I Want You to Know We're Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir

By Esther Safran Foer

A powerful memoir of memory, identity, and the enduring legacy of survival. In this National Jewish Book Award finalist, Esther Safran Foer—daughter of Holocaust survivors and matriarch of a literary family—embarks on a deeply personal journey to uncover the silenced past and reclaim the stories lost to war and trauma.

Book Synopsis

Growing up in a home haunted by unspoken grief, Esther knew little about her family's history. But when her mother reveals that Esther’s father had a previous wife and daughter—both murdered in the Holocaust—she sets out to uncover their identities and the truth of her father’s survival. Armed with only a photo and a hand-drawn map, she travels to Ukraine, retracing the path of loss and resilience. What she discovers reshapes her sense of self and honors generations of memory keepers determined to say: we are still here.

Perfect For

• Readers of Holocaust memoirs and Jewish history
• Fans of Everything Is Illuminated and The Choice
• Those exploring family roots, trauma, and generational healing
• Book clubs seeking emotionally resonant nonfiction

Praise & Recognition

“Part personal quest, part testament, and all thoughtfully, compassionately written.”
—The Washington Post

“A moving literary debut… a vivid testimony to the power of memory.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“A tribute to human resilience… full of heart and the breath of life.”
—Kati Marton

About the Author

Esther Safran Foer is a writer, speaker, and former CEO of Sixth & I, a cultural and spiritual center in Washington, D.C. She is the mother of authors Franklin, Jonathan, and Joshua Foer, and a passionate advocate for preserving memory and truth through storytelling.

Other Related Titles

• The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
• Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

Product Details

• Publisher: Tim Duggan Books
• Publication Date: March 31, 2020
• Format: Hardcover / Paperback / eBook / Audiobook
• ISBN: 9780525575986
• Pages: 240