The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival

The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel is a very inspiring book to begin with. This is a graphic memoir about Estelle’s (born Enia) life. Estelle was born in Poland and lived there during the Holocaust when the Nazis took control over Poland. So, the history behind this story is especially important for readers to understand in order to fully appreciate the characters’ challenges and strength.

Estelle was Jewish. She was held captive, and she couldn’t even sing—and singing made her happy! I especially appreciated the main character’s love for singing because that is something I can relate to myself. After World War II, Estelle moved to America. She still lives there today. This is the story of how one Jewish girl survived by hiding… and then escaping free with music living on in her heart.

I love the pictures by Sammy Savos. They are so evocative, if not authentic to the time period. This is not historical fiction. This is a true story, told by the person who experienced these troubled times. If one persists with help from their family, they can survive. With drama, sincerity, and a dash of humor, The Girl Who Sang is destined to be a classic.