I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree by Laura Hillman

Five years after Hitler came to power, Laura was separated from her town and family. The events Laura witnessed in the camps kept her from writing for many years, but she finally set out to write her memoir, facing for the first time the circumstances that led to her survival.

This book is important to read. We must remember that not too many years ago our world was in the throws of a world war and many Jews were exterminated during that time. We must remember, so these events do not repeat themselves.

Thanks to survivors like Laura, we can have a glimpse into the horror she experienced. The rest of her family did not make it through. But thanks to a man called Schindler a few destined for the gas chambers were safe until the end of the holocaust. Laura was one of the few.

This book is mostly about her experiences before getting on Schindler's list. It is written in the first person and shares many of her feelings. Her love and concern for her family often puts her in danger.

This is not a book to read for entertainment. It needs to be read as a reminder of what humankind is capable of, both the good and the bad. It is very well written and yet not easy to read because of the subject. So be warned that you will probably cringe and want to put it aside at times. Try not to do that.

Beyond the book Laura finds her future husband (another survivor on Schindler's list) and makes a life for herself.