The Endless Steppe Audiobook By Esther Hautzig cover art

The Endless Steppe

Growing Up in Siberia

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The Endless Steppe

By: Esther Hautzig
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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Poland, 1940. The Russian army invades the beautiful city streets of Vilna. Soldiers storm 10-year-old Esther Rudomin's house and arrest her entire family. The Rudomins, the soldiers say, are "capitalists - enemies of the people".

Forced from their home and friends, the Rudomins are herded onto crowded cattle cars. Their destination: the endless steppe of Siberia. For five years, Esther and her family live in exile, weeding potato fields and working in mines, fighting against all odds to stay alive. It is not an easy life. But through it all, Esther sustains the hope that one day she will return to Poland - and to freedom.

A National Book Award finalist, The Endless Steppe is the true story of Esther Rudomin Hautzig's girlhood in World War II Siberia. For over 25 years, this extraordinary book has touched the hearts of young people around the world with its vivid portrayal of life during World War II and its inspiring testament to the power of hope in the harshest conditions.

©1968 Esther Hautzig (P)1995 Recorded Books Biographies Difficult Discussions Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Historical Discrimination Nonfiction Russia Heartfelt

Editor's Pick

A child’s exile to Siberia. Life is still beautiful.
"How much do I love this classic memoir that feels like a novel? I-burst-into-tears-when-I-met-the-writer-as-an-adult much. (Side note: that’s not usually how I roll. At all.) While I was glued to the twists and turns of Esther’s life from ages 10–16, I also learned so much about the European Jewish experience in WWII. If there’s ever a happy ending from that scenario, Esther’s bittersweet story nails it. Children and adults can appreciate this unpauseable audio."
—Christina H., Audible Editor

True Story • Engaging Narrative • Foreign Pronunciation Skill • Human Spirit • Beautiful Writing • Educational Value
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I listed to this book before sharing with my kids and it should be heard by any 10+ and maybe even a listen again at different ages. (The things we see as a parent are different as a child.)

This should be required reading in schools, history that should not be forgotten.

Performance was spot on. The pace was slow and steady but felt right for the store and like I was hearing Esther herself tell it as a young girl.

Not just for children

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What made the experience of listening to The Endless Steppe the most enjoyable?

Well written-fabulously interesting- warm characters and loved the speaker

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ester

Which scene was your favorite?

Description of Siberia as it was
Understanding the ominous beauty and silence of the Steppe

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A tragic blessing

Any additional comments?

Wonderful story full of heart and reality

Love true stories overcoming incredible hardships

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This is a good book for all ages.
It is day today like in a gulag, forced labor camp.

What life is like on the stepps

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This book should be required reading in every middle/high school. Her story is told in such a real and beautiful manner; conveying a typical child’s(and then teen’s), confusion, angst, sadness, joy, happiness etc and her relationships with others in her world. As we modern people (especially Americans) forget how it is to live under oppression and threats of constant death, it would be wise to have the next generation be familiar with the Endless Steppe.

Amazing True story

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...Equally loved this story when I read it again 50 years later. I enjoyed following up on her life through a search..

Loved it when I read it in the 5th grade

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An excellent true story of a family exiled to Siberia during WWII, told from the young girl's perspective. I thought it enjoyable narration.

An absolutely wonderful book!

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A perspective of the war I had not heard before. I loved every minute of it.

Riveting!

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I was engaged, with this true story, from the first paragraph to the last. I've seen The Endless Steppe described as a "children's book", but I'm 63 and I loved it!

Immediately Engaging

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For avid book listeners or readers, I would give this book a 13/10. Awesome and amazing.

Amazing, Simply Amazing

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I really enjoyed this book. The narrator did a good job reading it. Most of all though I love the story. I've read several world war II books and this is one of the best I've found for the 10yo to teen age group. I also found it enjoyable as an adult. The story was well-written and engaging. It shows someone making the best of a difficult situation. Also while it deals with difficult subjects head on it it does it in a way that a child who might be overwhelmed by the horrors of war can take what they're able to understand and not have to confront things they're not ready to deal with yet. I also liked that it told the story of exile to Siberia which is a narrative not often seen in books for younger audiences.

Love it!

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