Absolutely heartbreaking and incredible memoir! I was not at all aware of Mala Kacenberg or her story prior to listening to this one. If this wasn't a memoir, I'm not sure I would've believed the incredible odds Mala faced and survived in order to get through the terror of the Holocaust and the ways in which her cat, Malach, helped her to navigate those challenging times. What amazing strength and poise Mala exhibited during her time. And while there were times you could tell she struggled with the decisions she had to make, when it comes to survival, you do what you have to do. Honestly would recommend this to everyone who is looking to read a different type of Holocaust story of survival. Thank you to NG and the publisher for a copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed listening to Mala's Cat. I would definitely recommend the audiobook format, if accessible, because I think the narration really adds to Mala's story. This is definitely on my list of underrated 2022 releases!

I was attracted to this book by the cat theme, but instead, the journey of this young girl from Nazi-occupied Poland was the true thing that kept me going to the end. This true story illustrates a first-hand perspective on the events of WWII and gives great insight into the emotions involved. I was moved by her courage and determination. And, I think the story is one that should be read by everyone at this time, when current events are in many ways mirroring the things that Mala experienced in the 1940s. It shows that things are not always black or white, good or evil. Loved this book and have recommended it to my friends.

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a book that cannot be consumed in one session. The story is of a young girl, who in spite of all odds, survived the Holocaust that annihilated her entire family and the town in which she grew up. From the day that the Germans came door to door to round up the remaining Jews and butcher them, Mala and her cat, Malach, escaped in the woods. Anti-Semitism was and is rife in Poland. Yet, time after time, Mala, blonde and blue eyed, found kind people who helped her survive. Some of them helped because they thought she was someone else. Others helped from the goodness of their hearts, including when she was sent, as forced labour, into the heart of the enemy in Germany. She ended up there when she realized she could not long live on the run and she needed to assume a false identity and go somewhere that she could find shelter and food.

Her experiences, both in Poland and in Germany, are nothing less than amazing. Her intelligence and her courage are admirable. But she might not have survived had she not had her furry companion who often warned her of danger and stayed close. No matter where she went or how they were separated. Malach would reappear and remind Mala she was not alone. There were several times in the book when Mala ended up miles from where she was and I would worry that she had left the cat behind. Somehow Malach would pop up and they would go through the next struggle together.

At the end of the book, Mala suggests that with all the miraculous comings and goings, perhaps Malach was a guardian angel. I would not discount it. In fact, it was only once Mala found her future husband did Malach disappear, never to return again. Mala’s story of survival may have had a divine hand, or paw, but whatever the reason, I am thankful that she lived to tell her moving story. It is so moving that my suggestion is to approach it in chunks as the emotions it produces might be overwhelming. This should be required reading (or listening in the Audibook) for anyone who is interested in WWII and the Holocaust. Five purrs and two paws up.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* what an amazing read. Memoirs are always great reads but wow, plan on buying this book for sure!

When Mala Szoror was 12, Nazis invaded Poland, and she and her family were slowly stripped of their rights and put into a Jewish ghetto. Mala dared to remove her yellow star and sneak from the ghetto to search for food for her family, with Malach the cat accompanying her around the area. On her way back one day, Mala sees her family being rounded up for deportation, and her family begs her to stay away and remain free. Mala lives alone in the forest, with only Malach to keep her company. He helps save her on numerous occasions and always turns up again, even when Mala thought she had lost him. With Malach by her side, Mala manages to survive until the end of World War II.

Mala’s story is incredible; if I didn’t know this was a memoir, I would have thought it fiction. I am so glad she took the time to write down her story for us. Kristin Atherton did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. I definitely recommend this for people who like reading stories about World War II.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

Mala Szorer, a Jewish girl, grew up in quaint forested village in Poland. Her family had a good life until WWII began and the German invasion changed everything. She wasn't even 14 when she witnessed the killing of her older brother and her family by SS men.

Knowing she had to flee the area if she had any chance of surviving, Mala and her cat, Malach, who she truly believed was her guardian angel, fled to find safety. Mala was a strong, smart, blond blue-eyed girl and, the fact that she did not look Jewish worked to her advantage. With the help of some kind-hearted people along the way she was provided with occasional food and clothing and, eventually she able to pose as a Christian, fake her identity and even find work and shelter.

I loved listening to Mala's story and her nearly (6) year fight to survive. This book, originally published in 1995 as, Alone in the Forest, was a wonderful and important story. Unlike many other WWII, Holocaust stories, I did not find this one too dark and depressing despite the subject manner. Mala was a wonderful character, she was so determined with a nothing to lose kind of attitude that worked to her advantage. A beautiful story of survival despite the odds. The audio, narrated by Kristin Atherton, is highly recommended.

When I first noticed this audiobook, I totally skimmed over it, as I am not really (not at all) a cat person. But, fortuitously, I noticed a review on Instagram, took the moment to read it, and was really surprised to read that Mala's Cat, is Mala Kacenberg holocaust memoir. This is Mala's incredible story of survival. Mala encounters a cat, whom she named Malach, (or "angel"), because she truly believed Malach was sent (by G-D) to keep her safe. In fact,she never once saw Malach eat or drink, so, perhaps Malach really was sent by G-d to protect her. Although Malach would often disappear for days, Malach always returned, right up until the end of the war.

"Malach the cat becomes her family, her only respite from painful loneliness, her guide, and a reminder to stay hopeful even when faced with unfathomable darkness." (Amazon).

"Allowing listeners to see the war through a child's eyes, Mala's cat is a powerful and unique addition to the Holoscaust canon." (Amazon).

Mala Kacenberg's grandchildren have decided to have their grandmother's memoir re-released so that more people could read about their grandmother's incredible story of survival. Kristin Atherton does an excellent job giving Mala a voice, on the audiobook. Thank you #netgalley and @DreamscapeMedia for my copy of #malascat, in return for my honest review. #5stars.

#MalasCat by #malakacenberg is a WWII memoir by a polish jewish girl from a village named Tarnogrod. When the Nazis come to her town she is just twelve years old when they round up all the jews in the town and have them wear the gold star. She, being blond and blue eyed, often passing as a Polish Christian girl, bravely would remove her star and venture out to scavenge and beg for food blaming a mean stepmother for the need. She would then bring back food for her family. One day, while out a stray cat follows her and delays her from returning to the village. She hears from the villagers that everyone in the jewish ghetto was murdered. Now knowing she truly has nowhere to go she hides in the forest. This girl was so brave for her age and very smart. She knew to pretend of a mean stepmother (she used this imaginary person) to create pity for herself and many townsfolk believed her and were kind to her. She eventually overheard of girls going into slave labor in germany and decided to pretend to be a polish girl dragged into such servitude, by taking the identity of someone else. While there she managed again to hide her identity from the people she worked for and lived this way for many years - until the end of the war. She did work for a kind family and did meet some kind people in germany but still never forgot to be on guard at all times. She claims that the cat stayed with her until the war was over and then just mysteriously disappeared. She claimed that she never once saw the cat eat or drink and in the end attributed angel like status to the strange and companionable being. She credits god for keeping her safe. I credit it to her own miraculous bravery and intelligence and intuition. But in the end, she does acknowledge why me? Why should god have ME survive over anyone else? She ponders that maybe it was someone in her ancestry or in her future line that was special enough for her salvation. Again, if anything, I would think not god, but possibly her ancestors looking out for her, maybe even by implanting wisdom deep in her dna and she was just intuitive enough to learn and choose wisely due to that. Thank you @dreamscape_media !!

By its very nature and the time period in which this memoir is set, the atmosphere and overall feel begins darkly. If you have any idea of history, you understand that being Jewish under Nazi Regime guaranteed a target on your back, survival was a bleak prospect. It took faith, cunning and much luck to survive and this twelve year old girl takes on the task of providing for her family.

This is a behind the scenes, in the middle of the events bold look at the times.
I feared for her every step, only comforted by the fact that this memoir exists that the author did survive. However that did not prepare me for all she had to endure.

I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in history and for all teenagers to read or listen to.

“Hunted like a young animal separated from its flock, I felt desolate.”

Mala’s Cat by Mala Kacenberg is a beautifully written story about the dangers of true discrimination and oppression. The consequences and sufferings of when those in power deem a people as less than based on their religion or ethnicity. When true evil takes hold and it is acceptable for some people to no longer be seen as people, stripped of their freedom and ultimately their lives. Neighbor turned against neighbor, friend against friend, how quickly the Jews became public enemy number one for nothing more than their religion and origins. And the story of one young girl’s determination and courage to survive and find liberation.

The resolve the author shows as such a young child in the face of such awful events is remarkable. I truly admire her for how she pushes herself to risk her life to feed her family, to go where those weaker than her cannot. The atrocities she witnesses and describes brought me to tears and chilled me down to my bones.

Something about listening to her experience as a Jew during the Holocaust, listening to the way she tells it is different. I am grateful to her for sharing her story with us, I can only imagine how it must have felt to not only live and survive this time but to re-tell this point in her life. The strength it must have taken.

Kacenberg also brings to light so many details and incidents I had never learned about. (or maybe I did and I just don’t remember but it’s pretty awful) For example, I didn’t realize that keeping a diary or having paper and pen was so dangerous or that Jewish cemeteries were being desecrated and tombstones were used to pave roads. The end of the war didn’t even bring relief for her and her people as there was still so much hate towards the Jewish people. The bitter cruelty she and her people faced broke my heart. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I cried with and for the author. And I just kept coming back to the knowledge that this is a memoir, not a fantastical story but Mala’s actual life experience.

I think it’s easy to gloss over the things that were really going on at this time to these people. Slave labor, starvation, torture, and murder just to name a few. In the face of real horrors and oppression, everything else pales in comparison. When you can be ordered to come outside after curfew by an SS soldier and then shot by that same soldier for being outside after curfew it really puts things in perspective and forces you to reflect on your own life. It also (scarily) brings to light some similarities to that time as well as current events.

“For what normal person could absorb what was happening then?”

The relationship with Mala and her cat is so endearing and a much needed bright spot in the story as I’m sure it was a bright part in her life. As a lover of cats and believer that they are truly special, I definitely want to believe that she is Mala’s guardian.

I would love to get to know this author and ask more in depth questions about her life if she felt comfortable to discuss these events again but of course I understand not wanting to relive these events again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for this Arc audio!

This harrowing account of a young, Jewish Polish girl who evaded capture by Nazi forces in WWII is divided up into 5 books. Through several trials and hardships, Mala perseveres with the aid of a small cat, the kindness of strangers, and a good head on her shoulders. After the war is over, she tries to pick up the pieces of her orphaned life. A suspenseful, heart-wrenching biography. A valuable read and a reminder that we should never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust.