WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES by Georgia Hunter

Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds

“Love in the face of global adversity? It couldn't be more timely.” —Glamour

It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.

As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere.

An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.


Opening line:
"It wasn't his plan to stay up all night."

I wasn't thrilled with this book when I first started to read it. It didn't flow well, there was head hopping and at times very slow. I decided to look up insights into the book and found it was based on the author's family (I add more about that below my review).
The author was fifteen before she found out her ancestors survived the Holocaust. And their stories are harrowing, amazing, and, at times, horrifying. While the author doesn't glaze over upsetting aspects of the Holocaust, she also doesn't delve into any details.  
The Kurcs went through unbelievable trials, every single one of them, from the oldest to the baby, and survived. It's no wonder the didn't want to talk about it. It's awful. 
When I read stories like this, I often wonder "how can human beings do such atrocities to one another?" I wish our world now were free of hate, fear and pain. It's something that is part of life, but we don't have to be part of causing to others. 

When Georgia Hunter was fifteen years old, she learned that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. We Were the Lucky Ones was born of her quest to uncover her family’s staggering history. Hunter’s website, georgiahunterauthor.com, offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the extensive research this project has entailed.






A brief introduction to the real faces behind the characters whose lives unfold on the pages of We Were The Lucky Ones: 
Addy (my grandfather) 
Whether composing a hit song in Poland or bent over the keys of a Steinway aboard a ship full of refugees, Addy is an entertainer through and through. A charmer and a joker with a soft spot for beautiful women and American jazz, his musical prowess and quirky, larger-than-life personality earn him the affection of nearly everyone he meets.
Mila
Addy’s older sister Mila is greatly admired by each of her siblings. With a degree in classical music and a passion for literature and travel, Mila’s approach to life is at once thoughtful and diligent. As a new mother at the start of the war, Mila must learn to keep a brave face, no matter the harrowing circumstances, and to trust her instinct when it comes to keeping herself and her young daughter safe.
Genek
Genek is the oldest and the most debonair of the Kurc siblings. With a law degree, a dimpled smile, and a sexy, signature swagger, Genek, a lawyer by trade, can talk his way into or out of just about anything. His wife Herta jokes that he talked her into marriage the day they met at a ski resort in southern Poland.
Jakob
The youngest and most soft-spoken of the three Kurc brothers, Jakob is a hopeless romantic. Playful, humble, and forever resistant to being the center of attention, there’s hardly anywhere he’d rather be than beside his high school sweetheart, Bella, or peering down through the viewfinder of his Rolleiflex camera.
Halina
Halina is the youngest and most rebellious of the five Kurc siblings. Whether in the right or blatantly in the wrong, she stands her ground with the brazen defiance of a pitbull guarding a bone. Thanks to her bravado, her blond hair, and her sea-green eyes, Halina, twenty-two at the start of the war, abides by one set of rules, and those are her own.
Sol & Nechuma
Both Sol, known for his generosity and easygoing nature, and Nechuma, the “mighty matriarch” as she’s affectionately called, are well liked and respected among Poles and Jews alike in the Radom community. They take great pride in the success of their fabric shop, as well as in their children’s upbringing, education, and careers.