Woman of Valor

A Story of Resistance, Leadership & Courage

By: Marty Brounstein

Narrated by: Erin Coley

Woman of Valor is a remarkable and true story of bravery, compassion, and rescue during the Holocaust. Eta Chait, a young Jewish woman, lived with her parents and siblings in Lukow, Poland. In 1939, the country was invaded by Nazi Germany, marking the start of World War Two. Under the Nazis’ brutal occupation, the Jews of Poland were rounded up, and segregated into ghettos. At first, they were able to work outside of these areas; within a short time, however, their movements were severely restricted and their food supplies limited. As Eta and her family found themselves crowded into one of these ghettos, they watched as their Jewish neighbors were pulled out of their homes, imprisoned, or summarily executed in the streets. Facing this oncoming brutality, Eta joined a resistance group within the ghetto to escape. After fleeing, she returned to help free the rest of her family with unexpected consequences. From there, Eta and her remaining family made their way into the Polish woods for safety.

From that moment, Eta’s mission was clear—she would do everything she could to defeat the Nazis and save as many Jews as possible. The dense Polish forest served as a relatively safe haven for Poles fleeing from the Germans. It also served as the base of operations for the organized resistance. Eta quickly joined an all-Jewish armed resistance unit, which was part of the Polish Partisan fighters made up of Jews and non-Jews. Through her cunning and bravery, she rose to become one of the leaders of an all-Jewish partisan unit. Led by Eta and others, this unit went on missions outside the forest. These units were armed and ready to engage in combat and defense activities against the Nazis and their collaborators. Because of their success, they became a top target of the Nazis.

To change from daughter into the role of a young soldier is no easy transition; however, this heroic evolution is at the heart of Eta Chait’s story. Woman of Valor follows her journey, from the horrors of the ghetto into the hardships of survival in the woods under the most extreme conditions. And then through her eyes as a fighter, we witness the struggles and fears of those who were trapped by the Holocaust. This is the moving story of a young woman who refused to give up—who chose to put her own life on the line in order to save the lives of others from certain death. Amidst the many tragic stories of the Holocaust, Eta’s tale serves to remind us of the good in people.

©2021 Leah Brounstein Baars (P)2022 Square One Publishers, Inc.

A+ Narrator

What a story! The narrator was clear, precise and a joy to listen. I would highly recommend this quick listen and more books narrated by Erin Coley

Excellent narration of courageous people

This biography of a devastating time tells of courage and perseverance. It is very detailed but the narration brings the people to life. It is easy to follow the story as the narrator demonstrated excellent skill in character voices with accents. This the story is very insightful and I am glad to have listened.

A story of bravery, hope and inspiration!

While the Holocaust might be considered a daunting and depressing subject, this book proves to be the opposite. Eta Chait’s story is one we should all learn. It is filled with bravery, resilience and hope.

Author Marty Brounstein masterfully weaves the tale of Chait’s resistance journey as a young Jewish woman in WWII Poland. Narrator Erin Coley complements the author’s story with her compassionate, adept reading complete with spot-on accents and pronunciations.

This book is an excellent addition to anyone’s library, but it is an especially important story for women and even younger girls. We should all aspire to be as courageous and proactive as this remarkable resistance fighter.

Loved it!

The narration of this book was wonderful. I found the book to be well written and informative.

A Woman of Valor

Fascinating and uplifting story of a remarkable woman who made a difference and inspired others.