A Promise to My Sister

By: S.E. Rutledge

Narrated by: Antonia Whillans

Auschwitz, 1943. I cradle my little sister’s feverish body and weep silently in the darkness. “I love you,” I whisper, “Remember, tomorrow we’re free.” And I know in my heart that whatever it takes, I will find a way out of here—for me, and for my sister…

At the imposing iron gates of Auschwitz, twenty-one-year-old Hodaya clings to her mama and papa, her little sister Bayla’s arms around her waist. But when Hodaya is sent one way and her parents the other, a plea to keep her sister safe is the last thing in her mother’s eyes. Hodaya makes a silent promise in return.

But Auschwitz is no place for a little girl, and keeping Bayla safe takes every ounce of Hodaya’s strength. She hates watching the spark in her little sister’s eyes dull, and as she hands over her daily rations of watery soup and stale bread to keep Bayla fed, she feels herself weakening by the second. But she vows to find a way out, even if it means sacrificing the young woman she once was.

Admiring the bravery of other prisoners’ revolts and imagining a world in which she joins in, Hodaya battles between her determination to save Bayla and mounting despair. But in the end, it’s the most unlikely person who reminds her to dare to hope: Alaric, a German soldier. As desperate hunger closes in, Alaric draws a parcel of warm food from a satchel and offers it to Hodaya—his expression guarded, blue eyes troubled, but his hand steady.

But can Hodaya trust a stranger, particularly a German? And as sickness takes hold of Bayla, is it already too late to keep her promise to keep Bayla safe—or will the last ounce of hope in her heart lead to an escape from the darkest of places?

A breath-taking, gut-wrenching World War Two novel which will tear your heart apart at the same time it restores your faith in the power of love, family and sisterhood to triumph over evil.

©2024 S.E. Rutledge (P)2024 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

You will need tissues!

VERY powerful story! As soon as I started this book, I could not put it down. It's all I could think about. And I think I will continue to, and what all these people suffered it is so, so heartbreaking. Every page in this book is written with such description I could picture every moment as if I were watching a movie. I have never read a book that made me feel so many emotions. What a heartwrenching story of two sisters surviving the most unimaginable horrors. Hodaya, the oldest sister has so much strength and courage throughout to care for her little sister Bayla. She is what keeps her strength to push on another day, and another day. She has some help from someone you would least expect it from. I was on the edge of my seat alot. I found myself shouting with joy outloud a few times and many crys of sadness. This story is a scenario that very well could have happened in this horrific time in history. It really pulls on your heartstrings. I look forward to reading another book from this author.

A Promise To My Sister

I was blown away by this story from start to finish! I was taken to places in my mind I never expected to go. I rode in that train car with Hodaya and her sister all the way to Auschwitz and through every horrifying moment of human cruelty. I haven't been able to get this story out of my mind since. The audio version could not have been better I don't believe. The writer captured the absolute evil that man perpetuated in this time. The strength of Hodaya to endure the reality is amazing and breathtaking. This historical fiction could have very well been many times over a historical true story. Amazing from start to finish!