A book based about the Angels of Bataan during WWII, a tragic but beautifully written story about the Military nurses. It was a heartfelt story of loss, survival, hope, love and friendships.
The narrator did an excellent job in narrating the book.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Harper Muse for the audiobook.

The Forgotten Names (Audiobook) by Mario Escobar

In 1992 France, Valérie is researching Klaus Barbie who was also known as the “Butcher of Lyon”. Valérie is given the hidden written records of the 108 Jewish children who were saved from being transported in August 1942, each child was given a new name and was taken in by a sympathetic family. As Valerie searches for these children, she discovers that most of them were too young to remember what their original name was as most of their parents never returned for them after the war ended as they were killed.

I could not imagine what the parents must have gone through as they gave up their rights as parents so that their children can be saved. Knowing that they will most likely never see their children again.

This is a very emotional, heart wrenching story that tugs on your heart whether you are a parent or not.

I would like to thank Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus Publishers for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Mario Escobar is an author I’ve recently discovered and love. This book was well researched and based upon true occurrences during WWII trying to protect Jewish children from certain death, at great sacrifice from their parents. Obviously, there were several sad, shocking moments in this story. It is dual timeline and that was done well, too. This book was intense, but not what I would consider graphic, and I’m very sensitive about these things. The heroes and heroines in the story were selfless and loving. I was blessed with a free audio ARC of this book, and I’m voluntarily submitting my review. Outstanding narration. Highly recommend.

The Forgotten Names is a haunting and deeply moving novel that brings to light a little-known chapter of World War II history. Told through dual timelines, the story intertwines the harrowing events of August 1942 with a modern-day investigation by law student Valérie Portheret, whose dedication to uncovering the truth restores identity and dignity to the lives of 108 Jewish children rescued from deportation.

The novel's greatest strength lies in its emotional gravity. The decision faced by the mothers of Vénissieux—to abandon their children in the hope of saving them—is portrayed with heartbreaking clarity. The courage of the rescuers, from clergy to civilians to Resistance members, forms a powerful testament to human bravery in the face of cruelty.

The narrative is well-researched and compelling, though at times the pacing slows, especially in the modern sections that delve into academic detail. Still, the alternating timelines are skillfully handled, offering both historical context and the resonance of memory and justice.

Ultimately, The Forgotten Names is a stirring tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a poignant reminder of how the smallest acts of courage can echo across generations. A worthy read for those drawn to untold stories of heroism and sacrifice.

What a hopeful story to remind the world that in the midst of darkness, there are always those who choose to do what is right, rather than what is easy. This book is a reminder that during the darkness of WWII and the Nazi regime, there were those who did everything they could to save Jewish children and sneak them out of France. In that way, it reminds me of Kristin Hannah's character Vienne in The Nightengale. The mentions of Quakers who helped reminds me of the Quaker abolishionist who helped run the Underground Railroad in the U.S. to help slaves escape to freedom.

I have given this book 4 stars because of the important subject matter it covers. I tried to research the history behind this fictional interpretation. It was not easy to piece together. For this reason Mario Escobar's book is all the more important.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for the arc . My review is given voluntarily.
The book has a dual time line. I do not usually have a problem with multiple timelines but in this instance the story jumped back and
forth too quickly, not allowing the reader to become properly immersed in either section. I should have had a more emotional reaction to this story. However, it did not tug the heart strings in the way that reading an historical account would and knowing these were real people. Neither where fictional characters developed enough to make them feel real and encourage empathy that way..
I listened to an audio book. The narrator was very good.

I love this book as I read it some time ago but I think the narrator is going to make this hard for me to listen to.My opinions are my own and I rate the book highly, but it loses a star simply because I cannot handle the voice as I don't feel connected when I listen.

I give this 3.75 the topic was very interesting and the writing was well done. My only reason for not giving a higher rating is just because the writing wasn’t entirely to my taste and I feel it was too short.

Dual timeline novel focused in France during World War II and the response to Hitler dictations. 1942, French parents were faced with a horrible choice: watch their children die, or abandon them forever. To save them, Jewish mothers of Vénissieux were asked to make the ultimate sacrifice of abandoning them forever. The result of a coordinated effort by clergy, civilians, the French Resistance and members of other humanitarian organizations 108 children somehow managed to escape deportation and certain death in the German concentration camps. Current time line, student Valérie Portheret in the midst of doing her doctoral research into the 108 children who disappeared from Vénissieux fifty years earlier made it her mission to match the abandoned names with the people they belong to. It took her a twenty-five year journey to allow the children to reclaim their heritage and remember their forgotten names. The first half of this book read almost like a textbook, with many names, dates, and facts to keep straigh. The reflections back on how children were saved and the people behind those stories was well done and had much to say about the timing and the strength to defy the masses, *Thank you to Mario Escobar, HarperCollins Focus, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheForgottenNames #NetGalley

The Forgotten Names tells of the harrowing true story of social workers and catholic priests who rescued over a hundred children from deportation from Vichy France during World War II. This is a very tough read. It is one of those novels that have a lot of emotional and intense scenes. These scenes are even more magnified by the fact that almost all of the characters of the story are based one real historical figure. I will also say that the historical figures and events are presented with a lot of care and respect to the actual figures behind the characters in the novel. This is also just well written book. My only issue with the book came from the 1992 storyline. I want to make it clear that what Valerie did was extremely impressive and should definitely be celebrated for the achievement that it is, but in the context of the story it was very underdeveloped and would halt the momentum of the story when it is included sporadically amongst the main narrative. I would have loved to have seen her journey as she gathered the names. Only seeing snippets of what she did just made her story feel underutilized and hindered the flow of the 1940s storyline. Despite that I think this is an excellent World War II novel celebrating the brave men and women who stood up the Nazis and risked their lives!

Thank You to NetGalley and Harper Muse of a Copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

"The Forgotten Names" by Mario Escobar is a historical fiction novel based on the true story of Valérie Portheret, a law student who embarks on a mission to reunite Jewish children with their original identities. The audiobook brings this emotional and powerful tale to life.

The story is set in France, where Valérie stumbles upon a list of 108 names—Jewish children who were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied territories and given new identities to survive. As she investigates, she faces opposition from those who wish to forget or deny the Holocaust, but she remains determined to uncover the truth.

Listeners have praised the audiobook for its gripping narrative and the compelling narration, which enhances the emotional depth of the story. If you're interested in historical fiction that sheds light on forgotten stories of heroism, this audiobook might be worth exploring.

Mario Escobar’s The Forgotten Names is a deeply moving novel that highlights the resilience of the human spirit amidst unimaginable adversity. Based on true events, the story takes place during the Holocaust, following the harrowing journeys of several characters who seek to preserve their dignity and identity in the face of unimaginable cruelty. The narrative beautifully intertwines the stories of Rosa, a young Jewish woman trying to reunite with her family, and a group of children hidden in a convent, each carrying the burden of memories and loss. Escobar masterfully captures their fears, hopes, and moments of courage, bringing to life the brutal realities of their experiences while also emphasizing themes of compassion and perseverance. What I appreciated most was how the novel sheds light on the often-overlooked efforts of those who risked everything to save others, including the nuns and ordinary citizens who defied orders to protect their charges. The writing is evocative and heartfelt, and the storyline is both heartbreaking and inspiring. While some moments are difficult to read, the story ultimately celebrates the enduring power of hope and human kindness. The Forgotten Names is a compelling reminder of history’s darkest hours and the light that can emerge even in the bleakest times. Highly recommended for readers interested in Holocaust history and stories of resilience.

A historical novel based on facts. In 1942 families made heartbreaking decisions to try and save their children. They signed them over to strangers to protect them from deportation to camps. Valérie Portheret spent years trying to find 108 children saved from Vénissieux and researched how they were helped and protected. Heroes suffered for helping them and should be remembered.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). People gave their time, their love and their hopes to save as many children as possible during WWII. They put themselves in danger to help. Many children would lose their families and identities to stay alive.

I read this last year. It was a very captivating and moving story. The audio was well done.
Highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a complementary copy.

This was such a powerful and emotional read. Forgotten Names is a dual timeline novel based on real events—set in 1942 France during WWII and in 1992—following Valérie, a student researching Klaus Barbie for her thesis. While digging into his crimes, she uncovers the heartbreaking mystery of 108 missing children who seem to have disappeared without a trace during the war.

As the story shifts between the war-torn past and the present-day investigation, we learn about the unthinkable decisions Jewish families were forced to make. With Nazi orders demanding mass deportations, there was one small loophole—unaccompanied minors were exempt. A brave group of social workers and French citizens came together to do the unimaginable: convince parents to legally abandon their children in the hope of saving them from the horrors of the concentration camps.

I was completely unaware of this piece of history, and I’m so grateful this story shed light on it. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The author did a beautiful job transitioning between timelines and capturing the weight of the emotions, especially the impossible choices these families faced and the courage of those who helped.

I gave this 4 stars only because I wanted just a bit more depth in the 1992 storyline—it felt slightly rushed in places—but overall, this was a moving, eye-opening read. A story of sacrifice, bravery, and the enduring strength of humanity in the face of evil.

Highly recommend for fans of historical fiction that teaches you something while breaking your heart just a little.

The Forgotten Names tells the story of a young woman who discovers a list of names and her quest to reunite those children with their original identities. This historical fiction novel focuses on Jewish children whose identities were changed in an attempt to save them from the Nazis during WWII. Valerie's quest to find the children who are now adults is heart warming and a great reminder that 1 person can accomplish great things.

This was a heart-wrenching book that caught my attention from the beginning. I have always been interested in the WWII, and this book taught me some interesting facts.

We must never forget the people that gave their lives to help others, some whose names will never be known or what they did to save them. Thank goodness for Valerie Portheret who spent 25 years looking for the 108 children who had their names changed so that they could tell their story and find out their real names.

Listening to the story as an audio really made it more real, there were many parts that had me in tears. The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld was brilliant, she made the story come alive.

This story is told between two eras, present day and WWII. Jewish French citizens gave up their parental rights to save their children from being sent to German death camps. Many French citizens took the children in and gave them new identities. A graduate student in present day made it her mission to locate these children who were now adults and reunite them with their rightful names.

Didn’t make it very far into this one. Did not hold my interest whatsoever. There were also certain themes and elements that I am not interested in reading about and a disclaimer for those would have been nice.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for letting me listen to this book for an honest review.

I thought that this book sounded interesting and it’s written by Mario Escobar who has a master’s degree is modern history so I figured it would be an accurate depiction of what was happening. In The Forgotten names we follow Valérie Portheret (who is a real person) as she tries to find 108 children that disappeared from Vénissieux while managing to escape deportation to concentration camps thanks to the coordinated efforts of clergy, civilians and the French resistance. And amazingly Valèrie was able to reunite 98 of those children with their families years later.

He his fictional account based on real events and real people was really interesting to read because I didn’t realize that Nazi power was reaching so far outside of Germany just to bring Jewish people to concentration camps. It’s horrifically mind boggling.

I recommend that everyone keeps educating themselves on what happened and is currently happening because it affects us all.