This is one of my favorite authors. She just draws you in right away. The book was very diverse with characters. I felt such a connection with them.

Madeline Martin's The Keeper of Hidden Books, is based on the history of Warsaw during Nazi occupation. The author uses the power of books to tell the story of what happened to the books and libraries of Warsaw, during occupation. Many of the characters are fictional, but the story, itself, is history. The setting in Warsaw, during the Nazi occupation of World War, is a location and time rich with details, and Martin deals with many of those details, using libraries and books to capture the mood and events of the time.

The characters in The Keeper of Hidden Books are a mix of fiction and historical reality. Where the characters are fictional, their actions are based on how real inhabitants of Warsaw behaved. During the war, people were good and bad, and sometimes both within short periods. Martin makes a strong effort to define how Poles and Jews behaved under enormous stress. The occupation of Poland was never about preserving Polish or Jewish life. Nazi actions were intended to make Poland German. Saving Polish books, saving Polish libraries, and saving Polish and Jewish lives were never the intent or expectation of Germany.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a valuable and compelling examination of the importance of illuminating how books saved lives in a time where housing and food and the necessities of life were often withheld. I do strongly recommend this novel. Although it is fiction, I will buy an extra copy for the Holocaust museum where I serve as the volunteer librarian.

Thank you to the author and publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Buy and read this book and loan it to friends. Thank you also to NetGalley for making it so easy to download this book.

Stayed up late to finish this amazing story. If you love books and libraries, this book is for you! Set in Poland during WW2 when Germany was taking over and trying to get rid of all their books. Zofia and her best friend, Janina, are Girl Guides, love books, and begin a book club to read the banned books in secret. They are finishing their last year of secondary school when life is interrupted. Both girls are forced to leave their homes when the Germans take them over and Zofia continually tries to keep Janina safe. When Janina and her family are taken to the Jewish ghetto, Zofia joins the insurgent group and works to find a way to get them out. She works tirelessly with other library workers to save copies of books in underground warehouses to preserve them for the future. I could go on and on. There is so much happening in this story - it keeps you engaged and turning page after page to find out what happens next!
Zofia demonstrates amazing strength for an eighteen year old at the start of the book. She and her friends and co-workers do everything in their power to keep Poland's literary treasures safe from destruction. Throughout the book, you are cheering for the characters when they get one over the Germans, crying when someone gets hurt or killed, and contemplating how anyone survived such torment and tyranny. In the author notes, she carefully explains that the main characters are fictionalized but are based off real people and the major events are true. This book was meticulously researched and you can tell because you feel like you are in Warsaw in the midst of it all. Of all the historical fiction books from this author, I think this is her best yet!
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! It takes place in Warsaw, Poland during WWII. Zofia and Janina are close friends who love books and end up working at a library. In addition, they meet with friends for a book club to read books that Hitler and the Germans are banning. The war intensifies and literature is being banned as bombs rain down on the city. Zofia works to save the banned books by hiding them, as well as trying to save her friend Janina who is Jewish and faces persecution as well as more and more Jews are being forced to leave their homes and into the ghettoes. I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction so it was nice to get the Polish perspective as well as learn more about the Polish resistance.

I loved Zofia and Janina's friendship and how they used literature as silent acts of defiance as they
hid books that were banned by the Nazis. I read and loved the writers other book the Last Bookshop in London and I loved this book as well.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin is set in Warsaw, Poland during the second world war.

It follows the lives of Zofia and Janina, two young girls, best friends, who come of age during the war. They are both lovers of books and become involved in a group fighting to save the culture of their country by hiding important books from the Nazis when they take Warsaw, and start banning and removing books from the libraries. Later, as they get older, and the situation becomes even more dire, they join the resistance to drive the Nazis out of Poland.

This book started out slowly for me, but it really required the set up to show the reader the difference between the lives of the girls before the war, and the effect it had on them when the Nazis arrived in their home town. It also let us see the connection Zofia and Janina had, and how strong their friendship was.

I'm not even sure what to say about this book, it was such an emotional, and intense read. I loved it, but at the same time it was heartbreaking, and I cried several times, so make sure you have a box of tissues beside you before you start.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing a free copy of this book. I am leaving a review voluntarily.

Fans of Martin’s The Last Bookshop in London will enjoy meeting another resourceful reader coming of age during the terror of WWII. As Nazis invade and occupy Warsaw Poland, Zofia, her lifelong (Jewish) friend and other book lovers fight back. Escalating from a secret book club reading banned books to smuggling, hiding and protecting forbidden books (and people!), their resistance grows with every new oppression. Based on the true actions of Polish citizens who risked their lives to preserve their national literature, libraries and culture.

What a beautiful, heartbreaking story Madeline Martin has given us. Following the life of Zofia, a Polish girl living in Warsaw during the German invasion, we feel all the atrocities that they faced. As a sensitive reader, this was difficult to read at times, but the book ends with a sense of hope and a reminder of the power of books, friendship, and fighting for what is right. Compared to "The Last Bookshop in London", this book feels much heavier but is clean in terms of language and sex. Well researched and powerful. Though not for teens, I would hand it to a mature teenager.

I have enjoyed Madeline Martin’s books and The Keeper of Hidden Books is no exception. So well researched. I learned so much about Poland in WWII. I also love her characters and their growth throughout the novel.

This is a beautiful,well written and thought provoking book about the trials and ravages of war. I really appreciated the attention to detail and historic accuracy. The scenes and characters were vivid. It was easy to put myself in their places and it drew me into the book. I was so happy that Zofia was finally able to return to the Warsaw that she loved and that her best friend was saved. It was truly a testament to the strength and resilience of people as well as the power of friendship.

I was gifted an advanced review copy from NetGalley. Normally, I love books that involve a love of books, but this one I just found so hard to get into. The beginning was about putting out fires, jobs and air raids. While I enjoy historical fiction generally this story was just so slow and I’m not invested in any of the characters. I am 35% of the way through the book and they’re still not rescuing books or really doing anything of excitement. More and more characters Keep getting killed and captured, and there isn’t a love of any of the characters yet, So I gave up on this book after about a third of the way. The concept sounded nice, but the character & story development for me was lacking. I didn’t feel the girls friendship. I didn’t feel family dynamics. I wasn’t sad when characters were lost.

This book is set in Poland during WWII. It is a realistic depiction of events during the war, how the daily lives of citizens were changed. The difficulties people had in surviving. The will to never give up and at the same time put their own lives in danger helping others. The author brings the characters to life for the reader and the events around them are realistically depicted. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This unassuming little gem is based on the real-life heroic efforts of Warsaw’s librarians during WW2.

The author reminds readers that although Hitler may have stolen many things from many people, there were those in Warsaw who were determined that Hitler wouldn’t steal their love of reading, their books, or their freedom to read whatever book they wished. By spotlighting these people, those that fought for literature, Martin shows us (1) their resilience and bravery in fighting to preserve history and (2) the power of the written word.

You’ll read about a diverse group of young people who form a book club for the sole purpose of reading books that have been banned by Hitler. Their tenacity will astound you and your heartstrings will be pulled when you read about the hardships they endured and the fight they put up to sustain this little group. You’ll be reminded that resistance comes in many forms and those of us, throughout history, who love books have always found a way to preserve literature so that we humans have something to look forward to in desperate times. There may have been 15M books destroyed or stolen from Poland, but for every one of them, someone was fighting to save and preserve them. Their fight was eyeopening.

I Googled the list of banned books and discovered that I’d read All Quiet On The Western Front for Grade Nine English class. I remember at the time that our teacher defended his choice, telling us and our parents that we’d thank him some day. I’m not sure where you are Mr. Ryan, but THANK YOU.

I was most interested in the ingenuity of the people in the Ghetto and in the Polish Underground in making sure that literature was preserved. Author Madeline Martin has honoured their efforts with this spectacular piece of historical fiction.

This is definitely one to grace your night tables, historical fiction lovers!

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of The Keeper of Hidden Books. I loved this compelling story of people coming together during a most difficult time in the history, World War 2. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and this book has become one of my favorites. I was drawn in from the beginning, and it kept my attention to the very end. Madeleine Martin's extensive research shines in every aspect of this novel.
The main characters are lovers of books and do their best, even in times of peril, to bring books to those who have lost everything. They understand how important a little distraction can be for those having to face many atrocities.
During the Nazi take over of Poland, lilbrarians take it upon themselves. to save and hide books that Hitler had.demanded be destroyed.. These same brave women join the resistance to help their Jewish family and friends sent to the ghetto.
This is a beautifully written novel about love, friendship, resilience, bravery , and the importantance of books. I gave this story 4 stars and highly recommend to all lovers of books!

“The Keeper of Hidden Books” is a historical fiction book by Madeline Martin. Two young women, Zofia and Janina, finishing school when Germany invaded Poland. They both were members of a book group, wanting to read books banned by Hitler. They end up working with librarians in Poland to help hide books from the Germans, both ones important to Poland history and also on Hitler’s banned books list. As the war progresses, the two young women are separated; Zofia continues working at the library but also joins the resistance movement and Janina is relocated to the Jewish ghetto and organizes a secret book lending program. It’s obvious that Ms. Martin did a lot of historical research into this period of time - and the situations surrounding these women. A moving story.

Madeline Martin does it again. I loved The Last Bookshop in London and this one is very similar, except more harrowing. This one follows the Jews in Warsaw and their efforts at maintaining some of their culture. Adding this to my list of WWII recommended books.

Madeline Martin's newest historical fiction adds to the growing catalog of WWII fiction as well as the collection of books about books and reading with this significant look at the citizens of Warsaw, Poland who saved books from destruction by the Nazis. Her previous book, The Last Bookshop of London, is similar in many ways, but this seems so much more serious (if possible) due to the conditions in Warsaw and in the Warsaw ghetto. The book discussion group in this novel are the characters at the center of this book, and their reflections on the books they read are powerful and touching and may inspire readers to go back and find these classics. Terrific historical research turned into a compelling novel that is not romanticized in any way.

Imagine if reading your favorite book were a crime punishable by death. Sounds ridiculous, but under Nazi occupation during WWII this was a scenario many citizens of occupied nations faced. At a time when book bans are increasing in the United States, The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin explores the impact of book bans on culture and the adversity people will endure to fight back against oppression.

Set in Warsaw, Poland during WWII, The Keeper of Hidden Books follows the lives of two young women, Zofia and Janina, their family, and friends, as Germany invades their country, takes control, and installs a new government. Prior to the Nazi invasion, Zofia and Janina were two young women finishing their last year of secondary school and trying to figure out what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. They both cherished reading and formed a small book club they dubbed the anti-Hitler book club to read all the books that were being banned under Hitler’s regime. Zofia thought of this as an act of resistance. Once Germany invades Poland and takes control of the government, the book bans came to their own country and that simple act of resistance became punishable by death. Their lives were turned upside down, not only by the book bans, but by the sheer brutality of the German forces against the Poles and Jewish populations. Still, they continue their book club in secret and bring in a few of their other school friends. When Zofia and Janina are forced to leave school, they begin working at the main library. They assist the long-time librarians in hiding books on the banned list for safe keeping until the war is over. Little did they know, the war would last four years, the number of books on the banned list would expand exponentially, and their battles would grow increasingly dangerous.

Zofia and Janina are separated when Janina’s family is relocated to live in the Jewish ghetto. Once the walls of the ghetto are sealed off, communication becomes nearly impossible and extremely dangerous. Janina organizes a secret book lending program within the ghetto while having to fight for her life daily. When conditions in the ghetto deteriorate to a hellish existence, she joins with the Jewish resistance to fight back against the Nazi guards. Zofia continues her work in the library and joins the Polish resistance to fight back against occupation. Both girls face seemingly insurmountable odds, experience deep loss and personal injury, and still find the will to continue fighting against oppression.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a timely lesson on tyranny, the things and people we often take for granted, and the extraordinary resolve of individuals to fight for what they believe in at the risk of great personal danger. Martin’s novel highlights the importance of literature in our culture and the legacy of knowledge it provides. I found the setting of Warsaw, Poland to be a refreshing choice and one I have not read about a great deal in historical fiction. I truly appreciate the historical lessons in this book and how precisely the fiction followed the research. Martin does a beautiful job seemlessly incorporating real people and events within her fiction. I’ve known about the Nazi book bans since grade school, but I have never really stopped to think about the people that fought against those bans to preserve history.

If you are a book lover and fan of history and historical fiction, I highly recommend this novel.

My sincere thanks to Madeline Martin, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for a free review copy of this book.

This is a beautifully written story about women in Warsaw Poland during the most difficult times in their lives. Hitler has banned many books and a young girl and her friends form a club to read and preserve as many books as possible, because most of the books in their possession were classics with only one copy left All this while one of the club members is a Jewish girl who is banished to the ghetto. Our protagonist! Zofia, has experience working in a library so she is capped with saving the books and also saving people’s lives as well. The books were very important at that time.

The story is well written with descriptions that show human resilience and how desperately the need to save the books from the nazi regime.became. The story slowed down some midway but picked up again.

5 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

The Keeper of Hidden Books tells the story of a young woman who is living during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Poland in World War II. Beautifully written, this book has a powerful message of love and survival in a truly horrific time in Poland’s history. I couldn’t put it down. The author spins a sweeping tale that carried me away for hours.“The world also needs to remember to never take for granted what has been gifted to us through the sacrifice of others: the right to an education and learning, the power and luxury of freedom, and the beauty to appreciate the routine of simple, everyday life. I have died a thousand deaths, but that did not define me. Instead, I lived a thousand lives and it is for that reason that I now have told our story.”

A gripping tale of strength and resilience the citizens of Warsaw Polish and Jewish alike show when Hitler invades Poland and Warsaw in particular. While Hitler is busy taking away their freedoms and banning and stealing books; Zofia and Janina two best friends share a deep love of books and along with a few other friends they find a way to fight for and save many of the books that Hitler has banned . This book takes you into the heart of Warsaw amid the struggles of the Jewish people to just survive from one day to the next and their fight to regain their freedom from persecution and hate. Madeline Martin is an amazing author who's extensive research for this book literally allows me to immerse myself so far into the book that it feels like I'm there with these characters seeing, hearing ,feeling and basically living among them during their day to day struggle to survive. I could not put this book down and when I did I was not able to for long. I highly recommend this book. I read an Advanced copy and am Voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.