Nadie sale vivo de Auschwitz. Mala, reclusa 19880, lo entendió en el momento en que bajó del tren de ganado para dirigirse a las profundidades del infierno. Como intérprete de las SS, Mala usó su posición para salvar tantas vidas como pudo.
Edward, recluso 531, es un veterano del campo y un preso político. Aunque, con la cabeza rapada y el uniforme a rayas, se parezca a todos lo demás, es un luchador de la Resistencia en la clandestinidad. Y tiene un plan de escape. Sabe que, a pesar de estar rodeado por cables eléctricos, ametralladoras coronando interminables torres de vigilancia y reflectores vagando por el suelo, dejarán, tanto él como Mala, el campo de exterminio. Hay la promesa de escapar juntos o morir juntos, en una de las más grandes historias de amor de todos los tiempos.

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The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood is a historical fiction book recounting the life of Malka “Mala” Zimetbaum and Edvard “Edek” Galiński who escaped from the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Ms. Midwood is a best-selling, award-winning historical fiction author.

Inmate 19880, Mala is a bright young Jewish woman deep in the hell of Auschwitz. Due to her intellect and ability to speak several languages, Mala is put in a privileged secretarial position which she uses to help others and save many lives.

Inmate 531, Edek is a Polish political prisoner who is a member of the underground resistance, planning an escape. When Edek and Malka meet, they are convinced that their combined privilege, courage, and imagination will allow them to escape.

A particularly tragic story based on true events, memoirs, and lots of research. For me, it was interesting to read about the experience of two prisoners who were not explicitly marked for death since their arrival in Auschwitz. The author goes on to describe the horrible conditions as witnessed by privileged prisoners, the administrative office, or the political prisoner. Prisoners that altogether had access to a large portion of Auschwitz.

Mala was saved thanks to her fluency in five languages (Dutch, French, German, and Polish; other sources say she also knew English and/or Italian), she served as a runner and translator for the SS. Soon Mala became a legend at the camp, a person who was not corrupted by the harsh reality and did all she can to help other prisoners, risking her life often. We know this through collective stories of survivors. Standing up to evil, even as she faced certain death, elevated Mala from a local legend to a heroine for the ages.

I saw some other reviewers complain about the author’s soapbox speech about abortion rights. Regardless of my personal opinion, I agree that this very short section had no place in the book. Abortions in Auschwitz were a necessity. Getting impregnated was a guaranteed date with the hangman, there was no religious aspect to it – just a matter of survival.

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood certainly is an engrossing book, shining a light on brave heroes we should never forget. Even though it’s historical fiction, Mala’s bravery, as well as chutzpah in the face of pure evil shine through.
I hope I have half her courage. ( )

Once I began this book, I could not put it down, and the pages flew. Unfortunately, this is based on truth, and I kept thinking, how could they get away with what they did. Why did the world allow it? Then I remembered the part where they put on the show for the Red Cross. What a blight on history, I don’t know how the perpetrators lived with themselves?
This book also follows a young woman and a young man, they have big hearts under horrendous conditions, and with their selflessness end up saving lives. I found myself walking in the shoes of these people condemned to Hades in the form of Auschwitz-Birkenau and witnessing the atrocious happenings.
This is my first book by Ellie Midwood, and it won’t be my last, be sure to read the author’s notes at the end!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookouture, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

This is a wonderful although tragic fictional story based on true events and real figures, mémoirs of sorts that depict the terrible conditions the internees at Auschwitz-Birkenau had to suffer. This powerful novel of heroism tells the story of Mala, inmate 19880, who was the first woman to escape the horrors of the camp and of Edek, inmate 531, a fighter in the underground resistance who had an escape plan. Together they will succeed or die trying. What follows is one of the greatest love stories.

I never get bored reading Holocaust memoirs and Ms. Midwood is by far one of my favourite authors of this genre.

The author recounts in a third person narrative the horrors of that time remarkably. Through the eyes of Mala and Edek we feel the emotions they have, what they are thinking and doing, most of all the suffering they are seeing or enduring themselves. The repeated beatings so well said I could feel the sting of each lash. The life in the camp is vividly painted and does not shy from the atrocities that occurred.

Mala and Edek had privileged positions and did all in the power to help as many people they could by smuggling food, delegate them jobs so they could survive, give them clothes , cigarettes , liquor, things to trade with. They were heroes that were forced to live in the bowels of hell facing imminent death till one day they planned an escape in order to build a life together....giving them hope in this dark place... Yes, by the end I had tears in my eyes...What a sad story one that will stay with me for a long time.

This book is difficult to put down it is so well written and moving to no ends, harrowing and yet has tender moments...Well- said as usual.

I received this ARC from Bookouture via Netgalley for my thoughts.. I have not been influenced by the opportunity, this is the way I see it. ( )