Gracianna by Trini Amador

This book is fiction, but based on true events of the author's great-grandmother, Gracianna.

This is the story of Gracianna Arrayet- born in the Pyrennes, the mountains that border France and Spain. Gracianna dreams of living in America and develops a plan to go to Paris, where she will work for a year to earn money to travel to America. There is a war in France, but Gracianna is determined and leaves for Paris in the early 1940's with no plans to ever return. With Nazi headquarters in her backyard, Gracianna sharpens her instincts for survival in occupied Paris. She is soon recruited into the French Resistance and the story unfolds.

This is an emotional story about the Holocaust, World War II, the Auschwitz-Berkenau death camp and the French Resistance. Gracianna's sister, Constance, did miraculously live through Berkenau, where it is estimated that between 700,000 and 1 million people were gassed, hanged or shot. Rumors were that at night you could see lights blaze and flicker and hear horrific screams. The Nazis were performing evil scientific tests on prisoners - men, women, and children - where death was probably preferred.

The topic of the Holocaust brings with it deep sadness and the horrible realization of what occurred in this period of history. This is a compelling tale of family love, suspense, and survival. A gripping novel that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. This novel is to be released 7/23/13.