Mala's Cat

A Memoir of Survival in World War II

By: Mala Kacenberg

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

Growing up in the Polish village of Tarnogrod on the fringes of a deep pine forest, Mala Szorer had the happiest childhood she could have hoped for. But at the age of 12, as the German invasion begins, her beloved village becomes a ghetto, and her family and friends are reduced to starvation.

So she takes matters into her own hands and bravely removes her yellow star so she can sneak out to the surrounding villages to barter for food. It is on her way back that she sees her loved ones rounded up for deportation and receives a smuggled letter from her sister warning her to stay away. In order to survive, she walks away from everything she holds dear to live by herself in the forest, hiding not just from the Nazis but from hostile villagers as well.

She is followed by a stray cat who stays with her - and seems to come to her rescue time and time again. Malach the cat becomes her family, her only respite from painful loneliness, her guide, and a reminder to stay hopeful even when faced with unfathomable darkness.

Allowing listeners to see the war through the innocence of a child's eyes, Mala's Cat is a powerful and unique addition to the Holocaust canon.

©2022 Mala Kacenberg (P)2022 Dreamscape Media, LLC

The cat Mala

I did not understand what happened to the cat when her mistress went to England. Was she left behind?

Exceptional book and narration

Real life tale told well. I don’t often read books about WWII. This one tells the story of Nazi horrors from the perspective of a young Jewish girl. I didn’t realize many Polish people hated the Jews and were ready to turn them in. A story of the tremendous courage of a young girl on her own for six years.

An Amazing recollection of strength

If you didn't know this is a memoir, you might think it's too amazing to be true. But it is. The author's telling of what she experienced makes it hard to believe she didn't have spiritual help. Her cat's part in her survival so touched my heart. The author makes it clear we should never forget the Nazi atrocities.

Could Not Stop Listening

The narration and suspense compels you to keep listening in order to keep her alive. Profoundly beautiful, gut-wrenching, but life-affirming. Mala's account is a poignant story of hope, drive, laser-focused wit, animal-like alertness, and unconditional love amidst unspeakable cruelty and unimaginably poor odds of survival. I wish every young American would read it.

amazing

I found this memoir to be amazing. It gave me hope and understanding. I am amazed at the strength and endurance that she found in her faith to carry on. Her story needs ro be made a motion picture. I really believe that she was blessed with an Angel to guide and protect her. I am thankful she was able to write her story.