Clara's War: One Girl's Story of Survival

I have read numerous books on survivors, the holocaust, and war but this one rises to the 'top'... from the beginning to the end, I felt one with Clara and her family. As her story unfolded and took them into hiding, so did the writing. I felt every minute of their life underground and their day to day life. The web of characters made it a page turner; and those that put everything on the line to save those unknown to them are 'heroes' ... I dare not say more because I'd like others to take Clara's journey...

The book gave an accounting of the lives of destroyed and saved by the other humans. The author's words drew you into the feelings of misery and hope that the Jewish people suffered and the humanity shown by the Becks. Their Jewish faith in God was strong as was the Christian faith of the Becks. Only The love of God's hand allowed these people to endure the horrors inflicted on them during World War II. I pray we never experience such a horror in this world again.
Thank you for sharing your life story with the rest of the world.

I suffered with the family, it was intense at times, but I had a very hard time putting the book down. Beautifully written, and worth going through the total agony of the situation, I would urge everyone to read this.

It is absolutely mind-boggling to me how these folks managed to survive and go on to live productive lives. I was totally touched by the love and respect Clara's family and neighbors had for each other. Beck was absolutely amazing in the way he managed his life in order to make up for Hitler's irrationality. I applaud Clara's tenacity and faith in God that they would survive. I am very happy she had a full life with her husband the rest of her surviving famillies. I pray that the world will never face that kind of insanity again.

Everyone has heard of Anne Frank and her diary but more need to read Clara's War, One Girl's Story of Survival. It was a great read and even though it took me a long time to finish I am so glad I did.

This is not just about hiding from the Germans. It's about who your friends really are and how you never know who is really a righteous person. In three years of hiding who put there life on the line for no real personal gain and how some in the same hiding place always let fear and greed control them. It's nice to read about the people who did make a difference during the Holocaust. Not because of there love of Jews but because it was wrong and in there defiance of a occupation by another country. It is also a story of a complected man who was flawed but loyal and I'm still not sure why he truly did this, but thankful he did.

Compelling, absolute required reading. I was moved to tears. I would close the book and weep. Not great, memorable writing but the story is overwhelming and needs little help. She did a good job with it. It changed my thinking and my life. I am so grateful to have stumbled on to it. Thank you so much. I recommend it. Everyone should read it.

Compelling story of survival during the was. Was very interesting to read about how they survived such horrific times. So unimaginable to believe that the Nazis could commit such atrocities against jewish people. SO sad to learn what life was like for,the the children and the adults during that time. Amazing they survived.

How amazing that Clara and others lived through the horrors of WWII. I can not even imagine going through what they did. This story along with others have given us a clearer picture of what millions of people lived through during that time. Recommended read even though it is very sad.

I would recommend this book to anyone who hungers to experience the sheer joy of being a witness to survivors. This is an unforgettable read. I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it truly is.

What a story!!!!!!
So hard to imagine but unfortunately true...my in-laws suffered through this period also and I have heard similar stories, just absolutely heart wrenching that people could treat others that way. They both contributed their stories for the Holocaust Museum in DC and I can't listen to or watch the tape without breaking down every time. Even harder to believe this is still going on today in many places in the world.

i enjoyed thoroughly Clara's War. I read a review that once you begin to read you can not put it down. this is so true! She has a brilliant way of capturing the reader and I very much felt like I was in the basement with her family. I fell in love with all of her family members. The life she lived we can not imagine, but I'm thankful for her story because I hope from holocaust survivor stories we will never allow something like this to happen again.

I cannot really add anything significant to the reviews already written about this magnificent book. But for those who read reviews before you purchase, I can only urge you to buy this book and reserve time for you will not be able to put this down and you will be left with so much to ponder. Clara's War brings an immediacy to the events of the Holocaust I have found in few other works. To call the book a page turner in the conventional sense is not just inadequate but crass and yet I was caught up in Clara and her family's lives in a powerful and immediate way despite the fact that the book recounted events nearly 70 years old. I learned again of the powerful will humans have to survive and that indeed there were the righteous who risked everything to save Jews. A powerful book in every way.

Excellent telling of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young girl, forced to grow up too soon. I had read the Diary of Anne Frank several times, and have always been devastated by the conditions under which the families were forced to live. After reading "Clara's War", however, it seems the Franks' living arrangements were (comparatively) regal. Clara's War is an incredible telling of extreme fear, loss, tolerance, hunger, pain and discomfort, and in the end, physical and psychological survival.

I have read many accounts written by suvivors of the Holocaust but this one was one of the most amazing. Clara, a young teenage girl, her parents and younger sister along with 18 other people including three small children went into hiding for 20 months under the home of a known anti-Semite in Poland. What they went through and their day to day existence is beyond belief. What this family who kept them is also beyond belief. Their goodness and sharing of what little they had is just overwhelming; the whole book is overwhelming and hard to put down. I highly recommend it.

The junior high school where I taught World War II and Holocaust history has invited Holocaust survivors to speak, and to educate our students. It is wonderful that Clara Kramer still accepts speaking engagements. It would be amazing to hear her tell her own story! This powerful and well-written book should be required reading for every adolescent.

Well written personal account which seems so alive even though seventy years have passed. We know that the author survived but the tension is high as you read because you feel invested in the fate of all the characters. The thought of living for 18 months under such terrible conditions and under such tension is mind blowing. This book should be read in schools alongside Anne Frank's story. I read the entire book on a flight from Madrid to Dallas. I was tired but couldn't stop until I knew what happened to everyone..

Intensive and extremely poignant biography of those few who despite all odds, survived the despicable Nazi violence against the Polish Jewish people. The complex intricacies of the human spirit in its motivation to survive is s life changing read....one can never, ever take the gift of life and love for granted after reading this!

This has some interesting details about life in this small town at the time of the war and describe the characters well but, really, after a certain point, there isn't much to say about the day after day life underground here even though there were some dangerous developments regarding Nazis living in the house above their bunker...there are pictures and they made it through

This was an awesome historical account of courage, selfishness and the power of prayer. I don't know how these wonderful people survived but thank you for your sacrifice in telling your story. This book should be on the required reading in our schools!

You won't regret reading such an amazing story of strength, faith and endurance through the horrors and trials of Clara's friends and family. I'm very thankful that Clara's mother had the insight to encourage Clara to write and to protect the diaries so that this story could be told. I am in awe of all they went through. I hope that I have the character to do what the Becks did if it were ever required of me.

To say this book is remarkable is a vast understatement. Clara’s life is both unimaginable & heartbreaking. Her story is humbling & inspiring. I would love to meet this brave heroine someday.

This book is unbelievable. The heart behind Clara's story is truly mesmerizing. It is hard to compreheend the suffering so many people endured during WWII, and I was crying as I read Clara's words. The conditions they were living in was inhumane and absolutely heart wrenching. This book is a must for anyone.

Well worth the read. Spectacular deprivations experienced by innocents at the hands of NAZI s occupying Poland. Living for years under the floor? It was that of the concentration camp! Unbelievable what Klara Kramer went through!

I'm drawn to holocaust survivor stories and this one did not disappoint. An excellent narrative. A great point of view. There were times I was immersed and couldn't stop reading. And the courage and bravery of everyone. I recommend this to those who have the same interest that I do.

Knowing that the author survived made this book easier to read for me. Clara becomes so real and your heart just breaks for her, especially when you consider how very young she was while under going this horrible war. Everyone who reads this will have a profound respect for the author, both for her bravery in her youth and in the way she chose to lead her adult life.

The more stories that are printed the more the horror of the Holocaust is made vivid and horrifying. This story is one of bravery and hard times. The descriptions are, at most times, clear and so sad. At times the writing is less clear, but still the story flows, the characters are real and their experience beyond belief. This story needs to be read and shared to truly understand what the Holocaust was and what it did.

Before all witnesses and victims pass on, their memories should be written, published like Clara's. and highly publicized. Otherwise the people who do not think all these happened, will do more harm. Also, we have to be grateful for all the brave souls who sacrificed their lives to be HUMAN, like the family Clara writes about. It is a book well written. Buy several copies and give them away to your friends and relatives.

This book holds your interest every step of the way.It keeps you wondering if anyone else will be captured and killed. It also romance teaches you so much about how horrible things were for these people, but they still fought hard to live. Such very strong people.

Well worth the read. Spectacular deprivations experienced by innocents at the hands of NAZI s occupying Poland. Living for years under the floor? It was that of the concentration camp! Unbelievable what Klara Kramer went through!

I'm drawn to holocaust survivor stories and this one did not disappoint. An excellent narrative. A great point of view. There were times I was immersed and couldn't stop reading. And the courage and bravery of everyone. I recommend this to those who have the same interest that I do.

Knowing that the author survived made this book easier to read for me. Clara becomes so real and your heart just breaks for her, especially when you consider how very young she was while under going this horrible war. Everyone who reads this will have a profound respect for the author, both for her bravery in her youth and in the way she chose to lead her adult life.

The more stories that are printed the more the horror of the Holocaust is made vivid and horrifying. This story is one of bravery and hard times. The descriptions are, at most times, clear and so sad. At times the writing is less clear, but still the story flows, the characters are real and their experience beyond belief. This story needs to be read and shared to truly understand what the Holocaust was and what it did.

Before all witnesses and victims pass on, their memories should be written, published like Clara's. and highly publicized. Otherwise the people who do not think all these happened, will do more harm. Also, we have to be grateful for all the brave souls who sacrificed their lives to be HUMAN, like the family Clara writes about. It is a book well written. Buy several copies and give them away to your friends and relatives.

This book holds your interest every step of the way.It keeps you wondering if anyone else will be captured and killed. It also romance teaches you so much about how horrible things were for these people, but they still fought hard to live. Such very strong people.

This book is an eye opener from someone who lived through WW II hidden in very uncomfortable quarters and living from day-to-day not knowing if they and her family would be discovered. The book portrays the hardship of not only the family hidden but those who were hiding them. A must read if you are interested in the lives of those that lived through the horror of losing family and friends during those awful years of the War.

This book should be required reading for middle school or high school students. It's an amazing story of the value of life and the those that honor life and those that don't. It's also a grim reminder of the horrendous dehumanizing effects of war but also of the kindness and strength of the human spirit. You'll have a hard time with the devastating destruction of these families but you won't be able to put it down because of Clara's personal perspective. Hard to believe it's nonfiction.

I gained a deep appreciation for the incredible hardships that families and individuals endured to survive, and the courage that those who were protecting them had to have. Knowing that they came through the experience alive helped make the reading hopeful.