We Were the Lucky Ones

We Were the Lucky Ones follows the true story of the Kurc family, Polish Jews who become separated at the start of World War II. The narrative tracks five siblings and their parents as they navigate different paths to survival across multiple continents during the Holocaust. Author Georgia Hunter reconstructs her own family history through extensive research, interviews, and investigation into documents and records. The book moves between family members' perspectives as they face distinct challenges in locations including Poland, France, Italy, Brazil, and Siberia. The story demonstrates both the devastating impact of war on a single family and the resilience of human bonds across impossible distances. Through intimate personal details and historical context, this multigenerational saga examines themes of family loyalty, identity, and the drive to preserve one's heritage against overwhelming odds.

Readers emphasize the emotional impact of this true family story, with many noting they couldn't put it down. The book resonates particularly with those who have family connections to Holocaust survivors. What readers liked: - Clear writing style that handles heavy subject matter without becoming overwhelming - Multiple perspective structure that follows different family members - Historical accuracy and research depth - Author's personal connection as descendant of the family What readers disliked: - Large number of characters makes it difficult to keep track of relationships - Some found the writing style too detached - Timeline jumps create confusion - Several readers note the story starts slowly Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (132,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (9,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.8/5 Reader quote: "Unlike many Holocaust books, this one focuses on hope and survival rather than death and despair." - Amazon reviewer "The constant switching between characters and locations took away from the emotional connection." - Goodreads reviewer

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The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer The story follows a Hungarian-Jewish family's struggle for survival during the Holocaust through characters based on the author's relatives.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Four teenagers from different backgrounds intersect on their journey to board the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German military transport ship, during the final days of World War II.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel A female forger helps Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied France while keeping records of their true identities in an encoded book.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff The tale unfolds through multiple timelines as it reveals the story of female secret agents who disappeared during World War II and the woman who discovers their photographs years later.

🌟 The author, Georgia Hunter, discovered her family's Holocaust survival story at age 15 during a high school research project, but didn't begin writing the book until 15 years later. 📚 While classified as fiction, the book is based on over 100 interviews the author conducted with family members, and extensive research through archives, museums, and historical records. 🗺️ The Kurc family's journey spans five continents and six years, with family members finding refuge in locations including Siberian work camps, Brazilian rainforests, and the Italian countryside. ✍️ Hunter maintains a blog called "Survival is a Story," where she shares additional family documents, photographs, and research that didn't make it into the book. 🏆 The book was selected as Harper's Bazaar's #1 New Book to Read in 2017 and was named one of Penguin Random House's best books of the year.