Speaking through silence
A heartfelt memoir about a first-generation American coming of age in the shadow of her four Holocaust survivor grandparents. Judi uncovers hidden histories, inherited silences, and enduring love as she unravels her family’s complicated and devastating past and consider what it means to carry a legacy forward.
About the Book
Speaking Through Silence is a heartfelt memoir about a first-generation American coming-of-age in the shadow of her four Holocaust Survivor grandparents. In this riveting read, Judi Shink uncovers the hidden histories, inherited silences, and enduring love that shaped her identity. She unravels her family’s complicated and devastating past to forge a new path, while accepting the mantle of legacy that demands she speaks out about a new 21st century kind of hate against her people. This book asks us all to decide whether we’ll carry on the legacy of generations that came before, how we’ll find ways to belong in a new complicated world, and what it means to survive.
PUBLISHING DATE
November 10, 2026
PUBLISHER
Scotia Road Books
FORMATS
Print, ebook, and audiobook
Praise for Speaking Through Silence
“Judi Shink is a masterful storyteller and brings to life the incredible accounts of her grandparents’ personal stories. This book is a treasure. In a future world where our students will never have the opportunity to meet a Holocaust survivor, this book will ensure that the stories of survivors endure. Through these heartfelt accounts of Jewish history, resilience, and survival, future generations will find not only understanding, but also a profound sense of Jewish pride and responsibility.”
– Rabbi Marcia A. Zimmerman, Temple Israel, Minneapolis
“Speaking Through Silence is more than one family’s history; it is a riveting testimonial of ordinary individuals who lived extraordinary lives. Judi Shink shares the stories of her Holocaust survivor grandparents to remind the world that the past is never truly past and that remembering is a responsibility for generations to come.”
– Jennifer Sonterre, professor of history/political science, Anoka Ransey Community College
“In Speaking Through Silence, Judi grapples with how to honor a legacy shaped by trauma she did not experience firsthand yet feels every day. Judi transforms memory into meaning, and reminds us that bearing witness is an everyday commitment. In a moment when understanding one another has never felt more critical, Judi Shink’s story reminds us that the past lives within us. This memoir offers readers everywhere a powerful call to empathy, awareness, and responsibility.”
– Jordana Green, Emmy Award-winning TV news anchor, and co-host of the Adam and Jordana Show on WCCO radio
” Dear Ms. Judi, Thank you so much for coming to our School to tell us about grandpa Jack. I was really inspired when he was so skinny and weak but he still lived. This story taught me to never give up and to stick up for people no matter if their Jewish or not. I will always remember this powerful story of grandpa Jack! Thank you so much! “
– 7th grade student
Bring This Story to Your Community
Invite Judi to speak at your school, synagogue, library, university, conference, or organization for a meaningful conversation on memory, legacy, and responsibility.