The Tattooist of Aushwitz-Heather Morris

Synopsis: 
Taking place in 1942 when the holocaust was occurring, Slovakian Jew Lale, is forced to leave everything he knows to wind up in a concentration camp at Aushwitz-Birkenau. He lucky to know multiple languages and the Germans discover this about him to give him a job that will help keep him alive, the tattooist. The tattooist must number every person that comes to the camp. During this time he experiences horrible acts towards other prisoners, kindness toward him, and even finds love with Gita. Together, Gita and Lale are determined to stay alive and get out of the camp for each other. This is a story of true love, determination, and survival. 


Review: 
5/5. This book was amazing. The acts Lale and Gita witnessed and experiences are horrific, but the telling of these acts give the reader the ability to experience what this Jewish prisoners experienced in a way that brings light to ones eyes. In 8th grade I remember going to the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. That was an experience I will never forget. When the author writes of Gita's job creating the books for each person, I was taken back to this museum. As you enter you receive a book just like Gita's work and you carry it through out your walk in the museum to at the end see if you are a survivor or victim. The love and kindness Lale showed to nearly everyone he met, even during the worst of times, is truly inspirational. Heather Morris has a way with words, but to know this is a true story makes her writing ever more amazing. Typically, this is not my type of book, but after hearing so many wonderful things I tried and am so glad I did. I will be looking forward to reading her next book "Cilka's Journey" soon.