Book Review of
We Were the Lucky Ones
It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.
As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere.
An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.
Lynn's Review
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter is now on my list of favorite WWII historical fiction books.
This book is fiction, but it is based on the author’s real-life family. When I listened to an interview with the author and heard her talk about her family and the research that she did for this book, I knew I had to move it up my TBR list. I am so glad that I did.
Three generations are trying to survive the war in 1939 Poland. One escapes to a new continent hoping to survive and live a better life. One goes into exile. The others do their best to try to survive the horrors of WWII.
This book is about war, family, hope, and surviving difficult times. If you love WWII books, this is a must-read. It is an excellent read.