Three Sisters by Heather Morris: five stars!

Three Sisters by Heather Morris is beautiful and full of hope. But also harrowing. Really disturbing. It’s based on the true story of three Jewish sisters and their experiences in World War II. A must read.

Book summary:

Three Slovakian sisters—Livia, Magda, and Cibi—have endured years of imprisonment in Birkenau-Auschwitz, Nazi Germany’s most infamous death camp. They remained united as they faced starvation, backbreaking labor, and cruelty at the hands of the guards. As the Allies approach, the sisters confront one final trial: a death march meant to erase evidence of the camp’s horrors. In a twist of fate, they manage to slip away, hiding in the woods and surrounding communities for days until Soviet soldiers rescue them.

This escape marks the beginning of their next chapter. The sisters journey to Israel, seeking a new life, but their fight for freedom isn’t over. They must confront lingering trauma and long-held secrets to find true peace and happiness.

Based on real events, Three Sisters by Heather Morris offers readers a powerful tale of courage, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

Historical notes:

A look at Slovakia

At the turn of the twentieth century, Slovakia was part of the Kingdom of Hungary within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Slovaks faced political and cultural suppression as the Hungarian government sought to assimilate them into Hungarian society. Slovaks maintained their national identity largely through underground cultural activities and resistance movements.

After World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Slovakia became part of the newly formed state of Czechoslovakia. The Treaty of Trianon (1920) formalized this arrangement. Though Slovakia benefited from modernization and industrialization under Czech leadership, Slovaks often felt marginalized, as political and economic power was concentrated in Prague.

The time period in Three Sisters by Heather Morris: Following the Munich Agreement in 1938 and the occupation of the Czech lands by Nazi Germany in 1939, Slovakia became a Nazi puppet state under the leadership of President Jozef Tiso. Known as the First Slovak Republic (1939–1945), strong collaboration with Nazi Germany and the deportation of Slovak Jews to concentration camps marked this time period. However, unsuccessful resistance movements, including the Slovak National Uprising in 1944, attempted to overthrow the pro-Nazi regime.

After World War II, Slovakia was reintegrated into a restored Czechoslovakia, which aligned itself with Soviet influence. The Beneš Decrees led to the expulsion of ethnic Germans and Hungarians from Slovakia. By 1948, a Communist coup established a Soviet-style regime across Czechoslovakia, including Slovakia, marking the beginning of a period of strict authoritarian rule and the suppression of political dissent. Late in 1989, protests known as the Velvet Revolution paved the way to the downfall of Communist Party rule in Czechoslovakia. At the end of 1992, Czechoslovakia peacefully divided into the independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Birkenau-Auschwitz

Auschwitz was a network of concentration and extermination camps established by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II. The complex included three primary camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau being the most infamous. Most people arrived by train, packed into overcrowded cattle cars. Upon arrival, SS doctors and officers conducted “selections.” Those deemed unfit for work—including children, the elderly, and many women—were sent directly to the gas chambers. Those selected for forced labor were tattooed with identification numbers and subjected to inhumane conditions.

Birkenau housed four large gas chambers and crematoria. Victims believed they were going for showers but faced exposure to lethal Zyklon B gas instead. The bodies were then burned in crematoria to hide evidence of the atrocities. It is estimated that over a million people, mostly Jews, were murdered at Auschwitz, with Birkenau being the epicenter of this mass killing.

Survivors endured starvation, overwork, abuse, and rampant disease. SS doctor Josef Mengele conducted horrific medical experiments on prisoners, including children and twins. Despite the overwhelming oppression, acts of resistance occurred. In 1944, members of the Sonderkommando (prisoners forced to work in the crematoria) staged an uprising, temporarily destroying one crematorium.

As the Soviet Army advanced in January 1945, the Nazis forced prisoners on brutal death marches to other camps. Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz on January 27, revealing the extent of the atrocities committed there. Auschwitz-Birkenau stands today as a powerful memorial and museum, symbolizing the horrors of the Holocaust and humanity’s need to remember the past to prevent future atrocities.

What struck me

I’ve read a lot of historical fiction set during World War II. I started with The Diary of Anne Frank in about fourth grade and haven’t stopped yet. It always draws me in. Three Sisters by Heather Morris is the first one I’ve read that focuses so thoroughly on what happened AFTER the war, as well as their experiences during the war. The sisters’ story is full of brutality and hardship, and yet they were among the lucky ones. Unfathomable.

Oleander, linden trees, garlic, and onions

The featured photo at the top of this article is of an oleander bush. There was one in the back yard of the sisters’ childhood home, and it symbolized their family life. They would pluck blooms for significant events, and the perception was that the bush thrived when the family thrived. A beautiful image.

A linden tree and its blossoms also figured prominently in the story. They would gather blossoms to dry and use for tea. The sisters enjoyed the ritual of visiting the tree each year and shaking down the blooms. The tea had medicinal properties and was often in their thoughts throughout their confinement. Interestingly, they also took advantage of medicinal qualities in both garlic and onions.

Life in community

The idea of community life resonated throughout the story. Initially, the girls were very hurt by the actions and attitudes of most of their neighbors. One neighbor showed extreme kindness to Magda, but otherwise the situation was extremely difficult. Even after the war, the return home deeply disappointed the girls. They felt compelled to leave the country and rebuild their lives elsewhere. They sought out (and found) community in Israel.

Promises kept

Last, but certainly not least, I must mention the vow the sisters made to each other and their father. It shaped much of their lives and impacted every decision. They committed to staying together and looking out for each other. Their beautiful love for each other was the cornerstone of the book. It impacted generations.

About the author

Heather Morris, originally from New Zealand and now living in Australia, worked at a public hospital in Melbourne while studying and writing screenplays. One of her scripts was optioned by an Oscar-winning screenwriter. In 2003, she met Lale Sokolov, an elderly Holocaust survivor, whose story she felt compelled to share. Heather first wrote about him in a screenplay before transforming it into her debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. It is the first in a three-book series, followed by Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters.

It’s not an easy read, but it’s important to hear their story. Let me know your thoughts!

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Fondly,

Crysti