The Forgotten Names is an inspiring, compelling, and unforgettable WWII story of sacrifice and heroism.

An unimaginable choice…

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, WWII (and 1992), Jewish, France

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary of The Forgotten Names:

Thanks #NetGalley @harpermusebooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheForgottenNames upon my request. All opinions are my own.

“You won’t get the children.”

Inspired by true events and real people, The Forgotten Names is the story of Jewish children who were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied France during WWII. The contemporary timeline shares the story of real-life law student, Valérie Portheret, as she attempts to track down these children from the list of 108 to hear their stories and provide them with any available birthright heritage from 1942. It took her twenty-five years.

My Thoughts:

“You won’t get the children.”

Just as I think I might be burned out on WWII histfic, I come across a stand-out read.

Saving the Innocent

Some of the most poignant and unforgettable WWII stories are the ones about saving innocent children. In The Forgotten Names, 108 are saved. One of the most compelling parts of the story is their rescue from Venissieux, an internment camp, where they were held.

Protestants, Catholics, and Jews often worked together to help the under served during this time, especially Jewish children. How did people with different beliefs come together to rescue children and save as many as possible? It’s a miracle in the darkness. Organizations like the Organization to Save the Children were formed at great risk to its members. Lyon, France seemed to be the center of this Resistance and was known especially for the number of children saved.

Sacrifice

Saving the innocent requires sacrifice on many levels. The most heartfelt and tragic sacrifice is made by parents who, with almost no certainty of seeing them again, relinquish their children to strangers in hopes that their lives will be spared. I often wonder what I would be capable of doing to save my children’s lives. The brave souls who hide, smuggle, and transport the children risk and at times sacrifice their own lives as they protect and keep secrets. The children exchange their sense of security and happy childhoods for survival. The sacrifice is staggering but inspirational.

Multiple Perspectives

Mario Escobar provides us with a well-researched, well-paced, and well-written multilayered story from multiple perspectives. At the beginning, I took notes to keep multiple characters and locations from the 1942 timeline straight in my mind. The author helps us see the story from the perspectives of the organizers of the Resistance, the caretakers responsible for the children’s safety and security, and from the children. We also have a perspective from the lawyer in 1992 as she tracks down the names. This is a complex and compelling dual timeline story and TBR worthy.

Content Consideration: WWII atrocities, separation of families

Recommending The Forgotten Names

I love untold stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the most difficult and unthinkable circumstances. I’m highly recommending The Forgotten Names for fans of well-written, well-researched, and compelling WWII historical fiction. Readers who appreciate stories that focus on saving the innocent will find this story riveting and memorable. It has secured a place on my best of 2024 list.

Related: Other books about saving Jewish children during WWII include The Last Train To London, Hidden Yellow Stars, and The Winter Orphans.

My Rating:  5  Stars

Meet the Author of The Forgotten Names, Mario Escobar

Mario Escobar has a master’s degree in modern history and has written numerous books and articles that delve into the depths of church history, the struggle of sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. Escobar, who makes his home in Madrid, Spain, is passionate about history and its mysteries.

http://www.marioescobar.es

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QOTD:

Does this WWII story pique your interest?

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