“Zechor, remember, is the eleventh commandment of all Holocaust survivors and their children. Meryl Frank fulfills that commandment to its fullest. Her book is a must-read to understand what it was like to have lived, struggled, fought, and died in Vilna and its surroundings. Unearthed tells a great story of courage, faith, and survival.” 

— Abe Foxman, Holocaust survivor and national director emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League

Reviews

  • “Rooted in Meryl Frank’s drive to understand and honor her own family’s legacy, Unearthed offers the reader a gripping and poignant reminder that history and our own legacies are more closely connected than we often acknowledge.”

    —Senator Cory Booker

  • “Sometimes the truth—though memorialized on yellowed pages in a discarded rag heap, stuffed into an underground hideout, and preserved by a beloved but formidable aunt—needs to be discovered for oneself. Meryl Frank's memoir, a meditation on history and memory and a quest to uncover her family’s Holocaust story, is a testament to the power of the past to exert its hold and to demand our recounting.”

    —Ilana Kurshan, author of If All the Seas Were Ink

  • “Thought-provoking, nuanced, and the product of rigorous research, Unearthed is a beautiful and necessary book. In her search for her cousin Franya, Frank fills the silences of the Holocaust with stories and lovingly deploys the skills required to solve mysteries across decades and continents. Masterfully, she shows us the importance of connecting to others and of plunging into the shadows in order to forge our way out. This immersive detective story and memoir illuminates how trauma and the redemptive power of connection reverberate through time and place. Riveting and deeply moving. I couldn’t put it down.”

    —Ariana Neumann, New York Times bestselling author of When Time Stopped: A Memoir of My Father's War and What Remains

  • “[An] engrossing debut…. Books like [Frank’s] help remind us of the horrors that happen when hate goes unchecked. This remarkable story of discovery and connection will appeal to fans of family mysteries and Holocaust history.”

    —Booklist

  • “An unflagging hunt through the darkest period of Jewish history yields treasure for a passionate researcher… Peeling back the veil on mass killings, brutal betrayals, and foiled escapes, as well as bright flickers of courage and rebellion… Frank's attitude and rigorous self-reflection will be a beacon to the many people profoundly affected by generational trauma. An unflinching project that succeeds as a small victory against the erasure of the Holocaust.”

    —Kirkus Reviews

  • “Read if you’re into memoirs with plenty of twists.”

    —Hey Alma

  • “A remarkable story…[Frank] writes beautifully in the book, and I think there’s something so Jewishly infused, if I may, about the idea of celebrating life rather than erasing Franya is so important.”

    –The Shmooze Podcast (Yiddish Book Center)

  • “The author seamlessly educates the reader on Judaism, the holocaust in Lithuania, and Yiddish theater… Unearthed links the past to the present with Ms. Franks’s comparison of the racism of Nazi Europe to modern-day racism of all forms. Why else do we study history but to make sense of our current world? Connecting our family’s past to our present can help to heal wounds and strengthen us.”

    –Family Locket

  • “A beautiful tribute… Meryl Frank’s writing is vivid and brings to life the world of Vilna’s Yiddish theater and the horrors of the Holocaust… The book is moving as it makes you think about a dark part of history and the power of remembering. It shows us how strong the bonds of family and community are, and how much the human spirit can do. It also reminds us that we all have a duty to remember the past and work to make the future better.”

    –Pen Wise

  • "A memoir by an amazing woman.”

    –Frankie Boyer Show

  • “Read if you’re into memoirs with plenty of twists.”

    –Hey Alma

  • “A heartfelt memoir.”

    –WBZ1030 Boston Book Club

  • “The bad people talk about hate but the good people are afraid to talk about hate…I think what [Frank] has done, particularly with this book, is really critical.”

    –The Kathryn Zox Show

  • “A unique book… I highly recommend it.”

    –@cherylsokoloff2

  • “I was amazed!”

    –@notinjersey

  • “Frank’s unflinching research will also transport the reader as if we are accompanying the journey with her as she seeks the truth about Franya, and learns about her extended family and their fate along the way.”

    –@shnidhi

  • “Excellent book all around and highly recommend to all… Meryl’s story is heart-wrenching, as we learn of the terribly sad and inhumane deaths her family members faced. But there is also hope in Meryl’s journey to uncovering the past and preserving these stories for her children and all of us as we vow to never forget.”

    –@brookesbookstagram

  • “Fascinating and very well-written. The author details her research, travel, conversations, and revelations as she pieces together a truth that begins several decades ago, right before WW2. The author describes tragic stories of loss as well as some amazing stories of survival.”

    –@infinite.readlist

  • “Incredibly moving and educational… Unearthed was extremely well written and researched. I loved reading about the eccentricities, boldness and bravery of her cousin Franya. I was also impressed how the author was able to uncover the history, secrets and truths of her family. If you enjoy reading about history and want to learn more about the Holocaust then I’d highly recommend you read a copy of Unearthed.”

    –@erin_leigh_reads