The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris 
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is This Book About? In 1942, the Slovakian government made a deal with the Nazis to “export” Jews from the Slovakian State as workers for the Germans. Lale Eisenberg was a Slovakian Jew who volunteered to go so no one else in his family had to. Little did he know that the train on which he and thousands of other men were loaded was heading to Auschwitz. For three years, Lale endured the unbelievably inhumane conditions of the concentration camp. He also, almost as unbelievably, found the love of his life. This story is based on real events and is a surprising mix of anguish and elation.
My Review: Despite being hesitant to read this one, I’m glad I did. I found this book (audiobook) to be a rewarding listen. Even though the book does detail some of the Holocaust atrocities, it does not dwell too long on any one of them. The threat of death is an important part of what’s going on, but the story is more about the little acts by a few that propel the survival of others. For example, Lale’s relatively privileged position allowed him more opportunities than most to provide extra food to others. I was surprised by the love story between Lale and Gita because I hadn’t read anything about the book ahead of time. If I hadn’t known this was a true story, I might have found the love story hard to believe. Knowing it’s based on facts makes it that much more amazing. I also liked the extra epilogues at the end that give more information about the main characters and the author’s process. I listened to the e-audiobook on Hoopla, but it is also available in print, CD book, and Playaway formats.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Haunting, Unimaginable, Remarkable
Give This a Try if You Like…Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally, We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Rating: 5/5
