My Real Name Is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih

 It is heart-wrenching to see how one human being is capable of mistreating another human being. The wronged ones in order to survive need to keep their spirit alive. In this story, each person is allowed to keep one thing they value the most, and leave the rest behind. The spirit also comes through the story-telling, traditions, love for family and staying together.

Ukraine, 1941. Hanna lives with her family in a Jewish community in a small town of Kwasova. She doesn’t understand why some people from her village are disappearing as her parents try to protect her from knowing the evil. They don’t tell her about the enormous taxes being levied on Jews. “Or of the consequences of practicing” their religion.

When the actions get dramatic, removing Jews from their homes at nights, some get killed, the rest are taken to the camps. Hanna’s family is being warned, “Everyone is hungry now and a hungry man will do anything not to see his family starve.” Home is where family is. The forest becomes their new home.

Told from POV of fourteen-year-old Hanna, at the time she doesn’t understand “that some of those cattle cars are filled with many Polish prisoners heading to Siberian gulags.”

Interestingly portrayed place gives a good sense of community they live in. Filled with many dimensions including traditional food and customs. I value the richness of culture this story offers. Also, enjoyed the geographical description. “The name “Ukraine” means “borderland,” and our country’s borders keep changing.” And with that the parents help their children “understand each new law, even those that try to erase our Jewish heritage.”

Historical background is vividly presented, including details that give a good sense of the evil that is happening and of hardship. For example, how hard it was to get basic ingredients or food such as bread only because you were Jewish. The hunger they experience is intense.

Hanna helps her Christian neighbor in decorating eggs for Easter. In the process we learn the beautiful tradition of pysanky and who makes them – descendants of the Hutsuls in the Carpathian Mountains. Decorated eggs were being given away as talismans by Christians at Easter. This also brings a courageous character. A neighbor risking her life to help another human being.

The fear of being discovered when you’re hiding is very real. You eagerly want to find out if they survived this and many other ordeals.

Any war story is a sad story. This story vividly brings the struggle to stay alive. And with the touchingly beautiful storytelling, it makes us care deeply for those who fight to survive the evil.

This book, exquisitely written, is very valuable not only for YA, but readers of all ages.

Release date: April 2020

Publisher: Mandel Vilar Press