This very short book is the story of the author’s parents and their decision to flee Communist Hungary after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. It’s a part of history I’ve never read about and that alone made the book something I was eager to read.

The author’s parents, Kati and Adolf, survived the Holocaust – with Kati losing her parents and four siblings at Auschwitz while Adolf survived the camps. The fear that must have instilled in them, the fear of both going against the ruling government and the fear of not going against the ruling government, must have been almost paralyzing. But when their friends started to slip away from Hungary, they took courage from it and decided to go. But there was also fear there, in that the people left behind were always watched more closely by the government and police.

Fear is the driving factor of their decision to escape. Even in their first group to attempt an escape, someone asks whether the farmer letting them go through his land is sympathetic to their goals or just fond of money. It’s a stark reminder that, at times like this, there really is no in-between.

As a reader, as a viewer of this family’s story, you can’t help but question what you would do. Could you flee? Would you stay? Could you be like the guides and risk your life so that other’s can get away? What would make a guide do that? Could you give up your family and confront fears of the unknown? Would you be able to start life over with nothing? How did they do it?

This is a simple and powerful story of family fighting to make a better life for themselves, no matter the risk. I’ve never read a personal account of Communist Hungary and this was an excellent look at the basics of this part of world history and the people who endured and survived it.

I'm not sure Choices is the best title for this story. Yes the "characters" did have life altering choices to make but it seems like the title is just not enough. These "characters" are real life people. This is a harrowing story of their life struggle to basin freedom for their family. It was beautifully written and it wasn't until the end where the photos are that I realized this was not fiction.

The story is very inspirational and the strength shown by these people to free themselves from Communist Hungary is awesome.

So, my little booklings, if you are in need of an inspirational story this is a good choice!

It took me a while to finally get to this book (having a four-month-old is a challenge!) but I'm so glad I finally got to sit down with it. First of all, it's about the Hungarian Revulution, so I was psyched to grab a copy from NetGalley to review because I haven't read much at all about that event in history and I was very curious. This book is written for a younger audience, but it flows really well, which made it easy to read as an adult, and I was very interested in the subject matter. I can't believe that this is based on a true story! Much less, the author's own family history! WOW. That's all I'm going to say. They go through so much and it is truly incredible to witness.

I'm always looking for great historical fiction and nonfiction to read. And the World War II/Holocaust era is one of my favorites to read about. So it was a pleasant surprise when I stumbled across this true story.

The time is different, but the situation is very similar. Just because the Holocaust was over doesn't mean that Jewish families were suddenly safe. When Russia invaded Hungary in 1956, many feared that it was starting all over again. So families made the decision to flee the country, leaving behind everything they knew and loved.

This is the remarkable tale of the journey faced by the author's parents. It's a great read for young adults, providing names and faces to historical facts making the story come alive. And it's quick and easy to read, guaranteed to keep the attention of younger readers.

This is the true story of four brave people who made it to freedom from Hungary to Austria in 1956, the year of the Hungarian Revolution! Over 200,000 persons crossed the border from Hungary to other countries that year!
Kati, Adolf, and their two children, Judit and Gyorgy, lived in one room of a three room apartment, in true Communist fashion, with two other families.
They wanted their young children to have a better future, even though they faced imprisonment or torture if they were caught escaping from Hungary!
Kati, Adolf and their children try to escape twice, getting caught once and getting away, and successfully getting across the border the second time.
Kati is afraid but determined as, she was the only person in her family to escape the Holocaust alive!
You will have to read for yourself how they survive, who helps them and what country eventually accepts them!

Choices

The True Story of One Family’s Daring Escape to Freedom



by J.E. Laufer

Little Egg Publishing Company

Pub Date 15 May 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Choices through Little Egg Publishing Company and Netgalley:

The authors family escaped Budapest, Hungary after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. At the age of two J.E Laufer fled Budapest with her family. Up until there escape the family faces danger, and J.E's Mother fears it is the start of another Holocaust. They live in a crowded apartment with another family. One day her Father goes back to their cousins, to retrieve the blanket she left behind but the apartment has been ransacked. Kati soon realizes it is time to flee, because they are going to be watched more closely with the dissapearance of their cousins.

They tell everyone they are going to visit a cousin on the Austrian border for a few days. The children are given Sedatives so they don't have outbursts, meaning the parents would have to carry them.

The family spent weeks traveling from one strange city to another until they were finally sent to Vancouver Canada.

I give Choices five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.