My Dear Boy

A World War II Story of Escape, Exile, and Revelation

By: Joanie Holzer Schirm

Narrated by: Kate Mulligan, Traber Burns

After the death of Joanie Holzer Schirm's parents in 2000, she found hundreds of letters, held together by rusted paperclips and stamped with censor marks, sent from Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, China, and South and North America, along with journals, vintage film, taped interviews, and photographs. In working through these various materials documenting the life of her father, Oswald "Valdik" Holzer, she learned of her family history through his remarkable experiences of exile and loss, resilience and hope.

In this posthumous memoir, Schirm elegantly recreates her father's youthful voice as he comes of age as a Jew in interwar Prague, escapes from a Nazi-held army unit, practices medicine in China's war-ravaged interior, and settles in the United States to start a family. Introducing us to a diverse cast of characters ranging from the humorous to the menacing, Holzer's life story is an inspirational account of survival during wartime, a cinematic epic spanning multiple continents, and ultimately a tale with a twist-a book that will move listeners for generations to come.

©2019 Joanie Holzer Schirm (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Riveting, Incredible historical story!

Linda Jo Burt

This is a story that absorbed me completely. Dr. Holzer’s experiences are amazing and filled with so much history-not only about the Halocaust but of the horrors of war in many countries. This was one of the best books I have listened to and the readers added so much to it’s impact. I highly recommend it!!!

Excellent book

Excellent book for those of us fascinated by the stories of individuals during WWII. Good writing and an engrossing story both heartbreaking and uplifting.

A story all should hear

This book touched me deeply with its truth, sincerity, humanity, and family love and respect. It was a pleasant way to review the historical events of that time rather than sitting in a classroom. I loved the description of the beauty of prewar China and the many places that Dr. Holzer lived. It was precious to hear of the innocence and purity of their love and the civility of the interactions of friends and relatives in that period. The contrast between their affectionate behavior toward one another and the horror of the holocaust was heartbreaking. Such barbarity and cruelty inflicted on the Jews and others are unfathomable. It haunts me that it could be repeated here in the United States or elsewhere, where hatred is again raising her Hydra Head.
Joanie Holzer Schirm gave an honorable and loving tribute to her admirable father by publishing his memoirs, adding her excellent research.

My dear boy is a fascinating insight

A great addition to the story of the 2 nd world war. When paired with the little Dutch girl. And other books about queen elizabeth, Churchill, Roosevelt and others one begins to understand how freedom from tyranny hangs by a thread!

Escape to China in WWII

Amazing story! It's a well written and well narrated WWII adventure. It's is going on my favorite books list

Thoroughly educational

I wasn’t aware of what happened in Czechoslovakia during WWII. This book gave appreciated illumination.

The sides of WWII you might never have read

The author Joanie Schirm, has taken us on a journey from Moravia/ Bohemia from the First World War through the journey of her father’s life in escaping the Nazis, to wartime China, to the United States. His life
Of service
And continuing to attempt to volunteer or seek employment continually being rejected while maintaining a positive attitude is remarkable. His wife is a pivotal component in his life that keeps the plates spinning all along.
Remarkably engaging and well worth the time. A fast
Read even though it is filled with facts and detail.
Loved it

My Dear Boy

Well- written and narrated! This was a story of romance, beauty, and family resilience in the face of Hitler’s attempt to distort and destroy elements of our human race. It was simultaneously inspiring and overwhelming to hear of hatred and its impact- knowing we are not yet free of this monster.

Fascinating

Well written and read that I felt I was there in the story. Many of us think we know the story of the Holocost but personal stories such as this really bring home the reality of the suffering that took place.

Should be required reading in schools

Book puts grim pictures and statistics of Nazi death camps in a family context. Very inspirational a man who lost over 40 of his family mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, aunts and uncle’s wanted to spend the rest of his life serving others.