Beverly Hills High School

Kids are often my favorite audiences! The students of Beverly Hills High School, who had read “We Were the Lucky Ones” over the summer, are no exception. During interactive assemblies, they got a feel for how an idea can evolve into the written word and onto the screen. They watched footage from research interviews and the tv series, read scenes aloud from the book and teleplay, and asked excellent questions. Their enthusiasm and curiosity were inspiring, and I was happy to get feedback from the school, excerpted below.

From Dustin Seemann, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services: 

I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed your time in Beverly Hills – we were truly honored to have you as part of our Beverly Hills Reads event! Your visit was outstanding, and your engagement with our students and families left a lasting impression.

Your slide deck provided fantastic visuals that helped our students make meaningful connections between your discussion, your book, and even the new Hulu series. With so many students here interested in the film industry, your insights into adapting your writing for the screen were both fascinating and inspiring. It was clear that they were captivated by the way you walked them through that creative process.

Additionally, having students read excerpts from your book to spark conversation was a wonderful touch. It allowed them to dive deeper into your story and made the experience feel personal and interactive. Your family’s story resonates strongly with many in our community, and I could see how students and families were deeply moved by your words.

Thank you again for being such an engaging speaker and for helping to create a memorable event for everyone involved.

 

A sampling of student comments about the book:

I loved the authenticity, the relationships between each of the characters felt so real and warm. The lead up to the final reunion was one of the most intense and emotional things I have ever read.

~ Sophia Diamond

I absolutely loved how each chapter shared a different point of view for every individual character. Additionally, I really appreciated that this story truly resembled the power [of] a strong family bond, and how important it is to have in times of extreme difficulty. Despite the incredible danger and separation the characters endured, they overcame these obstacles and survived. I also want to add that I find it inspiring that this novel is based off of a true story about the author’s family!

~ Sabrina Niku

It was eye-opening to read what the Holocaust was like from the point of view [of people] who experienced it. One thing that consistently warmed my heart was when the Kurcs were able to find love and connection, despite the tragic incidents occurring throughout the book.

~ Giulia Pasquesi

I loved how the author combined the drama with the power of hope, and had a good ending instead of a bad ending.

~ Aditya Bahvnani

I really enjoyed getting a sense of hope in family in a time where joy seemed impossible.

~ Mai Sina

I liked how the book portrayed multiple perspectives and showed how different every survivor’s story is.

~ Emma Saeedian

My grandfather was also a Holocaust survivor so reading this book helped me reflect on those times. This also sparked inspiration to learn more about the Holocaust.

~ Benjamin Hacker

I liked how the [historical] descriptions of each part of the story immersed the reader into the story, making it as if the reader was the character during Holocaust, and it kept me engaged all the way.

~ Nathan Chung

I love that even though the book touched on such dark themes, it felt less depressing to read the stories of these survivors and more empowering and inspiring. Ms. Hunter didn’t write these characters to be pitied, she wrote them to be admired as warriors that fought through unimaginable hardship and made it through to the other side. This isn’t a sob story, it is a story of hope for generations to come.

~ Natalie Riesenfeld

I liked how there were little inserts of history before some chapters to foreshadow what the characters were going to experience.

~ Hannah Davis

I liked how the descriptions of each place made it so you could really visualize what everything looked like.

~ Anna Kershenbaum

Something the novel has taught me is that it was necessary to rely on hope and inner strength to persist…

~ Andrea Rodriguez

I really enjoyed how the novel captured the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of unimaginable circumstances. As a Jewish American, this novel felt extremely personal and universally relevant because of the current circumstances in Israel. Hunter’s storytelling made me feel like I was part of the family, rooting for them with every page.

~ Aaron Tahoor

I liked that the book not only shared the hardships, but the joys that people found in the midst of the difficult time.

~ Noa Saeedian

The message is powerful beyond belief, and makes the reader take a step back and assess their own position in this world.

~ Joey Schachat

One of the biggest points that captivated me throughout the entire book was the incredible amount of hope each family member had amidst the challenging circumstances.

~ Christine Chung