A review by amy_reads91
Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Really moving and important story, but inspiring at the same time. It really puts our lives and freedom into perspective from how awful she was treated both at Auschwitz and in the Gulag, and I can't even comprehend the heartbreak of being sent from one prison to the next, when so much of that history is told from the perspective that such horrible conditions ended when the Nazis were defeated. The way she stayed strong and looked out for others, despite having endured such constant trauma at such a young age, was really inspiring. Reading the note from the author at the end, which reminded me that, like in "The Tattooist of Auschwitz", Cilka was a real person and that was her story made me cry - and left me with feelings of hope from the ending, and the respectful way her character and legacy was portrayed.