Heather Morris returns to Auschwitz with Three Sisters, a powerful novel based on the true story of Cibi, Magda, and Livia, three Slovakian Jewish sisters who vow as children to always stay together. That promise is tested when the Nazis invade, sending Cibi and Livia to Auschwitz while Magda remains hidden—until she, too, is captured.
Morris’s writing is straightforward, allowing the sisters’ harrowing journey to speak for itself. Their time in the concentration camp is brutal, but their unwavering devotion to each other gives them strength. Unlike The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this novel extends beyond the war, following the sisters as they struggle to rebuild their lives in post-war Europe and later in Israel. That broader scope adds depth, making this not just a survival story but one of resilience and hope.
Morris conducted phenomenal research, speaking with Livia, Magda, and their families in 2019 and 2020. The novel includes real events from their lives, as well as the hostility they faced in their homeland after the war. I was surprised to learn that Jewish young people “volunteered” to work for the Germans, and I hadn’t read a WWII-era novel set in Slovakia before.
Told simply from the sisters’ perspectives, Three Sisters is a testament to love, courage, and the promises that endure. Some parts feel rushed, but the emotional weight lingers.
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this book. The opinions are my own.