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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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An Incredible Journey!

Without a doubt, Sarah's Key is the best book I have listened to or read in many many years. Readers are swept back into France of 1942 from the very first words and at the end, you are left wishing for more. The reader, Polly Stone, does an excellent job of portraying each individual character and one is never confused as to which character is speaking. This book will haunt me - and you - for years to come. Exceptional!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Sarah's Key

A book to provoke thought and insight into the times of many years ago. I enjoyed the book and was glad to increase my memory of events that happen about the time I was born. It mades us determine to never again allow these events to happen to people and sit by never trying to stop them. It is a learning experience and brings us back to the possibility that we are responsible for injustice to others.

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

captivating story

I love this book. I have listened to it multiple times. I feel I have learned some history that I didn't know. the author draws you in.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Just Finished it!

I usually only listen to my audio books while I am driving to and from work. This book was an exception. I had to listen in bed at night, in the morning before I would get up. I just couldn't put it down. Now I am done and I already miss having this story to listen to. Very engaging and very touching story, exceptionally well written!

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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

Pent up emotions...buried beneath

The voice fluctuations used by the reader were very distinct. It helped to hear the different characters speak with their own voice. The details of each character rang consistent through the book.
Having visited Paris helped me to revisit in my minds eye seeing the city from a different perspective.great book, will look for more of this authors books.

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

Well constructed, moving story

I enjoyed this book - I felt for the characters and the climax was very moving. Narration was also very good. The only thing that wasn't ideal was that there are no breaks between sections - the two parallel storylines need separation when one section ends and another begins. I had to buy the kindle book so I could identify what was going on. It really detracted from the experience and seems like it should be an easy fix. Still the story was well worth listening to.

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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

Good story

I enjoyed reading this book. It was not as hard to read as other WWII stories. The story kept me wanting more, and I liked the ending.

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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

Never forget

This novel was a very well written story of France's participation in WWII Nazi horrors. I was not aware of this part of history. The narration is very ggod. We must never forget the Holocaust, and its book is gentle way of helping us grasp it.

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

Dark and Heartbreaking

The performance was well done. But it was just such a dark and sad story. I was waiting for something good to happen. There were brief moments of hope, but not enough. I do admit that it was a dark time in history and I did learn something new about France's involvement in WWII.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

What a wonderful story

What a great story, not that it wasn't heartbreaking, but it was still good. The narrator's voice was pleasant to listen to. I loved that she used several accents, German, French and American, during the reading. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was it seemed just a tad bit too long towards the end. I would still recommend though.

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