Review: The Warsaw Orphan: A WWII Novel

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In the spring of 1942, young Elzbieta Rabinek is aware of the swiftly growing discord just beyond the courtyard of her comfortable Warsaw home. She has no fondness for the Germans who patrol her streets and impose their curfews, but has never given much thought to what goes on behind the walls that contain her Jewish neighbors. She knows all too well about German brutality--and that it's the reason she must conceal her true identity. But in befriending Sara, a nurse who shares her apartment floor, Elzbieta makes a discovery that propels her into a dangerous world of deception and heroism.

Using Sara's credentials to smuggle children out of the ghetto brings Elzbieta face-to-face with the reality of the war behind its walls, and to the plight of the Gorka family, who must make the impossible decision to give up their newborn daughter or watch her starve. For Roman Gorka, this final injustice stirs him to rebellion with a zeal not even his newfound love for Elzbieta can suppress. But his recklessness brings unwanted attention to Sara's cause, unwittingly putting Elzbieta and her family in harm's way until one violent act threatens to destroy their chance at freedom forever. 

Genre: historical fiction

Publication date: June 2021

Mature content: yes

Review: The Warsaw Orphan is a beautiful, beautiful book. While unfortunately the background for the story is quite ugly, there are many lessons there to be learned - the main one being that even though sometimes human cruelty seems to know no bounds, human goodness, courage and hope are unlimited as well. 

This isn't necessarily a story of good versus evil, because there are many shades in between those two edges, but it's one that will make you want to hug your children a little tighter at night, while at the same time rooting for Emilia/Elzbieta and Roman, hoping they will find, if not peace, at least a bit of happiness together.

 

The Warsaw Orphan, while not exactly being part of a series, is a sort of spin-off of a previous book, The Things We Cannot Say. I haven't read The Things We Cannot Say and I don't think it affected in any way my understanding of The Warsaw Orphan, though I loved this one so much I fully intend to check out the author's other books. While this may not be a book for everyone, given the general violent background, it's very much worth reading. Recommended.

Happy readings!

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