“Dear Mr. Nasser,
I just want to introduce myself. I’m Victoria Waddle, the teacher librarian at Colony High School. I’ve been working with Courtney Saldana and with the social studies teachers at Colony High in preparation for your visit on February 22.
Though the school is in an economically depressed area, I have purchased five copies of your book for the library. I read it and enjoyed it very much, as it was both moving and inspirational. I’ve displayed it, talked about it to a few students who were in the library at lunch, and all the copies are checked out. One student has already reported back to me that she was also very moved by it. Her family lost their home in this economic recession. She’s talked to me about ensuing problems and is very troubled. I know your story inspired her because she can see the survival of the human spirit in the worst possible circumstances.
I am now buying five more copies for the other high school where I am also the part-time teacher librarian, Chaffey High. (It is also in Ontario.) Perhaps the students at that school with also one day have the opportunity to hear you speak.
I have two blogs on which I review books for my two schools. I reviewed your book there. If you’d like to see this, here are the links to the reviews (it’s the same thing in both places, but the schools like to have separate websites):
For Colony High:
http://colonylibrarylady.com/2011/01/26/my-brothers-voice/
For Chaffey High:
http://chaffeylibrarylady.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/my-brothers-voice/
We are very much looking forward to your visit.
Sincerely,
Victoria Waddle
Teacher Librarian
Colony Library Lady
Chaffey Library Lady
Waddle I Read Library”
“I am a high school English teacher and was searching for a book that would captivate my students, be a real page turner, and have a strong motivational theme that appealed to teenagers. After much looking, I stumbled on to this book and ordered it due to the incredible reviews. WOW!!! I am so excited to have my students read this book – they will love it just as much as I did! Students will absolutely identify with the characters, their resilience, and determination to survive in the most brutal of circumstances. There is even an on-line site that has dynamic lesson plans for this book. If by chance you are teaching students who struggle, this book will also open up all kinds of activites around resiliency. I looked at over 100 book choices for my students and this one is a hundred times better than any of them! This is most certainly a book for adult readers too; I couldn’t put it down.”
– Reader review on Amazon.com
“I have read many books about the Holocaust and they are all different; different circumstances, different challenges. This is one of the better ones and shows what it takes to survive even when subjected to death or near death many times. If you don’t shed a tear or two toward the end of this book, then you would know that you are a rock and not a human being. This is a tragic, yet uplifting story where the human spirit and will to live conquers all. You will find out for yourself if you read this book.”
– bookreporter.com
“It took courage to open up his personal feelings and pain to share his family’s tragic story. As Holocaust survivors grow older the reality of first person eyewitness grows fainter. At times the magnitude is just too horrific to comprehend. By publishing his family’s story, Nasser allows the tragedy of his story to speak for millions who cannot.”
– Meyer Bodoff,
CEO/Executive Vice President, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas
“What I would like is for them to share it with their children,” Nasser says of those who hear him speak or read his book. He thinks especially of teenagers, “when they start complaining and nothing is enough. Let them read that and let them find out how much pain there is, and wake up because there have been thousands and thousands of soldiers who died to defend our freedom.”
– Las Vegas Review-Journal
“There are, Stephen Nasser figures, 11 million people — 11 million victims of the Holocaust — who will never be able to speak for themselves. And so Nasser feels compelled to do anything he can, as long as he himself has a voice, to provide one for these lost innocents.”
– Las Vegas Review-Journal
“One can see a lot that can “harden” one to life’s experiences, but what Nasser went through as a 13-year-old, can cause even a hardened individual to tear up. I recommend this book to all who study the devastation a tyrant can bring to the world. Those who do not learn from history can expect to experience it again.”
– Charles L. Shreves
Colonel, US Army, Retired
“In this full, often graphic account, Nasser gives the readers regular glimpses of human kindness and compassion from unlikely sources at unexpected times. They are the indications of the author’s nevertheless continuing faith in mankind, and its potential for building a better world.”
– Gina Klonoff,
Chairperson, Holocaust Survivor Speakers Group of Southern Nevada
“Writing in a straightforward, narrative style, Nasser avoids the cloying or maudlin language that characterizes some stories of the Holocaust. Perhaps its for that reasons that readers will find his book one they won’t forget-and one they recommend to others as a ‘must read’.”
– Ray Newton
Former National Coordinator, Reader’s Digest Writing Workshops
“I just finished reading your book, My Brother’s Voice, and wanted to pass along my praise and appreciation for your story. I read your book with much heartache, and was moved me to tears on a number of occasions as I felt like I lived your life right along with you in each chapter. What an amazing, miraculous journey you have come on, and I applaud you for getting this story out to the public. I recently saw you speak in Sun City, Arizona myself. Not only are you a survivor, but a gifted speaker and author as well. It was a pleasure to meet you there.
Having visited Budapest about 10 years ago, I was instantly drawn to your story when I read an article in the newspaper about you, which prompted me to go hear your talk in Sun City, and to then purchase your book. I couldn’t put the book down, it was so good. I don’t know what it is about the Holocaust that draws my attention so much, but I seem to have a fascination towards it, in the way that it’s so hard to believe, I have to keep reading everything I can find on it, to come to terms with it — almost like I’m trying to fathom how it all could have happened in such a modern time period.
You are a true hero to have overcome what the Nazis did to you. I wish more young people in my generation (I am 35) would open up their eyes to the events of World War II because the past is so important to take lessons from. We here in the United States take our many freedoms for granted, and too often neglect how lucky we are.
I thank you for sharing your story and opening up your life so intimately to us strangers out here…Your book had a tremendous affect on me, and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.”
– Aimee Rocheleau
Buckeye, AZ
5 of 5 stars false
I just saw Stephen Nasser speak live. What an absolute thrill. To meet a survivor of the Halocaust!is a memory I will never forget! We must all NEVER FORGET! This book, like most of the books, movies, etc. about that horrible period in Human history was tough to read, but absolutely heart rending and worth the time. I would highly recommend it.
– Tami’s review, GoodReads
“Hello my name is Nikkie Luevano. I attend colony high school and listened as you shared your horrific story with us today. Im not very good with words, but you sir, on the other hand, are. And your words moved me so much today. I spend alot of the day thinking about what you had said about family. I never really tell my parents “I love you” first. And I sometimes throw fits when they ask me to do chores. But after hearing you speak today, I thought about “what if I lost my parents”. Im not much older than you were when you lost yours, and I would be nothing without them. I love my parents so much but always have had too much pride to ever admit my wrong doings and I would always be too embarrassed to have mushy “I love you” talks with them. But today when I came home, I shared your story with my dad. I sat and told him of your hardships and how much we take things for granted. I then told him what you said, “I would give half my life to do one more errand for my parents”. He also lost his parents at a young age and I could tell he was emotional. At that moment I let go of all my pride and embarrassment and I told my dad how much I loved him and that I was so so glad I still have him in my life. We sat there and held each other and told each other how grateful we were that we still have one another, and it was an amazing moment. And during those moments i kept thinking “Thank you, Mr. Nasser. This is for both of us”
I want to thank you so much for making me realize how much I love my family. For giving me that push to go and appreciate my parents. I admire your strength so much and think you are such an inspiration. I know your family is so proud of you. And even though I don’t know you personally, so am I.
Thank you again, Mr. Nasser.
Extremely sincerely,”
– Nikkie Luevano