We Share the Same Sky

A Memoir of Memory & Migration

By: Rachael Cerrotti

Narrated by: Rachael Cerrotti

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Apple Best Book of the Month

In 2009, Rachael Cerrotti, a college student pursuing a career in photojournalism, asked her grandmother, Hana, if she could record her story. Rachael knew that her grandmother was a Holocaust survivor and the only one in her family alive at the end of the war. Rachael also knew that she survived because of the kindness of strangers. It wasn’t a secret. Hana spoke about her history publicly and regularly. But Rachael wanted to document it as only a granddaughter could. So, that’s what they did: Hana talked, and Rachael wrote.

Upon Hana’s passing in 2010, Rachael discovered an incredible archive of her life. There were preserved albums and hundreds of photographs dating back to the 1920s. There were letters waiting to be translated, journals, diaries, deportation and immigration papers as well as creative writings from various stages of Hana’s life.

Rachael digitized and organized it all, plucking it from the past and placing it into her present. Then, she began retracing her grandmother’s story, following her through Central Europe, Scandinavia, and across the United States. She tracked down the descendants of those who helped save her grandmother’s life during the war. Rachael went in pursuit of her grandmother’s memory to explore how the retelling of family stories becomes the history itself.

We Share the Same Sky weaves together the stories of these two young women - Hana as a refugee who remains one step ahead of the Nazis at every turn, and Rachael, whose insatiable curiosity to touch the past guides her into the lives of countless strangers, bringing her love and tragic loss. Throughout the course of her 20s, Hana’s history becomes a guidebook for Rachael in how to live a life empowered by grief.

©2021 by Rachael Cerrotti (P)2021 by Blackstone Publishing

Very Interesting Perspective and Story

I found this story right after I finished Julie Lindahl's novel, The Pendulum. Listening to these two back-to-back is highly recommended.

We Share the Same Sky is intriguing and unique. I've never heard anything quite like it. There were times where I felt completely immersed in the story and times I completely zoned out and had no idea what had just been said.

Overall, definitely recommend.

It was interesting

I enjoyed it enough to listen to the whole thing. It was interesting, her grandmothers story and even her own love story were intriguing. I guess the reason why I give it 4 out of 5 stars is because she spends some time talking about her own politics as truth so it gets kind of annoying for people who don’t align politically. For the performance I gave it a 4 although I could have easily given it a 3. She was very dull. Only one tone throughout the entire book. No emotion which is odd since it’s her own story. And I give the whole book 4 stars because it wasn’t my favorite and I won’t ever repeat it but I can see myself bringing it up in conversation and recommending in certain cases.

Profound

Remarkable story of walking in an ancestors footsteps. Even though my ancestors were not holocaust survivors they were in their own right survivors of their times and I would love to walk in their footsteps. Excellent book!!!

Politics ruined it

Had I known the authors misguided political leanings, I would have never purchased the book. Her political ideology ruined the book for me.

Bad language

I would love to know the rest of this story, but I will not be bombarded with the F word.
To the author: the word is unnecessary to the story.
To Audible: please put something in the description of your books to indicate bad language. I’m tired of using a credit only to learn I have wasted it.