I like to read stories that are set in the WWII period, so when I saw this one I had to read it. It is my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
Narrated across two timelines, this true story is both heart-wrenching and engrossing. It skillfully captures our attention and compels us to read on. The narrative transports us to a time when Klaus Barbie, the infamous German officer, tyrannically controlled Lyon, France, and resorted to torture without hesitation. The graphic scenes are vivid and impactful. Naturally, this is not an easy read; the persecution of the Jewish community and the wrenching separation of children from their parents to save them is profoundly moving.
While the dialogue is fictionalized and the chronology might occasionally seem disjointed, the characters are based on real individuals, and the events are thoroughly documented. For those who are not fans of non-linear storytelling, the occasional shifts do not disrupt the narrative's rhythm. The chapters are concise, and the storytelling is dynamic. "The Forgotten Names" is eloquently composed and executed.
I extend my gratitude to Harper Muse for providing this digital ARC through Netgalley.

1992: Valerie Portheret is working on her thesis and intends to write about “The Butcher of Lyon” Klaus Barbie, who was head of the Gestapo in Vichy, France during their occupation in WWII. Though she knows, his story is morbid and filled with terror and worth remembering if only to insure it never repeats itself, she finds herself drawn the stories of 108 innocent Jewish children who were saved from deportation to Germany one fateful night instead. These children were all given new names and identities and in a matter of hours saved from certain death in concentration camps. Across twenty-five years, one by one, Valerie finds the children to hear their stories, and in some cases inform them of their true identities.

Told in a series of flashbacks to the French resistance members who helped save these children and Klaus Barbie’s own memories as he hunted them across France, we learn about the dangers these men and women encountered to save innocent lives. The details of Barbie’s horrendous acts are hard to hear, but as this story is based on truth, it it’s important to listen. Escobar obviously took great care in his research for this novel, and after several chapters I finally had a handle on the many characters he includes. I’m unsure if it’s because of translation, or if he simply likes to jump right into a story, but I felt there could have been a bit more background on the resistance members to help keep them straight. Once again Saskia Maarleveld does an outstanding job narrating; I could listen to her voice all day.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, and author Mario Escobar for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Forgotten Names is out now! All opinions are my own.

Everything Mario Escobar writes, I buy. He’s a remarkable author and a gem for the historical fiction genre. I loved this newest book for its profound wisdom, plethora of information, and format (short chapters, multiple POV, dual timeline). I immediately started annotating and never stopped. Additionally, his ability to describe the pain and agony of mothers surrendering their children is almost unmatched.

All that being said, I do think it’s important to note some drawbacks. For one, the writing is often dry and stilted, reading like a thesis more than a novel. Furthermore, while I’m all for multiple POVs, there were a bit too many, which could easily lead to confusion and a lack of connection to the characters. For the most part, they all end up connecting, but some of them felt rather superfluous despite their beautiful stories. Finally, as the book went on, there were often entire paragraphs in which every sentence is just restating the one before it in another way. So though this book is worth reading, these detractors might mean it doesn’t resonate with the masses.

Truly, this novel must have been an incredible undertaking, and I’m so glad to have read it.

For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is a historical fiction story of a woman who is trying to find the original names of Jewish Children in France who were hidden from the Nazis. Mr. Escobar is a historian, a published best-selling author, a writer, and a director of an NGO.

Valérie Portheret, a French law student, is writing her thesis on the notorious Nazi, Klaus Barbie (the Butcher of Lyon). During her research, Valérie finds a list of 108 names. Investigating further she finds that those are names of Jewish children who smuggled from under the nose of the Nazi occupying regime, giving them new names and hiding them in plain sight.

Valérie takes on a new mission, to find these kids, if they’re still alive, and gift them their old name. As a historian, she also wants to hear their stories.

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar tells two true stories, that of the operation to save 108 Jewish children during World War II, and that of a French student researching the operation in 1992. I have read several books, fiction, and non-fiction on this subject. Several of the village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, whose residents banded together to save as many of their countrymen as they could.

The Night of Venissieux, the efforts of about 500 French citizens to save 100 or so Jewish children from deportation to Lyon is now well documented. The senior Catholic clergy in Lyon, Archbishop Pierre-Marie Gerlier, supported this effort which was headed by Father Alexandre Glasberg. Mr. Glasberg was posthumously awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in recognition of his work saving hundreds of Jews in Vichy France during World War II.

Mr. Escobar took an inspiring story and wrote a powerful book about it. He looks evil in the eye, and what makes good people stand up to it. Even those who were ideologically anti-Semites, could not stand by.

This was not a simple operation; it took sacrifices by everyone involved. Not the least from the parents who were asked to give up their children and put the rescuers in mortal danger. This is a short book, but dramatic, well-written, and extremely interesting. I will certainly put Mario Escobar on authors whose books I’m going to be looking out for, unfortunately my Spanish is not good enough to read the ones I eyed on his website.

"What have we done to deserve this?"

Valerie Portheret, a doctoral student in France chose to write her thesis about the "Butcher of Lyon", Klaus Barbie. In 1992 it has been five years since his Nazi war trial. She stumbled upon a paper with a list of unexplained names. That rare list caused her to change her mind which switched her to a twenty-five-year search for 108 children who were rescued from the Venissieux camp in August 1942.
Mario Escobar writes well researched historical novels based on true events. This translation of his story focuses on the fact that Jewish parents, mainly mothers who allowed their children to be taken by rescuers who changed the young one's identities to save their lives. Valerie was able to track down adults who in general didn't know their true names or backgrounds.
I received a copy of this book from the author, Harper Muse and NetGalley and this is my own unsolicited opinion of it. The stories, the truths, of the Nazi Holocaust has been a part of history that deeply touched me from my Junior High days forward.
The book is written in two time periods. the 1992 Portheret portion and the 1942 desperate rescue of children saved from deportation to Germany and execution. It also touches upon the cooperation of the French government with the Nazi's in a misguided belief that it would make things better for citizens. There are definitely some intense 'scenes' in the story. The characters devotion to rescuing the children add such emotion to the story. I just can't imagine how horrible it really felt to know that lives were in their hands. Many children and parents from the camp were lost.
There are a few possible triggers, imprisonment, rape and torture are mentioned but handled with a writer's care, nothing graphic.
Stories need to be told. An evil criminal like Barbie, his name became famous, but his victims became faceless statistics. Valerie Potheret saw to it that some names weren't totally forgotten.
I liked reading this book, despite understanding yet again the tremendous losses. It's not perfect but I certainly got the importance of the story.

Told in two time frames, this book chronicles the way some Jewish children were given up so that they could escape the Nazis, as well as a woman in the 1990s coming upon a list of names while preparing to do her thesis.

This was a story that I very much wanted to read. So much is left out of the history books that are taught in school. It was interesting to read about the children being found, and connected to their names. I believe everybody should read this story. I also believe that all of our history should be embraced and remembered so that hopefully it will not be repeated, especially the bad parts. This is a new to me author, but I will definitely be looking for more of his works.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was so excited to read this book as I am lover of Historical Fiction, especially WWII. This was a story I hadn't heard anything about. While it seems to have been thoroughly researched, there were so many characters it was extremely hard to follow or to connect with any of them.

A dual-time story set during WW2 (mostly summer of 1942) and modern time spanning roughly 25 years. The historical aspect is based on the true story of 108 Jewish children who liberated from a camp in France as they were to be sent to concentration camps. The modern storyline follows the true story of a woman who ends up spending roughly 25 years locating and recording the stories of the 108 children spirited from the camp. Both storylines are based on actual events and people and woven into a fascinating story of people who cared more about helping others than about what would likely happen to them if caught. A well told story.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is truly a gem of a read! “The Forgotten Names” is a courageous tale of love and resilience. The captivating plot acquires depth through the use of past and present timelines and It’s definitely a tear-jerker, so make sure you have a box of tissues handy. I cannot praise this book enough, it is a must-read, especially if you are a fan of WW2 Historical Fiction Novels!

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is the first book I've read by this author; I now look forward to reading his other works! This story was absolutely heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting. Man's inhumanity against man knows no bounds, but neither does the courage of those who fight evil. The book is told in dual timelines, which can be confusing at first. Make sure you read the year which begins each section to keep the story straight.

Law student Valérie Portheret of France is doing research on Klaus Barbie, "The Butcher of Lyon", for her thesis in 1992. She unexpectedly comes upon a list of 108 names. When she investigates further, she discovers those were the names of children who were smuggled out of the Venissieux Internment Camp in France which was under the Nazi regime in WWII. Those children were given new names, new lives and were actually hidden in plain sight. When her research brings her to Chateau de Peyrins, the son-in-law of the original owner of the Chateau shows her meticulous hidden records of the children who found safety behind the castle's walls. Valérie becomes determined to locate each of the original Jewish children, now adults, in order to hear their stories and to shed light on their true origins. She spent 25 years on her quest, which wasn't always easy, as some people don't want to remember the Holocaust, or even deny it ever happened.

This is a must-read book, especially at this current time when anti-Semitism is disturbingly on the rise. This author apparently does his research, and he is extremely knowledgeable about World War II. On the of the most interesting things in the book comes at the end, when he gives a timeline of the major events of that war. There were mentions of battle locations that I wasn't even aware of; this makes me want to do more reading about history of which I'm ignorant. I was familiar with Klaus Barbie, but I learned new things here about him, also. I suggest getting the e-book version of this book; trust me, you're going to want to look up a lot of information about these events, people and locations yourself. Barbie sent thousands to their death; he was also a brutal man who had no qualms about rape and torture. A little of that is shown here, which I believe was necessary to understand the man. I didn't learn much about Valérie from this book, besides her being a determined woman who would not rest until she tracked down all the children and heard their stories. I read the stories of the French men and women who rescued the children here; there were many, and I'm sorry to say I didn't write down all their names. However, they were based on actual people. These French men and women became known as Righteous Among the Nations for rescuing children. There were priests, a therapist, and many others from different walks of life; they were determined to save these children from certain death, and they were willing to forfeit their own lives to do so. There were stories that focused on some particular children; I especially remember Rachel, 8 years old and playing her violin to keep up the spirits of the other children. The most heart-wrenching thing about this entire episode was that exemptions for the work and extermination camps were granted for unaccompanied minors, so the parents had to actually sign away their rights for their children (even though our heroes had to sneak out the children, as Barbie had planned to send them to the camps anyway.) I cannot image the heartbreak and trauma these parents faced. Not only were they giving up their rights as parents to save their children, but they knew they would never see them again, as most knew what their own fates would be in the camps. I couldn't stop sobbing during these stories. I enjoyed when Valérie met the saved children as adults. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. May we never forget that!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Escobar does a wonderful job of showcasing the best and worst of humanity. His latest is an emotional and difficult book to read due to the topic. I have read numerous books about this topic, in general, but I have not read many that pertain to the families who took in Jewish children to save their lives. It was heartbreaking to read, particularly knowing that this is based on true events that should never be forgotten. I've read multiple books by this author, and they are always very well written and researched, and they stick with me after the final page is turn. This one is no exception. With this book, it is hard to imagine the courage that the parents, as well as those taking in the children, demonstrated. It certainly may leave the reader questioning what choice they would have made to save the life of their child, or whether or not they would have risked the lives of their family to save that child. There are two storylines from different periods. One is on the effort to save the French Jewish children from deportation to concentration camps, and the other is not a doctoral candidate who is using this historical period of time for her dissertation. She becomes more invested than she anticipated. This is not a fun read, but it is an important one.

It is hard to keep track of all the characters in this book because there are so many of them. The book just barely touches on most people's stories. However, despite that it is still worthwhile because it shines a light on an important but little-known historic incident when a group of people banded together and did what was right and saved the lives of 100 children. It reminds us that we should always have the bravery to stand up for what is right. One person can make a difference, and together we can make an even bigger difference.

The Forgotten Names is an inspiring, compelling, and unforgettable WWII story of sacrifice and heroism.

Inspired by true events and real people, The Forgotten Names is the story of Jewish children who were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied France during WWII. The contemporary timeline shares the story of real-life law student, Valérie Portheret, as she attempts to track down these children from the list of 108 to hear their stories and provide them with any available birthright heritage from 1942. It took her twenty-five years.

“You won’t get the children.”

Just as I think I might be burned out on WWII histfic, I come across a stand-out read.

Some of the most poignant and unforgettable WWII stories are the ones about saving innocent children. In The Forgotten Names, 108 are saved. One of the most compelling parts of the story is their rescue from Venissieux, an internment camp, where they were held.

Protestants, Catholics, and Jews often worked together to help the under served during this time, especially Jewish children. How did people with different beliefs come together to rescue children and save as many as possible? It’s a miracle in the darkness. Organizations like the Organization to Save the Children were formed at great risk to its members. Lyon, France seemed to be the center of this Resistance and was known especially for the number of children saved.

An unimaginable choice…

Saving the innocent requires sacrifice on many levels. The most heartfelt and tragic sacrifice is made by parents who, with almost no certainty of seeing them again, relinquish their children to strangers in hopes that their lives will be spared. I often wonder what I would be capable of doing to save my children’s lives. The brave souls who hide, smuggle, and transport the children risk and at times sacrifice their own lives as they protect and keep secrets. The children exchange their sense of security and happy childhoods for survival. The sacrifice is staggering but inspirational.

Mario Escobar provides us with a well-researched, well-paced, and well-written multilayered story from multiple perspectives. At the beginning, I took notes to keep multiple characters and locations from the 1942 timeline straight in my mind. The author helps us see the story from the perspectives of the organizers of the Resistance, the caretakers responsible for the children’s safety and security, and from the children. We also have a perspective from the lawyer in 1992 as she tracks down the names. This is a complex and compelling dual timeline story and TBR worthy.

Content Consideration: WWII atrocities, separation of families

I love untold stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the most difficult and unthinkable circumstances. I’m highly recommending The Forgotten Names for fans of well-written, well-researched, and compelling WWII historical fiction. Readers who appreciate stories that focus on saving the innocent will find this story riveting and memorable. It has secured a place on my best of 2024 list.

Thanks #NetGalley @harpermusebooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheForgottenNames upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Finding a list of names while researching her thesis, Valerie Portheret vows to track down these Jewish children who were hidden during WWII. Visiting the Chateau des Peyrins she finds records of these children and the brave men and women who risked their lives to save them. Well written and recommended.

Set in a turbulent time, it follows characters trying to piece together their lost pasts. Escobar's writing beautifully captures deep emotions and the complexities of their journeys. He skillfully blends historical events with personal stories, making you reflect on the importance of remembering where we come from.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a lot of heart, this book is definitely worth a read.

This work of historical fiction is a dual-timeline story based on the rescue of 108 children from the Vénissieux internment camp on the outskirts of Lyon, in the Free Zone of France in 1942, and the experience of Valérie Portheret, a French historian who, after discovering a box with the children's files, spent more than twenty-five years finding most of those children and giving them back their true identities. The author's notes on the true events at the end of the book are as fascinating as the story he has written. The novel more thoroughly covers the 1942 storyline, and I enjoyed learning more about Ms Portheret. I enjoy Mario Escobar's writing style, and appreciate the work of his translator, Gretchen Abernathy, in making his novels available in English. His writing is crisp and he truly embraces “show don't tell” in getting the emotions of his characters across to his readers.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Forgotten Names from Harper Muse without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I gave four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to The Forgotten Names. Thank you Net Galley, Harper Muse Books and Mario Escobar for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I loved this book! I have my masters degree in history, so I’m partial to historical books. I love how Mario Escobar took one specific event, did all of the research and then put it on paper.

This book will rip your heart out. A very haunting read. Knowing that this is a true story and these events really happened, will hurt your heart. It’s so hard to fathom that people can be so cruel and evil. It’s even harder to fathom people being forced to make such difficult and soul wrenching decision about the ones they love, especially children.

Read this one!

This story is both riveting and deeply moving. The resilience of the human spirit, as depicted in World War II narratives about the Jewish people who were imprisoned, never fails to captivate me, and this tale is no exception. Based on actual events, it recounts the daring rescue of 108 children and the adults who risked everything to save them from certain death. The magnitude of their efforts cannot be overstated. As some reviewers have noted, the book's challenge lies in its multitude of characters, which can be hard to keep track of. Initially overwhelmed, I chose to focus on the story of the children instead. The bravery of the adults who faced torture and death to save these children profoundly changed me. This book will stay with me forever. Although this is my preferred era to explore in literature, this particular rescue was new to me. The parents' courage to send their children away from the camp, knowing they would never see them again, epitomizes true love. It is, indeed, an incredible gift.

In 1992, Valérie Portheret is studying law in Lyon, France and learns about the lost children of Lyon. Based on the true story of Portheret and her mission to reunite Jewish children with the true names they hadn't even realized they'd lost. I found the topic to be interesting, but the writing style made it hard to really connect to the book.