It’s been two and a half years since Amanda Barratt’s The White Rose Resists released and it’s a book that I still talk about today. Now, with a new release from Barratt. I have found another book I will be telling people about for years because Within These Walls of Sorrow is unforgettable—both in the absolute despair and tragedy of what an entire nation suffered during World War II and in the hope they clung to despite the atrocities they experienced.

If you haven’t figured it out from the title, this book was not an easy read. My emotions were so wrought throughout this story that I had to put it down and walk away on a few occasions. Yet the story never left me, and I had to come back to it. But let me give you five reasons you should read Within These Walls of Sorrow.

1. The research is impeccable. The author has stated that she read over 50 books, spoke with someone at the historical society in Krakow, Poland, and listened to interviews from those who lived in the ghetto and in the pharmacy within the ghetto’s walls.

2. Amanda Barratt honors the people of Krakow by telling their story in this way. She gives readers two heroines with different experiences in the ghetto whose courage in the midst of all they see and learn of the evil other humans can carryout on one another. The author has chosen to leave some extremely difficult details in the book but also lets her characters remember bits and pieces of others so we, as readers, get a reprieve from the despair.

3. This story reminds us that there were courageous people—some friends, some strangers, some considered enemies—who took both big and small risks for these people. But there were also people who, even after the war, treated the Jews as poorly as the Germans did.

4. By writing this story in fiction form and giving readers points of view from a Polish woman and a Jewish woman, Barratt doesn’t recite history at the reader, she puts us in the middle of it as we live it with these characters. The author reminds us of how in the depths of the darkness, we cling to hope. No matter how fragile or fleeting that hope, we grasp on with all our might and with it in our hearts and heads, we fight to survive.

5. Finally, this book challenges you. It made me ask some hard questions. Would I be willing to risk my life for others? Zosia knew Hania and her family, yet she helped more than those few. When faced with evil and hatred so deep it strips others of their humanity, would I stand as a beacon of hope for those in the face of it or would I turn my back? The truth of the matter is, there is plenty of evil and hate in today’s world.

I can guarantee that this book, read at the beginning of 2023, will be on my list of top reads at the end of the year because I won’t forget. I won’t forget this story or the history behind it. I won’t forget the lives that were lost or the hope that shone from a pharmacy that God kept open in the Krakow ghetto.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

Opening a book penned by Amanda Barratt is like stepping through the walls of history and seeing firsthand what happened, and you better be prepared for all the emotion she will invoke.

Ms. Barratt doesn't shy away from the atrocities of the invasion of Poland by the Nazi's but doesn't linger there. She allows the events to speak for themselves. Which also gives way to her amazing research and the overall pacing of the book. In this book lover's opinion was flawless. The ending was perfect and satisfying. I tried hard not to cry but found myself in tears more times than not.

My absolute favorite quote from the book is found on page 254 . . .

"There is no darkness strong enough to snatch us from the hand of the One that created us."

If you have not had the absolute pleasure of reading a book penned by Amanda Barratt I highly recommend you start. You won't be sorry!



Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hania has lost so much. She and her family have been forced to enter the Krakow ghetto. And her life just steadily gets worse. Hania is eventually sent to a concentration camp where it takes all her strength and fortitude to survive the Nazis and their cruelty.

This story is told from two different viewpoints, Hania and Zosia. Hania’s life has been turned upside down when her family is moved into the Krakow Ghetto. Zosia, is a friend who becomes a pharmacist inside the ghetto and does all she can to help Hania’s family and many more.

There are not enough words to describe this novel. Heart wrenching, terrifying, agonizing…just to name a few. I could not stop reading this…I know this sounds cliché…but honestly… I was glued to the pages. It is beautifully written. I loved how the author interspersed hope into this story. Along with the trauma and the horrible treatment, there are also good people doing what they can.

I believe I have already read my best book of the year. THIS ONE! I never pick the best of the year. But, I believe this one is it!

Need a book which will give bring on every emotion…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

There simply aren’t enough stars to begin to rate this book. From the opening paragraphs, I was hooked and could not let go. Amanda Barratt is a gifted writer with a heart for those who suffer and those who survive. Because of the rich language and poignant lessons, I’ve highlighted so many passages that I want to remember from this well researched story. Barratt communicates bravery, fear and everything in between as these characters face unimaginable evil. Even thought the WW2 content was sometimes heart breaking to read, this history is important to remember and this story will remain with me and the book will be on my keeper shelf. I was given a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I've read all of Barratt's past books, and this one was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, and it did not disappoint! I give very few books a 5-star rating, but that is truly what this one deserves!

Within These Walls of Sorrow is based on the true story of workers at the Pod Orlem Pharmacy who helped Polish Jews during the Nazi invasion/WWII. Strong female leads abound. This is an extremely emotional and heartbreaking read, but through it all, it's inspiring and encouraging to see God at work ... even during the dark times.

Barratt expertly weaves fact and fiction to create a story that is hard to put down. Characters are easy to empathize with, and, as a result, readers may want to keep tissues nearby. The topic is painful and heavy, but at the core, there is still hope. It's amazing to see the resiliency of the human spirit, which is clearly showcased in Barratt's thought-provoking book. This is definitely a book where the reader witnesses good triumphing over evil. This is a part of history that should never be forgotten! And this book is one that will stick with the reader long after the final page is read.

Some of my favorite quotes:
- "Strength is not to live without fear but to live in spite of it."
- "We, all of us, are more than we survived."
- "Only the forgotten can truly understand what it is to be remembered."
- "Fear can be endured, but nothing is harder to bear than the loss of hope."
- "There is evil and there is good and there is the space between. We are given free will to choose where we stand. Evil thrives when good men choose the space between."

"Grief is not a thing to be measured. Only lived."

How do I even begin to write a review for such a heartbreaking yet hope-infused story that reads like a diary? This is historical fiction at its finest, where real events meld seamlessly with fictional characters to challenge the readers emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It's not an easy read and the women's ghetto and concentration camp experiences will leave you raw and aching. But the author does a brilliant job of stitching each painful event with glimmers of hope and future. It's beautifully written, absolutely gripping, totally immersive, and emotionally charged to encompass every possible human feeling. It's one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time.

Told through first person present tense narrative of Zosia and Hania, the readers are immediately transported to pre-war Poland and through the long, stark years of WWII as a handful of people try to help Hania and the people she loves. This book will move you and have you pondering what it means to be human long after the last chapter is read.

I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

There is little I can say about this absolutely unforgettable book, and yet its messages and heart wrenching moments speak so very loudly. Based on real people and true occurrences in WWII, we learn of events great and small from multiple perspectives and locations. Zozia is a Christian pharmacist and young bride who takes a job at a pharmacy that lies within the walls of the Jewish ghetto in Krakow Poland. Each day she passes by a young Jewish girl, Hania, and her family. Through an unthinkable series of events at the dawn of WWII, they become bound to one another. We see them in resignation, defiance, and despair; in small joys, in tragedies; with the people they love and who love them. It is a story of hope and resilience, of finding the strength to survive despite insurmountable odds, of refusing to slip into the gray space between good and evil. It is not an easy book to read, but it pays homage to those whose lives were carelessly snuffed out by hatred and for those who refused to let hatred win. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and was not obligated to provide a positive review.

I Finished "Within These Walls of Sorrow" this a.m. before the grandkids were awake. It is easily the best book of the year for me.
I grow weary of stories where the heroines are gorgeous and the hero is dashingly handsome. Real life is often not quite like that, and a long lasting love is not dependent on beauty. I was thrilled with the way the author incorporated love into a story oozing with ugly surroundings, and traumatized people. But love and hope remained in the midst of the horror of the concentration camps.
And life is sometimes full of trials that we can't fathom. But reading of courage in spite of circumstances beyond imagination, inspires me to know God is there in the midst of whatever happens.
Thanks to Amanda Barratt for not glossing over the horrors of the concentration camps, taking us there with a glimpse of those gentiles who stood in the gap, making a difference in the lives of the imprisoned they met, while facing death if caught helping.
It was a challenge not to read ahead to her historical note. My favorite books are those based on real people, real circumstances. The author did not disappoint in the historical notes. Blending of reality and imagination to bring history to life is something she does with skill and this is her best yet! The suspense kept me reading late at night and first thing in the morning.

I was looking forward to reading this book by Amanda Barratt knowing that I would find something there that would touch my heart and stir my soul. I was not disappointed! This book is historical fiction at its best—a powerful blend of fact and fiction. Ms. Barratt’s masterful “way with words” alerts all the senses and totally immerses the reader in the story and the setting. This depiction of the ravages of war, the atrocities suffered by the Jewish people in World War II Poland, and the courage of those Poles who put their lives in danger to help the captives, evokes myriad emotions—sorrow, disgust, compassion and horror, but also joy and hope. Rich historical details reflect evidence of extensive, careful research. The compelling cast of characters captured my heart and imagination. This is one of the best books I have read, and its story will not be soon forgotten. Highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found myself changed by this story that celebrates the resilience and small flickers of hope that struggled to survive amidst darkness. Filled with grit and uncompromising truth, difficult at times to read, I found myself thinking about it throughout my day and week, wondering about the real unsung people these characters represented. Setting a high bar for excellence this is Amanda Barrett's most ambitious work to date. Her research is stellar, her characters real, emotions raw.

While I read to escape real life to another time and place, I also know it is important to learn more about the world around me, and to be compelled or changed by a good story. Amanda Barratt paints truths that shimmer within a fictional world but are relevant at all times. One of my favorite quotes that will most likely stand out for other readers:
"There is evil and there is good and there is the space between. We are given free will to choose where we stand. Evil thrives when good men choose the space between." Amanda Barratt

Told from the points of view of two heroines, we read their tragic story set against the atmospheric backdrop of Poland from 1939-1945. While gut-wrenching, the author skillfully keeps her readers from closing the pages of the book in despair with acts of hope, courage, resilience and love.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

There is evil and there is good and there is the space between. We are given free will to choose where we stand. Evil thrives when good men choose the space between.

This most thought provoking book is not one lightly read and then set aside. There is good to be found in spite of the immensity of evil. It never ceases to amaze me how one group of people can be so brainwashed as to believe that they are better than another. The author has walked a very fine line between the horror and the importance of showing the world what evil can and will do. The complete lack of compassion, the air of superiority, the sheer number of deaths attributed to this evil should boggle the mind of any clear thinking individual. Yet records were kept that prove the veracity of the claims, of those whose lives had no meaning.

Would we have been willing to stand in the gap, like the pharmacists in the ghetto did? Every act affirming common humanity, every risk taken to preserve a life, every moment when decency and compassion were extended mattered!

An early copy of this novel of World War II in Poland was received through Kregel Publications and NetGalley. These thoughts and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

I was given access to "Within These Walls of Sorrow" by Amanda Barratt, for an honest review.
The book is set during WWII from the perspective of a German girl who begins working at a pharmacy in a Jewish section. It details some of the horrors that went on for the persecuted but also shows that there were those on the other side that risked their lives and others they loved to help them in anyway they could. One was a German soldier. I enjoy reading historical fiction (especially those based on true events). This story continued to show the humanity during inhumanity. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it did take me a little while to get into it. But once I did, I had to finish it. I am glad that I did, even amid the tears.