I was really excited to get this book as I think this topic is extremely important and particularly resonates during these crazy times we live in. I've read a lot about the Warsaw ghetto and the Holocaust in general, so I was familiar with Dr Janusz Korczak. Things I liked about this book- the topic and level of detail about life in the ghetto and the ever increasing horror that Jews experienced during this time. I felt like I could really see and feel what the people were experiencing. It made it all the more harder to go through it knowing how it would all end. Things I did not like so much about this book- the writing style felt very stilted and disjointed in places. That may have been a function of the translation. Some of the passages about Korczak's teaching or lectures were a bit long and overly wordy and I found myself skimming them. I felt like it wasn't really a cohesive story, but rather a collection of events. That bothered me because it wasn't what I was expecting.

Overall, this is a book that should be read and talked about. The topic is still relevant and it's important to see that at first things might not seem so bad, but little by little if you do nothing it can lead to unimaginable tragedy. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed reading this historical story. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites. This is a story that is written with alot of heart and soul. I enjoyed how the author used details to make me feel as if I was right there. This is a story that takes place in the 1930s. It is a story of love, hope and courage. The characters are strong, supportive and relateable. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the story. They just made the story easy to read and had me coming back for more. This is a fast paced story that is hard to put down. This is an engaging story that you don't want to miss. I really enjoyed what the characters brought to the story. I highly recommend this book.

It is September, 1939 in Warsaw, Poland. Janusz Korczak is the head of Dom Sierot, one of several Jewish orphanages in the city. On the first of that month, the Nazis invade Poland and his life and and those of his associates and the children he has personally sworn to protect will be changed forever. The Nazis follow their usual pattern of ostracizing the Jews before eventually round up several hundred thousand souls and forcing them to live in what is known as the ghetto - a walled compound just over 1 square mile in area. Forced to fight multiple diseases, lacking food, and basic human living conditions, Janusz is an unsung hero as he continues to teach and motivate these young people while fighting those in charge as they move toward an uncertain future for themselves (although we all know what happened). This is a work of fiction based upon a real person told with great feeling and gives the reader the total fsense of uncertainty and helplessness that was forced upon the Poles during WWII. Escobar has clearly done his research and has created a heartbreaking novel which highlights the courage of this one individual and his impact on those around him. My thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

In his latest Mario Escobar dramatizes the real-life of Janusz Korczak and his work protecting orphans in the Warsaw ghetto. Under the Nazi their hardships increased and all had to deal with overcrowding, typhus and chronic hunger. Korczak did his best to keep the children’s spirits up even as rumors swirl about Jewish people to be relocated to Treblinka.....This is the story of a hero.

The book begins on the eve of WW11 and doesn’t end well.

Not surprisingly this is a difficult book to read mainly I knew from page one how it would unfold. Even if I had read many stories in the past, the unimaginable Nazi brutality and sadness that surround the events are hard to take. I was touched by the amazing optimism and resiliency of human beings in the midst of chaos and how a remarkable a single person can touch the lives of so many.

“The Teacher of Warsaw” is a powerful and emotional story of a spiritual leader who sacrificed himself for others. Mario Escobar brings this extraordinary man to life through his interpretation of Korczak’s notes and dairies. We follow this caring man slowly protecting his flock and doing the impossible to get food and shelter till the very end when he accompanied them to Treblinka....

This historical fiction has graphic scenes everything one would expect from a WW11 book although I did found the story hard to get in to: was it because it is so slowly said and narration seemed to turn in circle rehashing the same old things. It didn’t flow as well as Mr. Escobar’s other books and unfortunately the end couldn’t come fast enough for me. Leaving me with mixed feelings, up to you to give it a go or not....

I really enjoyed this very well written book that was based on a true story about Henryk Goldszmit who was better known as Janusz Korczak. Korczak was a pediatrician who served in the Russian Army during World War I. During World War II, Korczak and several others ran an orphanage.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this very interesting and informative book.

Janusa Korczak spent his entire life looking after children and giving them the best opportunities possible. As an orphanage director in Warsaw, when the Nazi's invaded, he selflessly continued to look after his children.. Despite lack of resources and the continuous threat of death he stayed by the children until the end.

I admire Janusz and consider him a hero. However, I did not enjoy this book. It rambled all over the place and spent more time on philosophy rather than what was going on in the ghetto. Despite it's subject matter, this is not a book I would reread or recommend.

Emotionally crushing yet incredibly inspirational, The Teacher of Warsaw is based on the powerful true story about the beloved and respected teacher (and medical doctor) Janusz Korczak (pen name of Henryk Goldszmit) who was a Polish Jewish educator and orphanage founder during WWII. Author Mario Escobar begins the story on September 1, 1939, when Warsaw changed forever when Hitler's German Nazis occupied Poland. Conditions of the Ghetto were inhumane and starvation and disease were rife.

Korczak lived his life as an example and was a revolutionary proponent of children's rights and dignities. He and his associate Stefania Wilczyńska quietly did all they could in their power to clothe and feed hundreds of children. Though they did not escape the horrors of war, the children knew they were cherished and cared for. Korczak knew people in high places and was not ashamed of pleading for help. He was even respected by some of the Nazis who knew of him and his work. Until the very end he stood firm and did not compromise his principles which he instilled with love into his pupils.

What struck me most reading this is the beautiful courage and inspiration of Korczak. He did not falter, he did not give up. He pushed against seemingly unsurmountable odds during a hideous time in history. The author does not gloss over the horrors of war which makes for difficult reading but these stories are very important and need to be known. I believe this book should be required reading. Janusz Korczak to me is the epitome of a hero. Historical Fiction readers should not miss The Teacher of Warsaw written with thoughtful attention, thorough research, achingly beautiful descriptions and thought-provoking philosophies.

My sincere thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the privilege and honour of reading this breathtaking unmissable book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Excellent historical fiction based on a true story. My first story by Mario Escobar and I can't wait to get started on his backlist of stories. The Teacher of Warsaw is based on the life of Janusz Korczak and his incredible love for children. He was a great defender of children, a pediatrician and teacher, excellent writer, story teller, and radio host, but his greatest contribution was running a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw.

"For twenty-seven years we had been in that building that stood tall and proud in a Christian neighborhood. We were there on purpose so that Jewish and Christian children could live together. Long ago I had learned that the only way to knock down the walls of prejudice and hatred toward difference was coexisting and building friendships that allowed the children to fight and then be reconciled again."

I found this to be such a thoughtful and thought-provoking story about life and death, good and evil, and remembering those who had died. "The gravestones are the calling cards of those who've gone before us. Doctors, lawyers, artists, housewives, prostitutes, rabbis, and teachers all lie down to rest together." "Death is when forgetting wins. As long as we remember the ones who lived, they are still among us." "We did not realize that our long walk had been the last we would take in freedom. In a few days, we would no longer be masters of our own destinies."

Soon, he, the staff, and the ophans were forced to move a short distance away into the Jewish Ghetto. He begged for food and kept up the spirits of the staff and children every day, no matter what. "Every day we open our eyes and find ourselves here is a gift. Don't lose sight of that." "Yet we continued to suffer increasing humiliation and mistreatment."

"How are we going to feed, clothe, and keep these children warm? How are we going to protect them from these beasts?"

"I'm asking you to resist while loving life; to resist without letting poisonous Nazi ideas seep into our brains and our schools when the oppressors want to turn us into accomplices to their abominations; resist, and you will overcome." "If I thought of myself as anything, it was a tutor walking alongside his students for a short stretch of their journey." "What I was most proud of were my boys and girls."

He truly brought dignity and light, hope and love to his Jewish orphans in the hellish Warsaw ghetto, and refused to leave them when he had multiple chances. His life reminds us that one person can make a difference. I highly recommend this unforgettable story for all readers.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This novel is based on the true story of Dr. Janusz Korzak, a well-respected educator and physician who runs an orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. The story is a fascinating and affecting one that adds depth to the known history of life (and death) in the Ghetto. There are moments of deep philosophy and beauty in the book but, unfortunately, I found those few and far between. The translation just did not do justice to the story. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoy historical fiction books and the summary of this book looked interesting. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book. I thought I would like it based on how many 5 star reviews it had, but I just couldn't get into the writing style of the book.

Intriguing story!! I loved the way this story was told and the writing. This WW2 novel moved me deeply. A story that is not typically told and shared from this era. I loved this book more than I can say! It’s too knotch for historical fiction

I wanted to love this. book I read Auschwitz Lullaby a few years ago and I completely fell in love with that story. The prose was so beautiful in some places that I completely forgot it was a translation.

Unfortunately, I believe the translation of this one wasn't nearly as successful. The text didn't flow well and there were so many philosophical tangents that they lost their impact. This is such an important story, about an incredible person, but the prose just doesn't convey that effectively and it was difficult to get through it.

I appreciate NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar.

This is a true story of Dr. Janusz Korzak who runs a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw, Poland.
Despite being Jewish, Dr. Korzak is a respected man in Warsaw. As the German Army occupies Warsaw the treatment of him and all Jewish citizens deteriorates not only by the Germans, but other citizens of Warsaw as well. This heartbreaking story follows the Dr. and the children in his care as they are moved to the Jewish Ghetto and eventually a concentration camp.

The story is based upon journals left by Dr. Korzak with some of the characters being fictionalized, as they can only be in this sort of story. Everyone should know his story and the wonderful things he did to protect these children.

I want to start off by saying that I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. In return for my honest thoughts and review. I want to start offf by saying that I have been living under a rock. I cant believe that I haven’t read any of this authors books before. Definitely adding/reading all his books. Historical fiction/based on true stories. I absolutely love reading. I know there will be some hard things to read.. I couldn’t put this book down. The writing is done well. The things that when on during WW2 are terrible and to think its happening again has I write this review for this book. It makes me sick that those things back then took place. People turning back on their families children just to get food. Because they were being forced to give up things. Every time I read a book like this I get sad. But its someone telling their story. I am glad that I got the opportunity to read this book. The strength this man had to take care of the children it didn’t matter if they were Jewish or Christian children. I love the little fairy tales he told the children. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this beautiful well written book. I highly recommend this book when it comes out June 6, 2022

Thank you Mario Escobar for a well written book about the Warsaw Ghetto and the orphans who were placed there in the early 1940"s. This book was I was unable to put down and pulled on all my emotions. The details were well described and gives you new insights about the ghetto. If you are interested in WWII reads than this one is a must.

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar. This well researched historical novel portrays the story of Polish pediatrician Janusz Korczak, organizer and leader of an orphanage in Warsaw during WWII. Courageous beyond description, Korczak's tale is written as an eloquent, poignant, and philosophical journal. Escobar's reverence for this Holocaust hero is evident in this emotional book.

I read Mario Escobar's fictionalized story about Janusz Korczak with interest and dread. Janusz Korczak was a pediatrician and teacher in Warsaw who ran an orphanage called Dom Sierot. Dr. Korczak and his friend, Stefania Wilczynska, cared for and taught two hundred children. In 1943 the Nazis moved all Jewish Poles into a ghetto and with this move, the story of bravery and heroism is laid out.

Of course, I knew the story's outcome, as we all do, but reading about brave people carrying on with as much dignity as humanly possible broke my heart. I recommend this story to everyone interested in children's human rights.

Thank you to NG and Harper Muse for this e-ARC

The synopsis of this book seemed like it would be right up my alley. I read about 1/4 of it before stopping. The lengthy history lessons in the form of dialog and the first person narrative voice were off putting for me.

A good introspective read into the lives of forgotten children in the Warsaw Ghetto and their angels who gave them a safe haven among tragedy.

In September 1939, the lives of Jews in Poland change forever, including those living at an orphanage in Warsaw. As the days turn into weeks and months and years, the orphanage is moved inside the ghetto, and their lives get progressively harder, until one day, everything comes to a head.

I really enjoy books about WW2, and yet, it took me weeks to get through this one. Something about the way it was written made it so hard for me. It felt like a work of nonfiction - and it is in fact based on a few real historical people - but it's a work of fiction. The characters do have so many layers of realness to them, and are very well thought out, but I feel like the author was trying too hard to be as accurate as possible, and along the way, the story lost its' smoothness. However, it's not a light and happy beach read, and as such, I understand why Escobar treats his story with such gravitas. 3.5 stars in the end.

I was provided an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks to the publisher and the author for providing it to me.