Once My Name Was Sara

By I. Betty Grebenschikoff

Book Overview

Once My Name Was Sara is a true story of survival, displacement and the search for home-written by Betty Grebenschikoff, who lived it.

Born a Jewish child in Berlin, Betty's life changed forever when the Nazis rose to power. Forced to leave everything behind, her childhood became a series of escapes across Europe, each move shaped by fear, uncertainty and the hope of safety.

One of the most remarkable chapters of her journey brought her to Shanghai, one of the few places in the world that accepted Jewish refugees without visas. There, she experienced life in a crowded refugee community far from home, navigating hardship, resilience and survival in an unfamiliar culture during World War II.

From pre-war Germany through wartime Europe and Shanghai, and finally to the United States, Once My Name Was Sara traces a refugee's journey across continents-and the lasting impact of displacement, memory and identity.

Written with clarity and compassion, Betty's memoir brings history out of textbooks and into lived experience. It is a powerful account of:

Growing up Jewish in Nazi GermanyLife as a refugee during World War IISurvival in wartime ShanghaiImmigration, identity and resilienceThe meaning of home after loss

Ideal for readers of Holocaust memoirs, immigration stories and historical nonfiction, this book is especially suited for students, educators and families seeking to understand history through a personal lens.

Some stories must be remembered.

This is one of them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DWCRZD8Q
• ISBN13: 9798230825326
• Release Date: December 1993
• Publisher: I. Betty Grebenschikoff
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An excellent read that gives good historical perspective.

This is lovely book that gives a personal account of Betty Grebenschikoff and her experiences as a child fleeing Germany during World War II. A good book to read especially in our present day to give understanding to the plight of Jewish families around the world. The author also does book signings and lectures around the country. I have heard her speak and that made the book have even more valuable to me.

Stunning memoir of a Jewish girl and her family during WWII.

I was deeply moved by this life story of Betty Grebenschikoff. She moves through her life rather quickly in 180 pages, from girlhood in Germany to being a grandmother in New Jersey. Her story is told simply, but extremely well with it's details of daily life and the family's travels while fleeing Germany. Throughout the book, you find yourself counting your own blessings in life. The handful of family photos at the end are a bonus.