The real-life stories that shape Remember Me by Mario Escobar show the impacts of war it has on families through the life of Marco Alcalde.

The touching story of Marco Alcalde’s journey to Morelia, Mexico from Madrid, Spain alongside his two younger sisters, Ana and Isabel to escape the war in Spain, leaving his parents behind as it was safer for them to escape. Marco’s love for his family to protect and care for his sisters and reunite his family once again after the war makes this book strong because it shows how powerful family motivation can be even during a tough time like war.

I gave Remember Me four stars after reading the sad story of the Alcalde family’s journey to find each other. This book, while fiction, was based on events of real people’s lives, showing the true aspects of what some people during the Spanish Civil War had to deal with, as well as many of the other wars. The most frightening thing to read this was how real survivors truly went through this. The detail in this book when Marco, Ana, and Isabel were living on their own and relying on each other was heartbreaking and I couldn’t stop feeling anxious for them whenever something happened to them and their parents. For the whole book I was left wondering what would happen to them, hoping that they came out of this war safe and sound.

I found the short romance between Marco and Maria interesting but kind of unnecessary and wished that if she played an important role, she would have more appearances and interactions throughout the book.

All in all, I think this was well written and the detail put into this book as well as the research on the Spanish War was shocking to read. I never knew about the Spanish War but reading this has made me aware of what people truly went through during the war and all wars. It was something that should have been taught because of how crucial a part it played even if it was a civil war. This story was an important to read and I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 1937, at Mexico’s request and offer, nearly 500 children from Spain to Mexico to escape the war. Marco, Isabel and Ana Alcalde were three children who made that journey. Little did the people know that Spanish Civil War was just the beginning for these families and their children, as WWII was sitting on their doorstep. Heartbreaking and emotional, I have to thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was interested in reading Remember Me because I knew very little about the Spanish Civil War (beyond the basics learned in school some years ago). The author did a wonderful job at bringing history to life. The historical details are vividly evoked. The main characters, Marco, Isabel and Ana Alcalde, are well drawn. The story, though, was much darker than I anticipated (more than I am used to reading) and I found this book difficult to read for that reason.

I do not remember ever studying the civil war in Spain in the 1930s or the deportation of children during this time, so this book was an enlightening work of fiction. Around 460 children between the ages of four and fourteen were sent to Morelia, Mexico to escape the ravages of war. Remember Me by Mario Escobar is a work of fiction based on true stories from the Morelia children. The historical events woven into his story may be interpreted differently by historians, but all agree it was a sad and difficult time in Spain's history.

Remember Me is the story of The Alcalde family who lived in a poor section of Madrid. The father, Francisco, worked a small printing press. The mother, Ampaaro, was an actress. The three children, Marco, Isabel, and Ana, were sent to Mexico to avoid the perils of the war, but their treatment in Mexico was not as good as they had been led to believe. As you read the book, you will be reading the story as told by Marco. It is a translation and may not be the smoothest writing, but it is worth the read to learn about this part of history.

4.0 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Mario Escobar, Thomas Nels, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the third book that I have read by Mario Escobar. Since I have decided to take a break from WWII themed books, this book about the Spanish Civil War was very appealing to me. Most especially as I knew VERY little about what happened in Spain during this horrific time period. I also knew NOTHING about the children sent all over the world to keep them safe from the war. Unfortunately, these children (Los Niños de Morelia) who went to Morelia, Mexico did not that the same positive experience as the majority of British children who were evacuated did.

This is a book set during a civil war and with children being under-cared for by greedy caregivers. There is necessary violence to explain what occurred so that it never happens again. Mario Escobar writes in a style that is easy to absorb, understand, and read.

RECOMMEND!!! Not a light summer read, but worth learning about the time period!

This was the fictionalized story of a Spanish family caught up in the ravages of the Spanish Civil War. The parents were strong supporters of the communists, making themselves and their three children particular targets of the Nationalists. Even though the story, itself, was fiction, it was based on historical events and documents. It was so realistic that it caused me to research the history of the first and second republics of Spain, the monarchy and the dictatorship of Franco. A book interesting enough to cause me to research history is always a plus!

The first third of the book dealt with the war in Spain. The second third was the experience of almost 500 Spanish children evacuated from Spain to Morelia, Mexico. And the last third dealt with life in Spain following the takeover by Franco.

This was very enlightening and a book I can heartily recommend.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is written from the POV of a teen coming of age during the Spanish Civil War. His parents send him and his two sisters to Mexico to escape the violence and hunger of the war. The teen is going to make some mistakes of course, as all teens do, whether their parents are with them or not. There are some really beautifully-written passages as the teen tries to make sense of what is happening in the world.
I was a little nervous about reading this book after reading some of the other reviews saying there was graphic sexual abuse of a child, but I'm here to say that my edition did not have graphic langugage other than to say the priest was behind the child. That's about the least graphic way to phrase it so I didn't have an issue with that.

A very educational, heartfelt story! The main character is a remarkable boy who rose again and again through his trials to survive, and to help his sisters survive. This was not a part of history that I was well versed in and I learned a lot! The author did an extensive amount of research into the Spanish Civil War and it showed. This book was a little too dark for my tastes, and some shocking scenes left me feeling very uncomfortable. This was darker than his usual work but I enjoyed the story. 3.5 ⭐️ My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

I learned so much from Mario Escobar's latest historical fiction title, Remember Me, set during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. To me, any time I want to look up the details of an historical event based on a novel, I know the novel has impact--and this one certainly does. The trials and difficult situations are vivid and readers need to be prepared to experience strong emotion. Based on true stories of hundreds of children sent from Spain to Mexico to escape the war, the novel looks in from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy who is told to protect his two younger sisters when they face difficult travel to, and harsh conditions, in Mexico, Three years of hardship go by before the children go back to Spain to try to find their parents. The war and its aftermath bring new maturity to them, but will they reunite with their parents?

This is the first book that I have ever read set during the Spanish Civil War. While I did not fully understand all of the nuances between the different factions who were fighting, I could appreciate the way the war impacted the citizens of Spain. As with any war, there are painfully heart-breaking moments. However, I loved seeing the perseverance of Marco as he navigated so many hardships. He never gave up on his family and that kept him motivated throughout the war and in the years after.

History is written by victors as well as the victors have more interest in their culture and their stories. And even though Spain was not one of the Axis but Francisco Franco supported the Axis powers. Spain was on the other side of glory, and so not a lot has been said about the children of the Spanish revolutionaries. These kids were stuck between the rock and the hard place, having nothing to do with the politics of their parents or the Falangists, they had to bear the brunt of the worst kind of war - the Civil War. Their parents sent them wherever they could, including France, Russia, England and Mexico. "Remember Me" is based on true stories of the children who had to live in a Spanish-Mexican school in Morelia, Mexico, here we follow the adventure of three siblings from Madrid. Even though these kids had a little bit better food to eat, the overall situation was still pretty bad for them. They have to endure hunger, beating and even kidnapping. The author is doing a good job showing that Communism and Fascism are the two sides of the same coin, and that corruption is really within individuals. These kids had seen both brutality and kindness from both sides of the conflict. This is a great book that teaches a history lesson as well as a lesson in humanity.

This is my third Mario Escobar book and I have enjoyed all of them. His writing is excellent and his research is detailed and accurate. I haven’t read any books on the civil war in Spain so I feel like I learned a lot. This is a wonderful historical fiction.
I have read many WWII stories and combined with this one, the sacrifices and hardships the children and parents had to endure during those times of war and unrest is deplorable. As a high school student in the 1970’s it is so hard to believe that my history class did not cover these uprisings or WWII. I have learned more in the past few years reading my kindle than I did in high school.
I feel so fortunate and grateful for my life.
I want to thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest unbiased opinion. This is a 5-star review.

Remember Me by Mario Escobar is an amazing, beautifully written novel. It taught me a lot about the Spanish Civil War, a period of time about which I knew virtually nothing. Although it was a novel, based on true stories, it was so well told, it came alive on the pages and the characters seemed so real. I couldn’t put it down. The novel documented the horrors of war, especially on children, and the hope of the human heart and the love of family that prevailed. Based on this excellent work, I will be reading this author’s other books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was an interesting historical novel about the Spanish Civil War about which I knew nothing about. This follows one family from the beginning of the conflict to the aftermath. It mainly focuses on the three children of the family who escaped Spain to Mexico in the summer of 1937., the famous Children of Morelia.. Marco a young boy of 14 must look after his younger sisters Isabel and Ana Alcalde as they flee their home in Madrid by train, cart and boat. The mother and father remain behind to fight as Republicans. The characters are well developed and interesting. This was a fascinating story of little known Spanish and Mexican history.

Loyalty is the shortest path between two hearts

I have read other books by Mario Escobar, and his writing never disappoints. Remember Me is as rich in history and events as all his other books. I was caught up in the book from page one and it held me captive until the end.

I have never read a book about the Spanish Civil War before and knew nothing of the horrible human atrocities that happened to the Republicans during the fascist regime of Franco. The most horrific were those against the innocent children of the Republicans set to prisons and concentration camps.

The story is about a family named Alcalde. The parents managed to send their three children to Mexico before they were imprisoned. The Story starts right when the war starts, a large part is set in Mexico where the Alcalde children were sent to escape the violence in Spain at a school set up for the Spanish exiled children and the last part is when the children return to Spain to find their parents.

The story was interesting well written , researched and based on real events although the characters were fictional, they were representative of those living during that period in history. The events and the descriptions of such as well as the descriptions of the different countries was very descriptive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Mario Escobar, Thomas Nelson Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t put this book down!!! It grabbed a hold of me from the moment I started reading it and it was a journey. Very hard to put down!! Highly recommend this book!

I studied the Spanish Civil War as the build up to WW2 a long time ago at school. I'd heard of the Red children being rescued as a family member told me about them coming to Wales. Otherwise though I'd say it's not a well known thing in the UK even though it's such a huge part of the recent history of Europe.

Escobar has researched this so well, using real testimony from the children from the time that lived in this area and were taken to countries such as Mexico, alone without parents, for their safety.

As is perhaps obvious from the subject matter it is harrowing in places but beautifully done and profound lessons for our current global climate.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of Remember Me by Mario Escobar. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The description of this book caught my interest and I was not disappointed while reading it. While I have read many books set during WWII, I did not know anything about the Spanish Civil War prior to reading this novel, so I was shocked by the atrocities these children faced after leaving Spain. I was reminded a bit of other novels where children were sent overseas to escape war. The treatment of the children at the Spain-Mexico school and some of the other orphanages was horrifying. It reminds me of the stories from survivors of Residential Schools. As well, it was disturbing to me how it was so easy for those in charge to decide that these children no longer had parents and could put them in orphanages or send them to live with families. It reminded me a bit of stories I've read of the 60s Scoop.

I really enjoyed the theme throughout the novel of remember me, remember where you come from; I always enjoy books with themes tied to identity. Marco's retelling of memories of his family and willingness to protect his parents from the realities of their situation in Mexico demonstrated the fierce love of family that transcends time and distance.

I thought that the author did a great job of researching the novel and I loved how he talked about the writing of the book and his family connection to the story, as well as the history behind the different events portrayed in the novel. I actually skipped this part at the beginning, but then had to go back and read it because I had clearly missed something. The confusion was my fault though, not anything on the part of the author. However, there were a view parts of the novel that seemed a bit hard to believe (POSSIBLE SPOILER...) For instance, it seemed unlikely that Marco would have found his sisters after they were separated and taken and it seemed too easy for them to get money to travel back and forth overseas. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and was fascinated by the storyline.

I received a complementary copy of this book.

I picked this book because as an avid fan of historical fiction I love reading books that give me special points of view in history. I actually didn't know anything about the Spanish Civil War, and so this was an excellent choice for reading. This book I was able to finish fairly quickly due to its engaging content. The theme of the enduring love of family rings true and this is a great read for any historical fan reader out there!

Remember Me by Mario Escobar is an excellent historical fiction that is based on factual events that occurred during the time period before, during, and after the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

This story brings to light just a glimpse of the horrific events that enveloped the people of Spain, even those that did not even choose to play a part: the women and children and not just the citizens that were a part of the Republicans, had to go through was very heartbreaking and sobering. The separation of the children from their parents in hopes for a safer life overseas and in Mexico, which then not always happened, was also very difficult to read.

Such volatility and instability seemed to be far reaching during this time, and while I knew a lot about other countries' events during the 1930s leading up to the all-encompassing WWII, I knew less about the Spanish Civil War and the effects that it had on its people, the migrant children, and their outcomes after immigrating to Mexico was a complete blank slate to me. I learned so much while reading this novel.

I especially appreciated the Author's Note at the end of the book under the titled Clarifications from History to see what was true, what was adjusted to fit into the narrative, and a timeline of significant events during the period of the Second Spanish Republic and some of the political events that ensnared Mexico at this point in time.

A great historical fiction, in my view, is a book that I can relate to, characters that are realistic, factual events that I can then research and learn from, and a story that can resonate with me long after I finish the last page. This book truly did hit all of those marks. I have read several previous books from this author, and I knew from previous reads that this would also be an excellent novel. My predictions did not disappoint.

This book hits on so many fundamental elements: political instability, family, tragedy, love, loss, separation, uncertainty, and hope for a better future.

An excellent and unforgettable read. 5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.