"I'll be forever changed by Dr. Eger's story ... a reminder of what courage looks like in the worst of times ..."
—Oprah
“Dr. Eger’s life reveals our capacity to transcend even the greatest of horrors and to use that suffering for the benefit of others. She has found true freedom and forgiveness and shows us how we can as well.”
—Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
“Exceptional … Eger’s unique background gives her amazing insight … Many people will find comfort from her suggestions on how to handle difficult situations.”
—Bill Gates
“I can’t imagine a more important message for modern times. Eger’s book is a triumph and should be read by all who care about both their inner freedom and the future of humanity.”
—Lori Gottlieb, The New York Times Book Review
“Dr. Edith Eva Eger is my kind of hero. She survived unspeakable horrors and brutality; but rather than let her painful past destroy her, she chose to transform it into a powerful gift—one she uses to help others heal.”
—Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle
“Esmé Schwall, my co-writer–you didn’t just find the words. You became me. Thank you for your ability to see my healing journey from so many different perspectives, and for turning my life into poetry.”
—Edith Eva Eger
A luminous memoir of human resilience.
A Sydney Taylor Award Notable Young Adult Book
2024 Christopher Award winner
In this “luminous” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) young adult edition of the bestselling, award-winning memoir The Choice, Holocaust survivor and renowned psychologist Dr. Edith Eva Eger shares her harrowing experiences and gives readers the gift of hope and strength.
Edie is a talented dancer and a skilled gymnast with hopes of making the Olympic team. Between her rigorous training and her struggle to find her place in a family where she’s the daughter “with brains but no looks,” Edie’s too busy to dwell on the state of the world. But life in Hungary in 1943 is dangerous for a Jewish girl.
Just as Edie falls in love for the first time, Europe collapses into war, and Edie’s family is forced onto a train bound for the Auschwitz concentration camp. Even in those darkest of moments, Edie’s beloved, Eric, kindles hope. “I’ll never forget your eyes,” he tells her through the slats of the cattle car. Auschwitz is horrifying beyond belief, yet through starvation, unthinkable terrors, and daily humiliations like being forced to dance for a Nazi leader, dreams of Eric sustain Edie. Against all odds, Edie and her sister Magda survive, thanks to their sisterhood and sheer grit.
Edie returns home filled with grief and guilt. Survival feels more like a burden than a gift—until Edie recognizes that she has a choice. She can’t change the past, but she can choose how to live and even to love again.