My Real Name Is Hanna

By: Tara Lynn Masih

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Inspired by real Holocaust events, this poignant debut novel is a powerful coming-of-age story that will resonate with fans of The Book Thief and Between Shades of Gray.

Hanna Slivka is on the cusp of 14 when Hitler's army crosses the border into Soviet-occupied Ukraine. Soon, the Gestapo closes in, determined to make the shtetele she lives in "free of Jews". Until the German occupation, Hanna spent her time exploring Kwasova with her younger siblings, admiring the drawings of the handsome Leon Stadnick, and helping her neighbor dye decorative pysanky eggs. But now she, Leon, and their families are forced to flee and hide in the forest outside their shtetele - and then in the dark caves beneath the rolling meadows, rumored to harbor evil spirits.

Underground, they battle sickness and starvation, while the hunt continues above. When Hanna's father disappears, suddenly it's up to Hanna to find him - and to find a way to keep the rest of her family, and friends, alive.

Sparse, resonant, and lyrical, weaving in tales of Jewish and Ukrainian folklore, My Real Name Is Hanna celebrates the sustaining bonds of family, the beauty of a helping hand, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

©2018 Tara Lynn Masih (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

The human spirit is so inspiring

The story was so well written and well read that I could feel their suffering and joy. There was one part where I literally felt what Hanna felt as she was sliding away from the light and into comfort, close to death. As for the authors note after the story, I did not feel it was political. If you really listened to this story, you would understand how close to being desensitized to prejudices our society has come, we must not forget. We must always remember and be kind to one another . I have often wondered how something like the Holocaust could bloom, but I see it in the divisions in our society today. It’s been fueled politically and by indifference to one and other. If anything, this story should inspire people to love each other as humans, love life because it is so precious. Great book, great author! Thanks.

My Name is Hanna is a Very Good Story

Well told story of this family. Great Narration. Very interesting, concludes well. You feel like you are in the darkness of the cave with this family. Good to know what historically happened to ensure that this Racism never happens again. Great writing.

A wonderful story for whole family to listen to

When I first began listening to this book, I thought of exiting the story as it is clearly something of a childs book. The topic though is not a child story, but a story that will create deepening thoughts for a youngster who wants to learn about some very dark histories of this not so distant past. I imagine this as a book a family would enjoy listening to on a car trip or in a cabin when no TV is around. The narrator has a great story voice and together with the story, you are taken on a journey of one persons travel into the holocaust. Very educating and has really given me food for thought.

Awesome

This was a great book I can’t believe it was free with my prime membership. It was actually better than the last two books I got with a credit. I didn’t even finish those

Realistic

Events are realistic and although it's fiction, the author did a great amount of research to make it as real as possible.

Warm, humane and terrifying

The author’s sense-based prose sets the reader in the story — feeling equal parts affection for the characters and terror for what’s to come. I was so connected that during the descent (reader will know when she gets there) I actually gasped for breath.

The Holocaust

This Author captured the joy and horror of a family that survived the holocaust. Everything they had to endure is remarkably written to the point where it makes you feel like you was there with them. This world tries to claim this horrific event in history never happened. But it did. Let us never forget. well written and preformed.

Beautiful!!

I loved this book from beginning to end. Highly recommended for anyone 12 and up.

Tell Me a Story

A heart wrenching story about a Jewish family's struggle to stay alive during the Holocaust. Although fictional characters, the story is based on a real family and what they went through to stay alive. It was like listening to a Grandmother telling her story to her grandchildren . The epilogue was very informative.

To The Conservative Snowflakes Giving Low Ratings

I don’t normally believe in leaving criticism’s for previous readers rather than a review of an author’s amazing story, but as a Jewish woman with family who were Holocaust survivors, I felt it necessary to state that the author’s criticism of Donald Trump was not only warranted but completely tied in with Jewish history from which this book pulls its inspiration from. The rise of Hitler and Trump’s presidency share a lot of things in common. Aside from the fact that Trump pulled a lot of his own words, actions, and political tactics straight from Mein Kampf (he owns a copy), he has shown himself to be a dictator in his own right. He did exactly what Hitler did. During a time of economic downturn and massive civil unrest he found scapegoats. He caged them in concentration camps. Incited an uprising when he failed to achieve a second term. And continually worked to abolish the very foundations of democracy within this country. He has all the makings of a dictator. And the only reason we do not live under a dictatorship right now is because enough people turned up to say no. So to all the conservative snowflakes on this review page giving poor ratings simply because they didn’t like how Donald Trump was called out for what he is, a Gonif and Paskudnik, and therefore unveiled for what they are, Khnyoks and Prostaks, I say nem zich a vaneh, shmegegges! May you become a stranger in your own home. May your descendants live in shame of you.