read about World War II. Compelling and thought provoking. We Americans know do little of what France endured.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this story

Sadness and joy found in these pages. One I would love to read again and a gain.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not what I thought

I was expecting a really cool story because I love World War II historical fiction, but for some reason I had trouble liking any of the characters (other than Sarah) including the main character. Some of the very obvious things to the reader were not obvious to her. The story frustrated me right through the ending.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting history, fair story.

I learned some history I didn't know, and that's good. I was very disappointed with the character development. This should have been a strong, memorable story, but it fell way short. I would have much preferred to see only Sarah's story told. The current day characters were shallow, boring, and added pretty much nothing to the book.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

HIstorical "chick-lit??"

I found the historical portion of this tale interesting, but the modern part is annoying. the writer seems very immature in style, the narrater's voice is too young and whiney, though that might be more a matter of the script.

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5 people found this helpful