Melissa W. Hunter
AUTHOR MELISSA W. HUNTER
WHAT SHE LOST
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For thirteen-year-old Sarah Waldman, life in the small Polish town of Olkusz is idyllic, grounded in her loving, close-knit family and the traditions of their Jewish faith. But in 1939, as the Nazis come to power, a storm is gathering—a relentless, unforgiving storm that will sweep Sarah and her family into the atrocities of the Holocaust, tearing them apart.
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Will Sarah’s strong will and determination be enough for her to survive when everything she loves is taken from her? Is it possible to resurrect a life—and find love—from the ruins? Or will Sarah be forever haunted
by the memories of what she lost?
Part memoir, part fiction, What She Lost is the reimagined true-life story of the author’s grandmother growing into a woman amid the anguish of the Holocaust. It is a tale of resilience, of rebuilding a life, and of rediscovering love.
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What Amazon readers have to say:
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"Beautifully written, haunting and hopeful.
The beautifully written book captured me from the very beginning. Haunting & hopeful at the same time. I've never read a novel about these horrific times that explored the aftermath of the camps being liberated. The 'rescue' so often ends the story. But, (Hunter's) exploration of survival and moving forward after the camps was gut wrenching and moving. I highly recommend this author and novel. I can't wait to read more from Melissa W. Hunter!"
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"Great story of love and perseverance!
This book kept my attention and was a great read! It does a great job of showing the trying time period without being too horrific. If you enjoyed The Nightingale or Lilac Girls, you will love this!"
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"Captivating & sensitive, new voice for the world to hear so we never forget.
A captivating story about a Jewish girl coming of age in the midst of the Holocaust. Beautifully and sensitively written in a way that makes the horrifying stories an easy, although certainly not a light read. I was so wrapped up in the characters and Hunter's writing that my first tears were shed before page 25. Based on the real life experiences of the author's grandmother, she brings honor to her family's legacy and brings a new voice for the world to hear (so) we must never forget."
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"Couldn't put it down!!"
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Featured on Goodreads:
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"How can a character be more real than when based on a real person? Even real women can be told as one-planed and stereotypical, but fortunately for us, we get to experience Sarah's life through someone who saw the humanity and the growing girl beneath the overarching horrors of the Holocaust. Hunter's retelling of her grandmother's story isn't just about growing up or the Holocaust, but understanding the incredible capacities of humankind - for compassion, strength, and survival as well as cruelty, cowardice, and complacency, as seen through the eyes of an incredible woman."
- Break the Bechdel with Strong Female Characters Syndicate Selection
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Shop:
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Coming Soon!
A new page devoted to all the stories and tales contained in
All That Could Have Been!
I am honored to have What She Lost and my family's story featured as an episode in the upcoming, award winning documentary mini-series,
Generation to Generation.
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Pre-production begins spring of 2021. Stay tuned here for more information, or feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
