The Sisters of Auschwitz

The True Story of Two Jewish Sisters’ Resistance in the Heart of Nazi Territory

By: Roxane van Iperen

Narrated by: Susan Hoffman

Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The unforgettable story of two unsung heroes of World War II: sisters Janny and Lien Brilleslijper who joined the Dutch Resistance, helped save dozen of lives, were captured by the Nazis, and ultimately survived the Holocaust.

Eight months after Germany’s invasion of Poland, the Nazis roll into The Netherlands, expanding their reign of brutality to the Dutch. But by the Winter of 1943, resistance is growing. Among those fighting their brutal Nazi occupiers are two Jewish sisters, Janny and Lien Brilleslijper from Amsterdam. Risking arrest and death, the sisters help save others, sheltering them in a clandestine safehouse in the woods they called “The High Nest”.

This secret refuge would become one of the most important Jewish safehouses in the country, serving as a hiding place and underground center for resistance partisans as well as artists condemned by Hitler. From The High Nest, an underground web of artists arises, giving hope and light to those living in terror in Holland as they begin to restore the dazzling prewar life of Amsterdam and The Hague.

When the house and its occupants are eventually betrayed, the most terrifying time of the sisters' lives begins. As Allied troops close in, the Brilleslijper family are rushed onto the last train to Auschwitz, along with Anne Frank and her family. The journey will bring Janny and Lien close to Anne and her older sister, Margot. The days ahead will test the sisters beyond human imagination as they are stripped of everything but their courage, their resilience, and their love for each other.

Based on meticulous research and unprecedented access to the Brilleslijpers’ personal archives of memoirs, Sisters of Auschwitz is a long-overdue homage to two young women’s heroism and moral bravery - and a reminder of the power each of us has to change the world.

©2021 Roxane van Iperen (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

excellent

loves it...kept me totally engaged the entire time. definitely recommend. a good book club book.

Great book

Great book and a great story. Glad to have heard it. Four more words required.

excellence in documentary

the live the author had for the life of this family, the care to followup and tell the readers what happened yo them

Compassion and courage in the midst of evil

It took me a while to get used to the abrupt and matter-of-fact style of writing. It felt like information overload in the beginning, but once we settled into the narration I didn't mind it because the story was so compelling. A book like this is both incredibly painful to read and necessary.

Gut wrenching stories that bring the book to life

This book kept me mesmerized for hours. Truly the best book I’ve read on the holocaust and WWII

Great for pronunciation

I started reading this book but I struggled with the pronunciation of the names and locations. This is a great rendition that helped me love the story without getting lost on how to say this or that. Much recommended.

A great and important book.

I was completely blown away by this incredible book. Such courage, such heroes. So much heartbreak and so much strength. Don’t miss it.

Compelling historical account

I was bombarded with dates and people in the beginning. I finally began to catch up and was completely engaged in the story. I don’t know how these sisters endured. The research for this book is really impressive. Had I not listened to this book I would not know about this astounding survival story.

Good story, but poor choppy narration

The story was very interesting. I listen to many stories during that time period and this one was very vivid. I felt their pain. Very sad.

Amazing story of resistance and resilience

These sisters were so brave, selfless, and persevered through some of the worst horrors humans have experienced at the hands of others in modern history. Historical facts sprinkled throughout so you see how their story fits into the larger WWII and Jewish persecution.