The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C. K. McAdam is a poignant, crushing and harrowing Historical Fiction set mostly in Poland during WWII. It is also about family, loyalty and courage.

Sara has tailoring and sewing in her DNA. Not only is she gifted at it but she also enjoys it. However, she and fellow Jews are ostracized and persecuted through book burning, beatings, humiliations and transportation to killing camps including Ravensbrück and Auschwitz. She and her family are destroyed, physically and mentally, and the only thing left is minute by minute survival. Due to their seamstress skills, Sara and her sister Helene are forced to produce garments for the wife of a Nazi commander in the "fashion salon". Resisting can only lead to heartache.

For a time Sara works in Kanada which earns her slightly better conditions. However, disease, starvation and constant torment take their toll. Tiny snippets of hope and friendship give Sara the will to push. When liberation finally comes, recovery is long and grueling. But the horrible price has been paid by millions, countless more by extension.

Though difficult to read, this book is remarkable. The atrocities are very real and not glossed over. The writing itself is achingly beautiful and inspired. My heart flooded with emotions and I felt sick for the prisoners as their existence were one anguish after another after another. I truly cannot fathom what their lives were like after as well, especially as Jewish persecution continued after liberation. This book has that something special which really connected with me and gave me goosebumps. I'm at a loss to describe how much it moved me.

My sincere thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this emotive novel.

This story is about Sara, a seamstress from Germany, of Jewish decent. It follows her shocking journey from Germany to Auschwitz. It wrote about love, loss, grief, unlikely friendships and the dark past of ww2.
I really enjoyed this book, reading about the atrocities of the holocaust served as a stark reminder of the past and the holocaust while reading about Sara’s will to survive.

This is beautifully written story of Sara who is a gifted seamstress who's needlework skills keep her alive in the death camp Auschwitz during WW2. We follow her journey as she travels to Palestine to find the man who saved her life. A heartwrenching story of human pain, suffering and resilience. The story had nr gripped from the beginning.

I am going through a historical reading phase now tying up with recent tv releases. This worked well and I learnt more things. I struggled with one key plot point in the book which made me question some of the actions and I felt unresolved. Apart from that it worked well and the rest of the book flowed.

The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C.K. McAdam is a poignant and deeply moving historical novel that sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of life within the infamous concentration camp. McAdam masterfully weaves together a story of resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.

The novel follows the journey of a young Jewish woman who, through her skills as a seamstress, finds a way to survive the brutal conditions of Auschwitz. McAdam’s meticulous research and vivid descriptions bring the camp to life in harrowing detail, making the reader feel the weight of every hardship and the fleeting moments of humanity that pierce the darkness.

The protagonist is a remarkably well-crafted character, embodying strength, courage, and resourcefulness. Her relationships with other prisoners and the small acts of defiance they share add depth and emotional resonance to the story. McAdam’s portrayal of these bonds highlights the importance of solidarity and friendship in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The narrative is gripping, with a well-paced plot that balances the historical context with personal stories of survival and resistance. McAdam’s writing is both evocative and sensitive, capturing the emotional turmoil and the glimmers of hope that sustain the characters.

While the subject matter is undeniably heavy, The Seamstress of Auschwitz is ultimately a story of hope and the unbreakable human spirit. C.K. McAdam has crafted a powerful and unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience and bravery of those who endured one of history’s darkest periods.

Overall, The Seamstress of Auschwitz is a compelling and heart-wrenching read, deserving of its place among the poignant narratives of World War II. It’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring the past.

Germany 1932-1948. Sara grew up in a family of tailors and seamstresses through several generations. As Jews, they were taken from their home and sent to Auschwitz. Seamstresses, including Sara and her sisters were selected to make clothing for the wives of the officers of the camp. They formed a sisterhood with the other women and helped each other when necessary.
This novel reveals the fears, struggle, determination and survival with the hope of living in Palestine.

Thank you BookWhisperer and NetGalley