Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Sarah's Key  By  cover art

Sarah's Key

By: Tatiana de Rosnay
Narrated by: Polly Stone
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,091
  • 4 Stars
    1,148
  • 3 Stars
    474
  • 2 Stars
    132
  • 1 Stars
    58
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,731
  • 4 Stars
    722
  • 3 Stars
    264
  • 2 Stars
    62
  • 1 Stars
    40
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,680
  • 4 Stars
    721
  • 3 Stars
    302
  • 2 Stars
    94
  • 1 Stars
    39

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Captivating story

It's difficult to stop listening because the story is a mix of action, fascinating and, for me, new history. The events in 1942 sent me to the internet to find out more. What happened is devastating. And it takes a self-centered person like Julia to discover the story and make others care. That said, Julia is a bit difficult to take, especially the patronizing American attitude toward European culture. I would absolutely recommend this book and can't wait to see the movie.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Listened to it a second time !

Loved the book so much I listened again! Especially liked the point of view of then vs now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Amazing!

The depth of this story is amazing! Very hard to put down. I will definitely look for more books by this author. Also, loved the narrator--sounds like Diane Lane!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Moving

Amazing book, read by an amazing vocal actress. I couldn't wait to sneak even 5 minutes here and there to listen. This book should be on everyone's "Don't Miss" list.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

My son and I won't ever forget this book!

This book was listened to as my son and I traveled to and from baseball practice every other day for an hour trip there and another hour trip home. We could not stop listening to this book. My son (who hates to read) would beg to go on a trip just to continue listening to this book. I am always going to treasure this book since it is one that my son and I created many memories while listening to the amazing plot line.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

The movie is better!

Where does Sarah's Key rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Down the bottom of the list :(

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Underwhelmed. Really underwhelmed.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator was fine, it was the writing style that was so annoying. Polly Stone is very good at the accents and inflections.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Everything about the first half of the story that related to the child and her circumstances. Horrific to think that the round up and distribution of the Jews happened so recently in our history and even more horrific to think that the 'story' could be based on an actual event..

Any additional comments?

Great story, good narration, but very annoying writing style - I just want to poke the author in the eye!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Narration was too slow

I sped up the narrator’s voice because I was annoyed- but I got used to the faster speed.
Great story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Lest We Forget

This is a great story of an oft-overlooked event in Paris history. The author does a skillful job of weaving the past and present increasingly closer to one another. The last hour feels a little predictable, but it is worth it. Great job by the reader!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

This is a must read!

Any additional comments?

I learned about the Paris Roundup. The plot was so clever. I felt it could have all been true. I could not turn it off.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

great book

I seldom read books but my sister-in-law, Marielou, encouraged me to read this. Her ancestors were part of the groups who hid Jewish people during the war.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!