Listen to a sample
My Real Name Is Hanna
- Author
- Tara Lynn Masih
- Narrator
- Suzanne Toren
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 15 September 2018
- Run Time
- 6 hours 32 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Inspired by real Holocaust events, this poignant historical novel is a powerful coming-of-age story.
Hanna Slivka is on the cusp of fourteen 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.
Critics Review
-
“Well written and highly recommended.”
Jewish Book Council
-
“Poetic and vivid.”
Foreword Reviews
-
“Unreservedly recommended, especially for middle school, high school, and community library YA fiction collections”
Midwest Book Review
-
“It is refreshing to find an original voice that delivers such a harrowing, yet inspiring message for young readers..in this highly readable, affecting novel.”
Historical Novels Review
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
“Offers seeds of compassion to young and experienced readers alike.”
Small Press Book Review
-
“A brilliantly rendered memorial to survivors of the Holocaust…A strong choice for young adult shelves.”
School Library Journal
-
“Toren’s narration makes the plight of these characters palpable…Toren skillfully conveys Hannah’s hope for an Allied victory and for building a new life.”
AudioFile
-
“A carefully researched, often moving narrative of one family’s struggle and survival.”
Kirkus Reviews
-
“Masih is to be commended for shining light on a little-known piece of Ukrainian history.”
Tilar J. Mazzeo, author of The Widow Clicquot
-
“A stirring story of survival, resilience, and love.”
Crystal Chan, author of All That I Can Fix
-
“A gripping story of courage and endurance in the face of Nazi terror.”
Diney Costelroe, author of The Girl with No Name
-
“Filled with breathtaking you-are-there historical detail, filigreed with touches of Jewish and Ukrainian folklore…a worthy addition to the canon of Holocaust literature for young readers.”
Helen Maryles Shankman, author of They Were Like Family to Me
-
“In bringing light to the caves of memory, Tara Masih gives us the redeeming power of storytelling in this extraordinary story.”
Bobbie Ann Mason, author of The Girl in the Blue Beret
-
“It’s said the Holocaust defies imagination. Tara L. Masih defies that notion. My Real Name is Hanna…is an unforgettable odyssey.”
Greg Dawson, author of Hiding in the Spotlight
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Tara Lynn Masih
- Narrator
- Suzanne Toren
- Duration
- 6 hours 32 minutes
- Release Date
- 15 September 2018
- ISBN
- 9781982573416
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Biographical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Religious fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women
Synopsis
Inspired by real Holocaust events, this poignant historical novel is a powerful coming-of-age story.Hanna Slivka is on the cusp of fourteen 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.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.