The Teacher of Auschwitz by Wendy Holden is an emotionally gripping and profoundly moving story that stayed with me long after I finished listening. Based on real events, this audiobook captures the unthinkable horrors of Auschwitz through the lens of courage, compassion, and the quiet resilience of a woman determined to make a difference, even in the darkest of places.

Wendy Holden writes with sensitivity and depth, allowing the weight of the story to settle slowly but powerfully. The narration is beautifully done, steady, heartfelt, and never overly dramatized, which makes the emotional impact even more profound. I found myself fully immersed and genuinely unable to stop listening.

This is a story of unimaginable cruelty, but also of hope, humanity, and the enduring power of education and love. It’s not an easy listen, but it’s an important one, and so worth every moment.

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

This was beautiful and heartbreaking.

The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I wish the author had made a better effort to highlight which bits were dramatized and which were factual.

Still, it should be required reading for anyone who doesn't understand why some Americans are concerned about the things Trump is doing. It's a terrifying, slippery slope to authoritarianism, then fascism, then things that are even worse.

And this paints a very stark picture of what's even worse.

I won't lie.

I cried like a baby during certain parts of this book. It was gut-wrenching.

But that people like Alfred Hirsch -- REMEMBER HIS NAME! -- existed in the world at all gives me hope. Wouldn't it be wonderful if one day, his name -- along with those of other similar brave souls -- was remembered but no one could recall that of Hitler?

I know. I know. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. But cowards and madmen like Hitler don't deserve to have their names remembered. It's the people like Fredy Hirsch history should not only remember but honor.

Read this book. Or take the route I did and listen to it. Either way, there's no chance it won't move you.

I’m so glad to read Teacher of Auschwitz. I love WWII stories. This one grabbed my attention immediately. It follows the life of Fredy Hirsch and his path of saving and caring for children during the war. I love that it’s based on a real person and all the good he did. The narrator did a great job. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who likes WWII stories. I listened to the whole book in a day it was so good. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review. I will be putting Wendy Holdens other books on my to read list!