Customer Reviews

The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I visited the Priest's Grotto in 1990 and found the story local cavers told us fascinating. However it took the amazing detective work of Cris Nicola to uncover the entire story of survival. The book accurately conveys the cave environment and the conditions found there. Cris and Peter are able to put this into language that non caver types can understand. The book had special meaning to me as I am one of few Americans to actually visit the site. To anyone this story is a moving example of a family fighting to survive under horrible conditions. The photo of the present day family on page 61 brought tears to my eyes. I highly reccomend giving this book a read.

Two authors, a cave expert and a photographer, tell this almost unbelievable story of how thirty-eight Jews from a village in the Ukraine survived the Holocaust. They clung tenaciously to life in two different caves for over one year, and somehow managed to come out of the experience physically, mentally, and emotionally intact. We feel admiration and empathy for these determined people who risked everything in order to stay together.

The story of the caves is interwoven with the story of these people's survival. The authors conducted extensive interviews and consulted the memoir, We Fight to Survive, written in 1960 by Esther Stermer, the matriarch of one of the families. This book reads like an adventure story with a suspense-filled plot and fascinating characters. However, this is brutal fact, not artificial fiction. Generous margins, gorgeous photos of the people and places involved, accurate maps and fascinating sidebars make for a handsome book. The only elements lacking are an index and bibliography. One of the survivors, Shulim Stermer, states: "Everyone has it inside of them to survive." Peter Taylor wondered if he would be capable of the same will to fight for his own family's survival. The Secret of Priest's Grotto brings us face to face with this difficult question. Ages 10-14.

This is a very nice book about a little-known story from WWII. It is just incredible what these Jewish families were able to endure to stay alive by hiding in caves, although none of them were experienced cavers. The story of the modern-day cave experts who rediscovered the story is also well done, and the two tales are woven beautifully to create the book. Modern cave photographs and historical images work combine to help tell the story.

A book that should be read by all Holocaust-denyers. Had the privelage of meeting the authors and one of the family members written about.

The layout of this book is unique and superb -- it includes both comtemporary color photos and historic b&w photos of the families involved in the hiding from the Germans, as well as location photos, and artifacts. Although a paperback, the cover is protected with a gloss and has beautiful colors. I was so attracted by the layout that I have considered using ideas from the book in publishing a book of photos of my own amateur photography.

The narrative is just detailed enough to hold interest but not get bogged down. The story is not just another story of hiding; it is hiding underground for so long that it holds the record for duration of time underground. Some of those involved are still alive and have provided the information to the authors who located them, upon the recommendation of people near to the caves. Better still, the story is expected to become a movie. I will be there; will you?

For a "not a main stream book" this was great reading... A real life adventure as the author peels back the years to learn a cave's hidden story.

This is an amazing story about a family who survived the Holocaust by living in a giant cave. It is a must read for everyone of all ages.

This is an excellent book. The story and the photography are compelling and very well done.

This story has all the elements of great drama - mystery, adventure, survival - and it's all true. As a school librarian, I am grateful for such a detailed presentation directed to our readers, as well as adults.

overall the book was worth the price, but i felt it didn't get into the epic very deep. It was too general and shallow. Not much detail was given on HOW they were able to survive in the caves and of their lives afterward. The joy of liberation is understated or barely addressed so its definitely NOT a work of scholarship. even so it is well written and illustrated. Ten bucks is about right...