Inspired by a family who sought refuge in the gypsum caves of Ukraine during the Holocaust, My Name is Hanna is a timely, poignant, and lyrical novel about 14 year old Hanna Slivka, whose bravery, cleverness, and spirit is inspiring to read.

This is the story of a teenage girl named Hanna who lives in the Ukraine in the 1940s. The reader is able to follow how life changes after Hitler’s army crosses into the country. She and her siblings experience bullying and hatred. As things become “Jew-free,” raids increase, families disappear, and Hanna’s family goes into hiding. Facing starvation and death, they must learn to survive.

The author weaves Jewish and Ukranian folklore throughout the story, which is inspired by real events. Overall, this is a story of survival and strength. Characters are well written, and the author doesn’t go into overly gory descriptions, making this story appropriate for young readers, as well as adults.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

What a lovely read. Though the subject matter is sad, I found it to be a beautiful coming of age story. I found it to be extremely moving and a story (that based on true events) begs to be told.

I couldn't read this because the e formatting was broken and made it unreadable, I'm sorry. I did like the premise though!

My Real Name Is Hanna is a poignant tale of a family, their hope, and survival. This book is very close to the events that transpired to the Stermer family and other survivors. During the Holocaust, there was good, bad and evil and all of these elements are captured in this book as it happened. Masih has done a great deal of research and wrote this story as much close to reality as possible. The book is engaging and moving.

My feelings about the book -
Masih has kept a perfect balance and the book is haunting at times and it is also hopeful. The protagonist of the book Hanna is a smart and intelligent girl. Masih has also captured the culture of Ukrainians, Jewish and other communities in her book. This book depicts the sheltered mentality of humans, homophobic behavior of humans and also shows strong-willed, humane, altruistic aspects of human. While reading about the holocaust events from this book one can understand what humans are capable of.

The plot of the book -
This book is based on true events. Stermer Family, along with other five families stayed in a cave in Ukraine for 511 days during the Holocaust and were liberated by the Russian army. All 38 people lived in the pitch black cave, they used the small underground lake for drinking water. One member from each family would go out in search of food at night and throughout the day they stayed put in.

Hanna fled to the cabin in the woods with her family and stayed there until it was dangerous to be there. They moved again to a cave and stayed there until it was safe to move out.

Characters in the book -
The story is fictional but most of the characters are based on real people. Hanna is inspiring, optimistic and heartening. During the course of the book, she changed from being a kid to becoming a strong, intelligent adult with the same innocence. The character of Hanna's parents is strong-willed and protective. I loved the character of Yuri, who never comes in the story but drives the lives of people in hiding. Alla's character has been another lovable character. People like Alla give hope to humanity.

What I didn't like -
The book has covered almost all aspects of the World War II. This book is a must-read. There is nothing that I didn't like in this book.

Predictability -
Before reading the book I did not know about the Stermer family thus events in the book came as surprise to me when the family moved into the cave. Stermer family and the other survivors who lived with them in that cave have created a record of longest uninterrupted underground survival in recorded human history.

Narration -
The protagonist Hanna is narrating this story to her daughter. She realizes that we do no good to our children when we lie to them or hide the truth and thus, she is telling the tale of her and her family's survival. She suffered the pains and problems in her teens but can express them clearly since she is a grown-up.

Verdict -
A 100% 5-star read. This book deserves to be read by the mass. This is the best book of 2018 so far.

I think this book was written beautifully. Hanna's attention to detail and youthfulness came out in the novel. The had a strong, loveable voice that I could hear in the back of my head I read the book. The description in this novel was amazing. Little things were described with just one extra word, the flowers were yellow, and it somehow made the book more complete. It made Hanna feel like a fully fleshed out person living in a real world. It might seem like nothing in just one small example, but when many are strung together they paint an amazing picture. The author managed to hit the sweet spot with the description. It was just a bit more than I'm used to, but not enough to be boring or to take away from the story.

There wasn't much in the way of plot. It was a survival story about families and struggles and ties. I found it slow at some points for there wasn't much action. Still, I never completely lost interest in this novel, which was surprising as having it on my laptop meant I sometimes when a while without reading it and I wasn't carrying it around with me everywhere as I do with paper copies of books. This book always drew me back in.

The family feeling in the book was very present. I felt connected to all the characters and none of the relationships felt forced or unnatural. My hopes and desires were with them as I read. I was entirely captivated by all their dynamics and their necessity to stay together and I felt as sad as Hanna did when they all had to part ways.

I loved the aspect that is was Hanna telling tp story to her children. While knowing this from the beginning, I knew that Hanna had to live, but I still felt like she was in physical danger at times and was always concerned for those around her. It seemed a bit odd that it was told in the present tense, but it was an engaging choice as it was narrated in the first person.

Storytelling was a big aspect of this book. There was a bit where the adults were just telling stories to the children, and it was so interesting to see what they decided to tell. They talked about family mostly, and I loved how I could see what they valued and what they wanted their children to value when they could finally be free.

(This review will appear on my YouTube Channel on Sept 1st. It will be linked in Goodreads and embedded on BookAxe.)

MY REAL NAME IS HANNA
By Tara Lynn Masih

Thank you to Net Galley, Tara Lynn Masih, and Mandel Vilar Press for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review

This book is a true gem and gives a fresh perspective of what life was like being caught in the middle of Stalin and Hitler. These two tyrants were swallowing up Countries during the Holocaust. From other sources I have read that Hitler and Stalin were enemies and Hitler was very paranoid of Stalin. In Hanna's teen aged voice of innocence we hear what it was like to live between these two tyrants. In Hanna's voice these atrocities and crimes are easier to read. People fleeing from their homes and food shortages or being chased or killed.

This book sparkles with perserverence and reminds me of Viktor E. Frankl's classic ""Man's Search for Meaning in that they took everything away from him but they couldn't take their thoughts. As long as you could imagine and think it would keep you alive. In the dame way Hanna's family told stories instead of nourishment to stay alive in their underground caves. Your outlook can keep you alive. These peoples bravery is truly inspirational and what makes this story unique from other Holocaust stories.

This is a poignant story about the struggle to survive the Holocaust by a Jewish Ukrainian family, as narrated by Hanna Slivka, the teenage daughter of the family. Inspired by true events, this well written book has touched a chord so deep that Hanna's voice still lingers on.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Hanna and her ability to hope through adversity. This is a beautiful novel about a Jewish family and community members who band together in their fight to survive.

Beautifully written, great characters--great read.

My Real Name is Hanna is told from the perspective of Hanna, a 14 year old Jewish girl, and her her family, during WWII. Hanna’s family lives in Ukraine where their Ashkenazi ancestors have lived side by side with the people of Kwasova for thousands of years. Unlike other locales the Jewish people in Hanna’s town blend together as members of a community, for the most part.

As someone who has read a lot of WWII novels, I’ve never read one based on the experience of Jews in Ukraine. This was an interesting perspective of a young girl discovering herself and the world in a time of conflict. I found the contrast between perspective and comparison between the Nazis and Russians intriguing. It was a new perspective of a family who lived on the outskirts of conflict for a time.

Loosely based on real events - A FAMILY ACTUALLY LIVED IN A CAVE to escape the Nazis. This book best described as a well written, and very well researched YA. It is a page turning quick read, that can be finished in a couple of days.

Overall, the book Is very atmospheric - I could feel myself in the woods, in a cold dark cabin, in the mud, muck, and claustrophobia of an underground cave. Hanna’s connection with nature and the beauty of it was well described. It easy to identify with Hanna’s struggle with religion, joy in friendship, and bond with family,

Overall, I’d give the book 3.5 stars and would recommend for those who enjoy historical fiction based in WWII. It is not as dark or emotional as like books, but still worth picking up. Thank you @netgalley for the chance to review this ARC.

A beautifully emotional story of spirit, family and humanity. My Real Name is Hanna provides a different look at some of the horrific events of WWII.

Hanna's story is inspired by the real life story of a Jewish family. It is raw and honest and heartbreaking. Hanna is strong, bright and determined, and reading from her perspective drew me fully into the story. Although this is a story set in a time of cruelty and violence, it's also a story of love and finding light in the darkness. The author does a fantastic job of showing both sides with wonderful description and carefully developed characters.

Recommended for all historical fiction fans, even those who feel like they've 'read it all' in WWII fiction. It's worth meeting Hanna!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mandel Vilar Press and Tara Lynn Masih for an ARC of this novel.

First of all do not read this book unless you have a whole day free. You will not be putting this book down!

The story is narrated by a teenage girl named Hanna who lives in Ukraine during WW2. Hanna and her family are Jews and the novel tells the story of their lives from 1941 to 1945 when the Germans begin to invade and rid the village she and her family live in ‘free of Jews’. With rumours of death camps and Jews shot on sight whispered between the adults, Hanna’s Papa decided they have no choice but to flee their home and hide in the forest and then the caves near their village.

Hanna describes the confusion, heartbreak, longing, boredom, frustration, hunger and sheer terror of their seemingly never ending struggle so vividly that you feel you are there alongside her. You wonder with her how they can survive this, how anyone could, and despair that such evil exists to want to destroy others because of hate.

This poignant and beautiful story has to be read to truly understand the utter devastation of Hanna’s ordeal and incredible strength in her will to survive it.

I did also enjoy reading the Historical Note at the end of the book. It was so interesting to learn more about the real story that inspired this book and learn more about a time in our history that we should never forget or not learn from.

My only issue with this book was that it was formatted terribly which made it hard to read, especially at first. Not only did the words MATERIAL and COPYRIGHT appear ad hoc but words would split in two or sentences written in bold randomly and sentences would end unfinished.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review

One of my favorite lines from this book "It's ok to cry, Hanna....crying is a form of breathing"

How beautiful is that.

My Real Name is Hanna is based on the true story of a Jewish family during the Holocaust written from the eyes of an almost 14 year old girl. We do also hear from the adult Hanna as well to address some of the political history as well.

This is a must read for young adults. Its not one of those "lovely dovely books" where the main character has fallen head over heels for a bad boy and blah blah. This is a beautiful written book that will stay with the reader for many days after.

This is probably my favourite book of the month. Its loosely based on a true story too which always gets me. Its a historical fiction - WW2 era. Ive read so many WW2 novels and they all begin to mould into one. Not this one. Its told as a first hand account of a Jew living in Ukraine when the Germans took over from the Russians who took over from the Polish. Its raw and real but has YA undertones so basically anyone can enjoy it. The way its told is so real and powerful but written in a way that doesn't feel too intense. I never had to put down the book, walk away and come back (Like I did with the Lake House above).

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of My Real Name is Hannaa. This is an excellent read for young adults who gradually want to be introduced to the Holocaust. . It is well written and seemed to be well researched. It is based on a Jewish family, who escaped death in the Ukraine by hiding in the forest and in caves, in order to survive. I have probably read close to a hundred books on the Holocaust and found this one to be better suited for young adults rather than mature adult readers. . Again great introduction into this horrific period in our history. It would be a great middle school read so that teachers could explain and discuss what happened. during the time Hitler was in power. Thank you Mandel Vilar Press for the opportunity to read and review this book and thank you to Tana Lynn Marsh for writing a novel on this subject that is suited to young adults. We must continue to teach about the Holocaust.

It is important that we teach our youth about the past, because some parts should never be repeated. My Real Name is Hanna is a beautifully written middle grade read about a shameful time in our history. Sensitive to her audience, Masih spins a heartbreaking yet empowering tale about a Jewish family forced to flee their home in the Ukraine when Nazi Germany invaded. Told from the voice of preteen Hanna, this novel leads the reader through heartbreak, suspense, and pure cunning. Hanna is an ideal character to teach children of the horrendous events that happened during the Holocaust, as well as an ideal character to teach children the importance of bravery and family.

The Holocaust has always been a period in history that I find myself drawn to. I believe I was in the fourth grade when I read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and was in awe of the bravery the young girl displayed. My Real Name is Hanna is comparable to Number the Stars in both depiction of history as well as youth empowerment. The strength her family displayed during their travels, impossibly small hiding places, and extreme lengths of time without food are mind-boggling, and truly emphasized the sheer will Jewish families faced. This is a novel that will be making an appearance in my classroom as we study history as well as the power of the human will.

The formatting of this e-book is terrible. The "COPYRIGHT" or "MATERIAL" on every other page means that random words are bolded, and one page is even missing a line or two. It makes for awkward reading.

Start of the book is pretty slow. I don't know if it'll pick up or not because the formatting issues are enough to make me want to DNF it.

This was fantastic. A (fictional) story of one entire Ukrainian Jewish family's survival in the holocaust, based on a real family who did just that. The afterword inspired me to add a few more books to my to-read list, and I even just bought a copy of one of them (Hiding in the Spotlight) I haven't read much about Ukraine during WWII and I found it a fascinating account!

Anyone else ever experienced this with a book, where you read a story about a very important part of history, that is well written, nicely researched and it all works... except somehow it just doesn't work for you personally with any actual good reason?

Becuse that is what happens with me and this book!

It's clear right from the first page that the author put a lot of time and effort into this book, that she wanted to tell this fcitionaliced version of very real holocaust events the right why.

And normally I love when that happens!
Especially since a good amount of the books I read about real events that were fictionalized can easily either feel too unrealistic or be way to fact oriented. This book found a really good middle ground of telling an easy to read story and adding necessary facts I tom it without going overboard.
Once again, very well done!

The story also wasn't dragged out to fill 500 pages, it told the twirly about Jews in the Ukraine, the specific family it follows along, and does so without trying to do more.
Which sounds as if the book lacks something. It doesn't! It's just one of those books that doesn't try to stretch the story simply because the author could have added more for the shake of adding pages. Another thing I really appreciate when authors do that.

I didn't love Hanna, the main character, she felt very young and the actual writing style itself also wasn't the greatest in my option since it felt yet again very young, more middle grade than young adult.
Not my personal favorite but also not something that makes the book bad!

Still... something just didn't click with me and this book. It might be that I went into the book with [author: ruta sepetys] stories as comparison books in mind, since that was the marketing strategy. I think that is a bing factor why this book underperformed for me personally since sepetys way of me telling her world war stories just connected with me more. And somexpecting this emotional punch going into this book.. I was left disappointed since mashi doesn't really take her story into the emotional connection with the reader as sepetys does in he read books, in my option.

That is on eif the biggest issues I have when publishers promote books by stating "it's the next..." or "perfect for fans of..." or "the next..." becuse that gives a huge standard to live up to! Sure it might catch the eye of a few people but it can also back fire as it did in my case, by setting to high expectations right from the start and leaving the reader feeling as if something was missing from the book that the book didn't even really need to begin with. If that makes any sense at all.

Anyways... long rant short: this book wasn't the best for me personally, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't connect, I didn't really feel like Hanna was the type of character for me and while I liked a good amount of the book, it missed some details for me to make it great that I need in books to make me feel with and through the book.

That happens. It's okay.

I do think it's a nicely done second world war story, one that is almost unique alone becuse of its at setting and defiantly worth a try if you are interested.

A very important story, but as the theme suggests, it's a heavy read and I recommend not reading it when you're not in the mood for it (not like I did). It's beautifully written but its characters didn't manage to make their ways to my heart; while their story was heart-wrenching, I couldn't worry for them the way I should have. One thing's for sure, after every book revolving around the wars and their monstrosity, I feel a bit more grateful for having born into a world where I don't have to worry about these things. Although I'm not Jewish, I would never want to feel even just the tickle of war, if I can choose. It must be horrible. Just like for poor 14-year-old Hanna, who doesn't and can't even understand, why and how one human could to something so terrible to another human.

That's also beyond my own understanding.