Danusha and her family are forced to leave their hometown during the Nazi invasion of Poland. Her mother changes her name and works where she can find a job and they live werever they can find a room.
Danusha knows her mother wishes she had been born a boy but wishes her mother loved her instead of her brother.
Years later when her mother tells the stories of the war and what they lived through Danusha realises what her mother lived through and how she did love her. Heartbreaking.

I thought this was a good read from Malka Adler. The story was well-written and rotated between the perspectives of the main character, Danusha, and her mother. The plot follows a Polish Jewish family and their experiences during and post-WWII. It was easy to empathize with Danusha and her family's plight.. It also explores the relationship between mother and daughter and that Danusha always felt ‘second best’ compared to her brother. I didn’t like Anna at different parts of the book, I thought she came across as cold and uncaring and quite selfish in her actions. I often struggled to connect with Anna (Danusha's mother). If you’re a fan of historical fiction, particularly books set during WWII, I recommend this book.

The Polish Girl by M. Adler, published by Harper Collins/ One More Chapter, is a fictional historical, set in the 1939 and 1940ties in Krakow, Poland and later on Hannover, Germany.
Danuschka and her mother are barely surviving in occupied Poland. The mother works for a german doctor and because of their religion they're in daily danger. When the allies free Poland, the family moves to Germany. Yes the country Germany and the city of Hannover. And here is where it's becoming difficult to me. I can't tell much about the city of Krakow or Poland, but I can tell about Hannover in great detail and the description, the street names and the citie's name itself is horribly butchered. I really, really dislike to give a low rating, but I just can't get over the mistakes that could so easily be avoided with a simple google research. 2,5 stars.

The Polish Girl by Malian Adler is set during World War 2. I really enjoyed this book, particularly the central character. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

A sad tale of frightening times. Unfortunately I really couldn’t get on with the writing style even though it’s a compelling story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

I did enjoy this read, although it didn’t wow me. I thought it was written well, and I liked that it is told through Danusha’s eyes and also from her mothers perspective. It follows a polish Jewish family and their experiences and fears during WW2 and afterwards. I found I had such empathy for Danusha and her family and their frequent moves to stay safe and not be found by the Gestapo to be sent to the Concentration Camps. It also explores the relationship between mother and daughter and that Danusha always felt ‘second best’ and thinking her mother always had a better relationship with her brother. I didn’t like Anna at different parts of the book, I thought she came across as cold and uncaring and quite selfish in her actions. Overall I found this an enjoyable read with a good storyline. It wasn’t the page turner I would have liked it to be though and I think this is mainly because I struggled to connect with Anna, Danusha’s mother. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, particularly books set during WW2 then I’d say give this book a go.

3.5 stars

The Polish Girl by Malka Adler is a compelling historical novel that is rooted in fact.
The story is written in the first person as we follow the life of a young girl. The tale alternates between ‘now’ and looking backwards to World War II.
The reader witnesses the courage and strength needed to survive as a Polish Jewish family under Nazi rule. It was a time of fear, persecution and round-ups. It seemed as though the people were forgotten by the world and by God. “God’s in heaven, and He isn’t asleep.” Faith was clung to, and a hope and desire to survive.
We see how a character deals with loss as she remembers “I couldn’t ever… forget the laughter and the love I saw in his eyes when he looked at me.” The love of a father, and the father- daughter bond is strong.
There is the love of a mother. It is a love that protects. However, a daughter feels a second class person in comparison to a son. It seems to be a world that puts a greater value on a son but the reader sees the fierce love and protective nature of a mother for both her children.
The Polish Girl was a powerful read of a time of great horror.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

A remarkable story of survival and the human spirit. This is based or inspired by true stories but the fact is that there are so many Danusha's out there with their families hoping that the war is something they can survive.
I like to read stories that are from different families and young people who try their best to survive what is an impossible situation. This was well written and insightful

I struggled with this book not from a writing perspective as it was well written and the characters are really well developed but the subjects covered are quite confronting.
It is written from the view of Danusha and the life that she is forced to live while in hiding; with her mother, Anna and younger brother, in Poland during WWII. They have had to flee their home when the Nazi’s invade Poland. Danusha’s relationship with her mother is complicated she is not the desired first born son and she feels this throughout her life. To live through this period of history and to find the strength to fight to survive is heartbreaking.
This is an important story to be told and to be read. It will stay with you for days afterwards.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
This is written from the POV of a young girl (starting around age 5) when the Russians and Nazis invaded Poland during WWII. It's well-written, but the primary focus is more on the relationship of the girl with her mother as they are forced to depend on each other while they hide for their lives. Years later when they are safe in Israel (relatively speaking) the mother hosts story nights where she talks about what they went through

The Polish Girl by Malka Adler

Winter 1939: Danusha and her family are forced to flee their home when the Nazis invade Poland. Danusha’s mother, Anna, changes her name and secures a position as a housekeeper in a German doctor’s mansion in Kraków where Gestapo meetings are hosted in the kitchen…
Her secret is their salvation, but what Danusha remembers most is the solitude, with only her baby brother and the girl in the mirror for company.
A very very well written but poignant tale of Danusha and her family during WW2 and the fight to survive during an awful period in Europe ,
She also has a far from perfect relationship with her mother , which for me , added to the story and set it apart from just the usual plot from this genre.

I found this book to be very heartwarming. Obviously sad at times but also uplifting in places. It was very well written.

I'm fascinated by these types of stories and historical fiction. I feel it is important to remember these events and remember this time in history. Even though The Polish Girl is a work of fiction, it's based on actual events and what happened to "Danusha" during the war. Danusha is not only experiencing what is happening with the war but also trying to find a place in her mother's heart and be seen by her mother.

This is a great book for all ages to read.

@0neMoreChapter_

I couldn’t connect to this story , I just found it depressing and dragged out in places, I do know that the subject matter isn’t meant to be happy or uplifting but I did feel for Danusha as she was clearly in her mother’s way.

I found this book difficult to read, especially in the current climate. It is a well written story with believable characters, although I can’t say I liked all of them really. It’s an emotional read, one that left me in tears in parts. I found it difficult to follow, as it jumps about a fair bit but glad I got through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this advanced copy of The Polish Girl. I found it a difficult subject matter, especially while reading during the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. I found the story somewhat confusing as it flipped back and forth through time. I found the story telling by Anna almost eerie. I felt bad for Danusha and her relationship with her mother. Sad story.

Very emotional at this time so did not really enjoy book. It was well written but sorry with all the horror going on in Ukraine l am not able to give it many stars.

“All I wanted was to be near Mama.”

When you want to close your eyes and ears, this book compels you to continue. The pages grab you and beg you to read so that you remember - remember to show love, remember to live, and remember the atrocities so that we never repeat them.

The characters are brought to life because Danusha is Nechama Tiechtel, a real person and a true hero. Nechama fought the war on two fronts; one for Poland and one for her mother’s heart.

Told in a dual timeline, 1939 and ten years later, this novel captures the anguish of Danusha as she vies for her mother’s attention as war is ravaging her homeland and then coming to terms with the struggle years later. Adler allows readers to view Danusha and her mother, Anna, and their relationship through the lens of a dysfunctional relationship and we can see how this has affected their journey to survival. Several times the author pulls back the curtain and we see Anna for who she really is; unfortunately, her daughter lacks the maturity and discernment to understand. Anna has been left alone and responsible for the safety of her two children as war erupts. The nature motifs of “a cold unknowable sea”, “storm-wracked sky” and “starlight” are used to describe Anna and reflect the background of the realities of war. Sometimes we allow the storms to overshadow our brightness...and it can have lasting effects.

Adler doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war. My heart broke when I read about the shameful destruction; taking the headstones in the Karkow cemetery to build roads and sidewalks! My stomach churned at reading about “the stench of burning and rot in the air,” and tears fell as I imagined the Polish wandering the streets “filling bags and blankets with junk they pulled out of the ruins” to heat their homes. I dare you to read about Danusha and Yashu being referred to as Hansel and Gretel in the refugee camp and not allow it to affect you. I struggled throughout with Anna’s inability to comfort her daughter - after all, “Nechama” means “comfort” in Hebrew! Yes, I got mad and stopped reading….several times.

“Years later, my brother said to me: “I also felt that Mama loved me more than you.” My brother’s words seared my heart, although I already knew it was true.”

Where the narrative lacks fluidity due to the first-person memories and is, at times, stilted, it more than makes up for it in bringing to light an emotional plea for understanding and remembrance. Someone once said that life is best understood when lived backwards. I think this sentiment sums up this book perfectly.

I was gifted this advance copy by Malka Adler, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A perfectly paced and beautifully observed story... I really did race through Well written, with a plot and characters that haunt you long after you've finished. Immersive, suspenseful and humane, this is a novel to savour.

This is oh so sad and upsetting that I had to put it aside for a read when I felt I could cope with the horrors that awaited Danusha. Another unforgettable book brought to life by Malka Adler. Written with empathy and sensitivity. A heartfelt novel, which will appeal to those who read novels of this genre. Sadly not one for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy.