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Little Boy, I Know Your Name: A Second-Generation Memoir from Inherited Holocaust Trauma
Readers looking for a book that hits you right in the feels and leaves you thinking long afterward, will not want to miss Little Boy, I Know Your Name by Mitchell Raff. This memoir dives into the author’s life, showing how inherited trauma from the Holocaust shaped him and the people around him. It’s raw, emotional, and brutally honest, painting a picture of a childhood full of pain, survival, and moments of unexpected love.
From the first chapter, this book pulls no punches. Raff shares heartbreaking stories of his abusive mother and the chaos that surrounded his young life. One scene that will stick with me forever is when his mom threw him out of the house into the cold night. It’s gut-wrenching, and I couldn’t help but feel for the little boy he was. But there’s balance in the way he writes. He also talks about the kindness and stability he found with his uncle and aunt, who stepped in as surrogate parents. Their love gave the story some much-needed light, and I found myself rooting for them just as much as for Raff.
The focus on his childhood trauma is the primary focus of the book, and I found myself wishing for more information about his father’s struggles or his adult life. But maybe that’s the point, though. It really allows readers to sit with the weight of everything he went through. A moment I remember was when his therapist called him a “well-dressed poser.” It was a wake-up call for Raff and, honestly, a moment that made me reflect on my own life, too. We all wear masks, don’t we?
What really makes this book special to me is how it tackles inherited trauma. Raff’s family, like so many Holocaust survivors, tried to bury the pain. But it seeped through in ways they couldn’t control. It’s these quiet and powerful memories that make the book more than just a story about one man’s struggles.
By the time I finished, I felt a mix of heartbreak and hope. The ending, where Raff reflects on his son Joshua and the possibility of breaking free from the cycle of pain, strikes just the right note. It’s not a happily-ever-after, but it’s real, and it left me believing healing is possible.
I’d recommend Little Boy, I Know Your Name to anyone who loves memoirs that dig deep. If you liked The Glass Castle or Night, Raff’s writing will resonate with you. It’s not a breezy read, but it’s the kind of book that reminds you of the strength it takes to confront the past and move forward.
Pages: 235 | ASIN : B0CLL22MMG
The Importance of Perspectives
You Are Allowed: A Story of Finding Where You Belong, Not Where You Began shares your story of searching for your birth mom while exploring your own emotions and memories of growing up and how it has impacted your personal identity. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was an incredibly important book to write because I was feeling lost and without a true sense of belonging. Living that way, without roots or a solid foundation, is incredibly difficult. Writing this book helped me process those feelings and begin to find my own place in the world. Ultimately, I found my sense of belonging within the pages of my memoir—within myself.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I think the whole book was difficult to write. Initially, I started writing from the perspective of a victim—being adopted made me feel like I had been abandoned. But as I wrote, the manuscript led me to face some of the hardest stories of my life. When I began, I never imagined I would share such intimate parts of my journey, but doing so allowed me to forgive and release. By the time I finished, I was grateful for my adoption. I let go of judgment and found internal peace and freedom.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
One of the most important ideas I wanted to share is the importance of perspectives. We all see things differently, and I believe this is an opportunity for connection between people. I’m sure my parents, my birth mom, and my sister all have very different views of what really happened with my adoption. But that’s the beauty and freedom that writing gives us—space to explore our own perspectives. Another key theme for me was the complexity of the relationship between a mother and her daughter, particularly being both a daughter and a mother myself. That dual experience really shaped my writing.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope readers understand that they have the power to reflect on their own lives, release past hurts, and experience rebirth. But most importantly, I want them to take away that it’s essential to forgive themselves first, love themselves first, and respect themselves first.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Freegiftfromodelia | Amazon
Esther, a young woman living in a kibbutz in the south of Israel, undertakes a journey to find her biological mother who abandoned her at birth in Paris. She is fueled with the belief that reuniting with her birth mother will provide the answers she’s been searching for and will fill the void she’s been feeling her entire life.
In careful and precise writing, You ARE Allowed takes the reader through turbulent pieces of Esther’s life journey: her childhood in France, a relationship with an Israeli woman that exposes her to a world of crime and danger, an unplanned pregnancy, and a seemingly routine life in Israel filled with secrets and old wounds.
Survival, Hope, and Resilience
The Lilacs I Once Knew: Friddie’s Poems is more than a collection of poetry; it is the story of a woman who was unjustly impressed and her story of survival against inhumane conditions. What inspired you to share her works with the world?
The Lilacs I Once Knew: Friddie’s Poems is inspired by a deep commitment to honoring Friddie’s incredible journey of resilience and hope amidst the horrors of unjust imprisonment. Her powerful story of survival against inhumane conditions needed to be shared to give voice to the silenced and highlight the enduring human spirit. By sharing her works, I aim to preserve her legacy and shed light on the historical atrocities she endured.
How did you go about deciding what photos and quotes to include along with Friddie’s poetry?
Deciding which photos and quotes to include with Friddie’s poetry involved meticulous curation to ensure each element complemented and enhanced the emotional depth of her poems. I selected images that visually represent the themes of her poetry, such as survival, hope, and resilience. The quotes were chosen for their ability to encapsulate the essence of Friddie’s experiences and to provide context, creating a powerful and immersive reading experience.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Friddie’s poetry collection?
I hope readers take away a profound sense of empathy and awareness of the historical injustices faced by Friddie and countless others. Through her poetry, I aim to inspire readers to recognize the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Additionally, I hope Friddie’s story encourages reflection on the importance of preserving and sharing personal histories to ensure that such stories are never forgotten.
Are there more poems or writings from Friddie that you plan to publish in the future?
Yes, I plan to publish more of Friddie’s poems and writings in the future, but for a different audience. While in prison, Friddie also wrote books and poems for children, each carrying a greater message about pursuing justice, kindness, and dealing with adversity. I am currently working on this project to ensure that her inspiring words reach a broader audience and continue to impart important lessons and values.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn | Amazon
At 18, Friddie married a charming, charismatic scientist named Freddy; but their union was tragically short.
Just two weeks after the wedding, Freddy disappeared, and Friddie was unjustly accused of a crime she had never committed. She spent nine years in a Romanian prison, followed by four years in a communist labor camp.
Despite the harsh and inhumane conditions, Friddie found solace in writing poetry.
Friddie’s poems reflect her journey through life, imprisonment, and hope. They speak of joy, loss, fear, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.
After her death, her family discovered hundreds of letters and postcards where Friddie shared her poems with her cousin, Aaurica.
Friddie’s story was first told in the award-winning novel Where the Lilacs Bloom Again(StoryTime World, 2022). Now, her powerful words are brought to life in this collection.
The Lilacs I Once Knew: Friddie’s Poems
The Lilacs I Once Knew: Friddie’s Poems is a captivating poetry collection with a compelling backstory. Roni Rosenthal meticulously restored and translated these works to share Friddie’s tale with the world—an account of a talented Romanian poet unjustly imprisoned during the war and communist era.
Each poem in the collection breathes life into Friddie’s emotions, evoking a spectrum of feelings such as hope, love, betrayal, and misery. One of the most poignant sections depicts Friddie’s journey of healing and self-forgiveness. Her profound words create a sense of shared healing with the reader. Through her reflections and vivid contrasts of nature and war, readers gain a renewed appreciation for life. The collection’s variety of rhyming patterns and unique structural elements keep readers engaged and curious throughout. Roni Rosenthal’s translation skillfully preserves the original message and rhythm of the poems, ensuring their impact remains intact. The book’s design complements Friddie’s touching words beautifully. Impactful images, quotes, and photos of Friddie and her family are thoughtfully placed throughout the book, enhancing the emotional resonance of each section and bringing Friddie’s story to life.
The Lilacs I Once Knew is heartbreaking, promising, and beautiful. It honors the memory of one of the many victims of inhumanity and serves as a testament to the enduring power of poetry and resilience.
Pages: 167 | ASIN : B0D9RK929F
LITERARY TITAN 