I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust by Livia Bitton-Jackson

his is the memoir of Elli Friedmann who was thirteen years old in March 1944 when the Nazis invaded Hungary. It describes, in intimate and excrutiating detail, how her world was shattered by their arrival. She tells what it was like to be suddenly forbidden to attend school, talk to neighbours, to forceably leave home and move to a ghetto, lose all privacy and almost starve. But worse was to come in Auschwitz concentration camp. She recounts what it was like to exist there as one of the few teenage inmates and the tiny but miraculous twists of fate that helped her survive against the odds. 

It is impossible to say you enjoyed a book such as this. This book is too bittersweet and heartbreaking to say you enjoyed it. I can say that it moved me.

Elli lived in Czechoslovakia in 1944,  along with her brother, mother and father, when Germany invaded their homeland. After having to leave school, part with valuables and wear yellow stars on their clothing they are sent to a ghetto. Shortly after they are sent to concentration camps and split up. The story tells all from the beginning when Germany first invades in 1944 until their liberation in April of 1945.

I have read several books about the Holocaust and books from survivors but this one is unique. Not often do you read a book about a survivor making it through concentration camps with her mother at her side. They go through many struggles and are moved from camp to camp yet they do it all together.

The authors detailing of events is remarkable. She brings you deeply into the camps and the atrocities the Jewish people went through. Though we will never know the pain and horror they felt, Bitton-Jackson brings us as close as I have ever read. Her writing is simple and straight forward and brings you straight into the events and doesn't let you out until the end.

I am amazed by her story of survival but even more moved by Elli's strength and perseverance. She overcame everything and still turned into an amazing, beautiful and strong woman. With a PhD even!

This is a very touching story. I will be reading the follow up books also

5 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust
And here is the link to the authors Amazon page. It lists all of her books and you can purchase them there:Livia Bitton Jackson