Kirkus discovery Review

Five relatives narrate their harrowing World War II experiences in this family chronicle.

It could be said that rather than writing this affecting and effective book, Litvin sculpted it. Her breezy but vital narrative provides the shape and overall historical context for her family's story, but her relatives are the ones doing the real work. Using the first-person accounts of her parents, an aunt, an uncle and a friend of the family, the author offers a nuanced and multifaceted look at the plight of Jews in mid-20th century Eastern Europe.

From a small Angora farm in Satu-Mare, Romania, to the horrifying grounds of Auschwitz and finally, to a new life in America, the five distinct voices of Edith, Hilda, and Mendi Festinger, Nate Litvin and Kurt Meyers provide a powerful and intimate journey through one of mankind's darkest hours. Litvin does well not to mute her sources with an authoritative filter. The book's undeniable authenticity comes from the life events retold by each narrator--while most historical texts offer one individual's take, We Never Lost Hope presents five survivors working through their memories. Litvin augmented the book with photographs, news articles and other ephemera (telegrams, maps, etc.) that support the sense of intimacy and reality. Since some accounts can occasionally run long, it may have been helpful for Litvin to provide more editorial insight and direction. Still, the book is a soaring testament to the strength and adaptability of five remarkable people.

A wonderfully executed, powerful family chronicle. --Kirkus Discoveries 2/13/09

Don't avoid this book thinking it is the typical retelling of the horrors of the attempted elimination of the Jews. 

This story is told by a survivor from beginning to end. It had to have been hard to realize that anyone would hate a race of people so much that they would try to eliminate them, but Naomi's mother finally realizes that she must be strong and endure to win the race. This book is a fast read but one that relates facts as well as feelings of a young woman growing up. It is a totally different way of experiencing this time period through the eyes and mind of this young woman. It is a true love story as we watch her grow to a mature enduring love with her American husband.

If you love history, this is a well documented book that is a enlightened read. 

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We Never Lost Hope is wonderful! VERIFIED PURCHASE

I loved this book. It was especially nice to hear from so many different family members how life during the Holocaust was from their various view points. They didn't dwell upon their losses, but celebrated their love of life and love for each other. I have read numerous books about the Holocaust and rarely do they have such an upbeat attitude. I would recommend this to anyone interested the Holocaust and the psychology of survival during catastrophic situations. 

This true story written from the minds eye of members of a family that survived the Holocaust. They never lost hope, and lived through the horrors of the concentration camps, including Auschwitz where over 6,000,000 peopole were murdered in WWII. Naomi has documented in detail how her mother and her mother's family coped with the horrifying living situations, knowing that today could be their last day on this earth. Living through all of that and being able to come out the other side in itself is a sheer miracle. This is a riviting story of truth, love and hope. We all know about what happened, but this is a visual documentation and I applaud Naomi Litvin for having the courage to document her mother Edith's story. 

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Everyone should read this book! Verified Purchase

I want thank Ms Litvin for writing this book. Of all the Holocaust survival stories I have read, this is the most moving, written as it is in the actual words of the survivors. I'm glad this format was chosen, rather than the more usual biography or memoir ... it made it all so real. The Litvin family story was so interesting ... Nate's father came to USA (1906?) to escape persecution of Jews in his home country (Russia?), and his US born GI son, Nate, went to Europe as part of Operation Overlord to end WW2, met concentration camp survivor Edith, married her and brought his bride to America ... full circle. But will this persecution stuff ever end. Every one, all ages, should read this wonderful. heartbreaking, tragic and, yes, sometimes even happy, book.