Michael Calvin and Naftali Schiff to Release the Astonishing True Story, Miracle, With Harper Horizon on June 9, 2026

An unforgettable story of survival and resilience in the death camps of World War II.

AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Award-winning writer and Sunday Times bestselling author Michael Calvin and globally renowned collator of Holocaust testimony Rabbi Naftali Schiff will release the incredible true story Miracle: The Boys Who Escaped the Gas Chamber at Auschwitz with Harper Horizon on June 9, 2026.

A miracle unfolded on October 10, 1944, at Auschwitz. Amid the gas chambers and crematoria, a ragtag group of Jewish boys, aged thirteen to seventeen, were marched naked into Crematorium 5, their names already crossed out in Nazi ledgers as gestorben— “dead.” They would soon be put to death in the infamous gas chambers.

But just moments before Zyklon B pellets were released, fate intervened: Three German officers arrived on motorbikes and ordered their evacuation, selecting them to unload a consignment of potatoes from Greece.

This is their astonishing story. Miracle: The Boys Who Escaped the Gas Chamber in Auschwitz illuminates their incredible journey from the brink of death to lives of profound purpose and resilience.

Experience the raw emotion, the struggle for survival, and the lasting power of faith amid unimaginable cruelty. These boys—who endured concentration camps, death marches, and constant dehumanization—rebuilt their families and became living testaments to hope.

Through archival research, survivor testimonies, and haunting personal accounts, Miracle gives voice to a chapter of Holocaust history that was nearly lost. It reveals how a single twist of fate and the strength of the human spirit changed the course of so many lives.

“At a time of denial and disinformation, it is more important than ever to tell the stories of Holocaust survivors,” said Michael Calvin. “Once their voices fade away, other, more malign, influences will have an opportunity to flourish. The boys who share their experiences in Miracle speak for their generation, to a world that must be reminded of the truth they represent.”

“After a twenty-year international search to identify eyewitnesses to the most extraordinary Holocaust story I had ever encountered, I conducted six in-depth interviews across three continents,” said Rabbi Naftali Schiff. “The lucidity, authenticity, and moral courage of these boys, now in the twilight of their lives, compelled me to bring the stark truth of their experience to light. In an age marked by distortion and diminishing historical memory, their undeniable testimony must be heard.”

An instant Sunday Times Bestseller in the UK, Miracle is more than a historical account; it is a memorial of tears, defiance, and unimaginable dignity, urging us to remember and carry forward their legacy for a better future. Their courage echoes through time, reminding us that even in history’s darkest moments, the light of humanity can prevail.

Miracle will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. You can pre-order today at: https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/9781400255580/miracle/.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Michael Calvin is an award-winning writer and Sunday Times bestselling author whose books have been hailed for their insight and influence. He has collaborated with such celebrated sportsmen as Sir Alastair Cook, Dylan Hartley, and Gareth Thomas, and is the only writer to win the British Sports Book of the Year award in successive years. Most recently, and in a wider context, he has collaborated on critically acclaimed autobiographies of Toby Gutteridge, a quadriplegic former Special Forces soldier, and of Josef Lewkowicz, a Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter.

Rabbi Naftali Schiff is a leading social entrepreneur and innovator who has conceived and built numerous successful educational organizations working to ensure Jewish futures. He is also a globally renowned collator of the testimonies of Holocaust survivors and a documentary filmmaker. He has personally interviewed over two hundred Holocaust survivors to ensure their testimonies, legacy, and values are preserved for future generations. Naftali is committed to constantly identifying new pathways and vehicles in order to inspire today’s younger generation.

ABOUT HARPER HORIZON:

Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Shea McGee, Penn & Kim Holderness, Willie Nelson, Luke Russert, and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon.