A review by mpanhani
Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. We learn more about Cilka after first hearing about her from Lale in The Tattooist of Auschwitz. We find out out that Cilka survived Auschwitz after not fighting back. Unfortunately she was forced to let high commanders turn her into a sex slave. She was put in charge of the barracks where women would stay one last night before they were sent to their deaths. Mind you she was only 16. After being liberated, Cilka is traumatized and finds herself being sentenced to prison in a Siberian gulag for “sleeping with the enemy”. It is here where Cilka finds herself once again to be the property of another powerful prisoner, where she is raped repeatedly. However, due to her language skills and ability to learn quickly she is chosen to work in the prisoner hospital ward. Cilka’s doesn’t forget her past, she can’t, but she constantly fears that her bunk mates will find out what she was arrested for and will turn their backs on her. Yet Cilka stays strong and does what she can to help her bunk mates, and other inmates as she works in the hospital ward. Cilkas potential is seen here and she is trained to be a nurse until she is released.

This book though labeled fiction, is a story based on memories of Cilka. Author makes it clear that though she didn’t meet Chilka, she did her research and met people who were close to her in order to share her story. However, with that its good to take with a grain of salt, as stories can change over time.

Stories like this are so incredibly important. Now more than ever. There are so many stories similar to Cilka, that have yet to be told. Too many women and young girls are assaulted during war and it’s not discussed enough. Instead it is pushed into the dark, forgotten left for these brave women to burden alone. It was never their fault, and it needs to be discussed. Their strength, and courage should never be forgotten.