In The Keeper of Hidden Books, Madeline Martin tells the story of a young woman named Zofia who puts together a library of banned books during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw. The story does an excellent job blending the fictional account of Zofia with historical events, namely the underground library that actually arose during WWII. This book will feel familiar to anyone that has read Martin's other popular novel, The Last Bookshop in London. The character work, writing prowess, and attention to historical detail are all here and create a compelling story that examines the importance of stories and pushes back against those that would ban them. The message itself is particularly timely given the rise of book bans in the United States now.

The plot moves along at a quick place, which can be jarring as the story jumps weeks and even months at time in its exploration of the war. This can lead to peculiar pacing issues that directly impact investment in certain events and characters. That being said, the book is a tremendous love letter to the written word.

What a good read! Zofia, a Polish teenager, is about to become an adult--and Poland is being plunged into WWII as the Germans invade. Almost overnight, her former concerns--what to do after graduating secondary school, how to get along with her ever-disapproving mother--are shoved to the background as Warsaw is plunged into war. The Nazis seem intent on destroying everything, and innocent Polish civilians are no exception. Zofia's rage at the injustice and cruelty is only heightened as she watches her dearest friend, Janina, whose family is Jewish, endure endless persecution, ending up in the Warsaw Ghetto with thousands of other Jews that the Nazis are intent on destroying.

But this book is about more than these injustices--this book is about fighting back, and the power of literature in giving people hope. Before too long, Zofia finds herself part of an ever-dwindling library staff, with an ever-growing list of books that Hitler wants banned. There she joins with fellow librarians and young adults to fight against Nazi injustice in the best way they can--by preserving these books to give hope (and a reminder of Polish strength) in an increasingly bleak world.

Without spoiling the plot, this book goes more into other topics which fascinated me and which were pretty new to me, though I've read quite a bit of WWII literature: the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the remarkably organized Polish Resistance, and the brave librarians who understood that preserving books means preserving knowledge, heritage, and hope.

The author's note at the end makes it clear that this well-researched book contained many true characters and events, which only impressed me more.

Overall, this was a well-researched book, and it left me with a strong impression about what everyday people can--and must--do to overcome injustice and defend others. Sometimes there was a bit too much "telling" rather than "showing" for my taste. Martin covered almost the entire period of the war in one book, so it makes sense that there needed to be some "telling" in order to keep the plot moving, but there were times when I felt there was too much description of what the characters were feeling, and I wished there would have been more action to *show* they were feeling that way.

Readers of this book might also enjoy Lilac Girls (by Martha Hall Kelly) and a couple of Martin's other books--The Last Bookshop in London and The Librarian Spy. (I do appreciate that Martin's books--and this one is no exception--generally contain no more romance than kissing and minimal to no swearing, which is different than Lilac Girls.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital advanced reader copy.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a poignant and beautifully crafted novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the power of books to provide hope even in the darkest of times. Through the eyes of brave young librarian Zofia, author Madeline Martin transports readers to Nazi-occupied Warsaw, where the destruction of the city and persecution of its people try but fail to diminish their love of literature.

Zofia's friendship with Janina is the heart of this story. Their bond, already deep thanks to a shared passion for reading, only grows stronger as Janina and her family suffer under Nazi oppression. Yet nothing can suppress their lively book discussions, even after Janina is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto.

When the Nazis ban and burn books, Zofia and her fellow librarians risk their lives to hide away as many volumes as they can. Their "clandestine book club" becomes a symbol of resistance in a city under siege. No matter the danger, Zofia never stops fighting to preserve books and give hope to those who need it most.

Martin's elegant prose and meticulous research shine through on every page. She vividly captures both the horrific destruction of war and quiet acts of defiance that keep dignity alive. Readers will find inspiration in Zofia's courage and be reminded that human connections matter most, even when hatred tries to divide us. The Keeper of Hidden Books is a gripping and uplifting tale that honors the victims of wartime Poland and celebrates the power of books to unite us all.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin resonated with me from the very first chapter.

Warsaw, Poland 1939 - When Hitler and the Nazis defeat Poland, their invasion and goal was to 'crush' the Polish culture. Their forward progression was to close museums and schools, loot the Art Galleries, ban music and books and steal or burn what they could get their hands on. They didn't expect the Poles to fight back.
We meet Zofia, Maria, Janina and Kasia. These brave young women do their part to save books and save lives. They get jobs at the Warsaw Lending Library and start a group saving books that Hitler has banned. Their goal was to read Germany's banned books, discuss them and not forget their significance. Their book club is aptly called anti-Hitler Book club.
When the Nazis invade Warsaw, Kasia's father, a doctor, is arrested and imprisoned with no reason given. This sets off her journey to support the resistance to help get Hitler's Nazis out of Poland.
Janina and her parents end up in the Warsaw Ghetto and Zofia risks her life to help them. Since books were so important, they used suitcases to transport books to others in the Ghetto. In the Ghetto, a child's playroom was really a clandestine library so the Nazis wouldn't find the books. This was their way of keeping the books and love for reading alive.
Eventually working for The Home Army in the Warsaw Uprising, Zofia and her friends do what they can to free Poland.

These young women suffered themselves and saw deplorable conditions come to those they really cared about. Working in the library allowed them to save books and get them in the hands of people wanting to read them. There was a quote in the book that I really loved..

"There was power in literature... Books inspired free thought and empathy...In the pages of books that were burned and banned and ripped apart for pulping, Zofia had found herself ". She showed determination and courage in despicable situations.

I absolutely loved this book. It's sad to read about the conditions those in Poland during the invasion had to endure. But we need to be sure that the history and the past are never forgotten, so it will never be repeated.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press Publishing and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

It takes a special book to evoke the emotions this one did. The author takes us into the world of a young woman, Zofia, and her family and friends during WWII in Poland. It is a journey that takes us from just prior to the invasion of Poland by the Nazis through the end of the war. I felt the sorrow, the pain and loss, but also the determination and hope that Zophia and those around her. Zophia and her friends are avid readers, creating their own small book club. Once the Nazis start taking away any of the literature that they don’t feel aligns with their beliefs, (or any other ridiculous reason they decide upon) Zophia and her friends, along with some others, decide to hide the books away in any way they can. They know how important literature is, not only for sharing stories, as well as for learning, but also for an escape from whatever horrors the war has brought to their doorstep. I loved reading the authors note at the end, explaining how she came upon this story during research she did of that time period. She really did an excellent job in creating a story around some real events and people. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves historical fiction as I do.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts and ideas included in this review are my own.

The Keeper of Hidden books is a beautiful story about hope and fighting for what is right.
It was so interesting to read about Poland and the struggle and fight during the war. I had no idea it had been that difficult for both Jewish and non-Jewish poles. My heart ached while reading this book like it has with so many heart-breaking stories from the war. But it is necessary to read about this and to know how things went and to learn that kindness is and will always be the way forward.
I lived the focus on hooks in this story, the way it tells the power of libraries and stories during the most difficult times. It's a story about the different ways off being brave, a story about hope and friendship and doing what it's right.
I couldn't help but cry with the final part, both from sadness and joy.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin is the story of Zofia Nowak. This book takes place in Warsaw, Poland and the dates are between 1939 and 1945. So that time frame is a very important part of history especially for Jewish people. This was a moving book that was such a page turning read that took you into the story fully. Enjoyed.

Zofia’s wonderful country of Poland has been invaded by the Nazis. As you can guess, this has rocked all of their lives. Zofia’s father has been arrested and her friend has been sent to the ghetto. But, surrounding all this tragedy, Zofia still continues her work in the library. This is where she feels safe. But the laws of the Nazis are still invading her life in her wonderful library. So, she decides to circumvent the Nazis and save as many books as she can.

Zofia is such an amazing young woman. I loved her intelligence and her strength. Not only does she save books, she saves many lives as well and you will need to read this to find out!

This story has quite a few characters to keep up with. But, I enjoyed so much about this novel, especially all the book references! I mean…what book lover wouldn’t!

Need a tragic, but heartwarming story about books…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Madeline Martin gives us another look at how bibliophiles fared in the conflicts of WWII in her latest novel, The Keeper of Hidden Books. A view of love, loss, and occupation, this stellar story will have you appreciating the freedom and peace you enjoy and realizing just what it costs to have it.

It is August of 1939, and Zofia and her friends, Janina and Maria, are basking in the enjoyment of being young and free. All three belong to the Girl Guides, excel at school, and are busy planning for their future once their education is finished. When the fighting with Germany begins, none of them expect Poland to fall. And nothing in their lives has prepared them for the relentless bombing, for pilots that smile as they strafe city streets with deadly bullets, for the losses of friends and family as the fighting wears on and on.

Books are both their escape and a subtle form of resistance. Even before the war with Germany began, the young ladies had formed the Anti-Hitler Book Club, determinedly making their way through all the volumes the Nazi dictator had banned, and as the fighting rages around them, they resolve to read even more of these stories. When they see a bombed library, its books scattered amidst the rubble, they join in rescuing what they can from the destruction. Helping to find the books new homes and aiding in running the main branch of the Warsaw public library quickly becomes a way of life for them, along with short food rations, power outages, and daily air raids. But even that is insufficient preparation for the occupation – and the appalling cruelty of those who now run their country.

Zofia and Janina become official library employees once the Nazis take over but Janina, who is Jewish, soon finds herself facing intense persecution. In spite of that, both girls insist on expanding their book club to include kindred spirits and on doing what little they can to thwart the new regime. As the persecution and danger rise, will their courage be able to face the challenge? Or will they, like so many others, learn to accept the status quo?

Those looking for a book-centric story will need to look elsewhere. Novels are lauded as a wonderful escape from the horrors they are experiencing but the focus of this narrative is on the persecution of the Polish people, especially anyone of Jewish descent. While Zofia does take on the dangerous task of hiding books the Nazis ban, that work makes up less than ten percent of the tale. Mostly, the author fixates on the atrocities of the occupation and the cost paid by almost everyone who resisted. From the librarians who were caught and murdered while moving forbidden manuscripts to safety, to those killed for being old, slow, Jewish, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, the death toll is staggering. Both Janina and Zofia concentrate almost all their efforts on saving people from the ghetto, even as that inevitably costs them more than they could have imagined.

The characterization of the two leads is hard to pinpoint since so much of the text is given to action and worry. Both Janina and Zofia are so driven and focused that their personalities are subsumed by the things they are doing and their desire to succeed. Of course, what they are doing is very admirable and it is understandable that they are driven towards success when the result of failure would be their own deaths and likely that of anyone in any way associated with them, but many stories of this nature still take time to build more of an identity into their principals than this one does. At one point, a character mentions once wanting to be a museum-worthy artist; when asked why he no longer has that dream, he says, “Who would waste a dream on something so selfish?” That sums up, I think, what is wrong with the story - the characters have nothing left in them but their present circumstances. With the exception of knowing that Janina is beautiful and that Zofia once wanted to be a writer, who they are as people is completely engulfed by what is happening. Even important issues, such as why Zofia had a strained relationship with her mother from the start or why her father was so prescient, really needed more/deeper exploration.

Fortunately, there are some incredible secondary characters here. Maria, who impacts both the start and ending of the novel; Darek, a young man with a love for reading and freedom who goes to amazing lengths to both save books and help those most endangered by the occupation; Krystyna the Girl Guide leader whose depth of character, intelligence, and courage left me in awe; Kasia and her close friend Danuta, both of whom are ardent readers and courageous young women. We don’t get to know them any better than the leads but that (mostly) works, given the roles they play within the text.

There is a romance here, but it happens towards the very end of the book, takes up less than five percent of the storyline, and is really a pale shadow of the relationship between Janina and Zofia. The focus of the tale is more on friendship than romantic love.

Something the author does exceptionally well is showing how thoroughly and unequivocally resisters were punished - entire apartment buildings of people were killed if just one family was caught dissenting. Minor infractions - such as taking a banned book home, owning a radio, or talking to someone through the ghetto wall - could all be punished by death. There was a suffocating presence of German soldiers on what felt like every street corner and people turned in neighbors, not because they were hateful collaborators, but in an effort to save their own children. As Zofia says at one point, “There was no right way to respond - to sacrifice a loved one and yourself, to whom others looked upon for help, or to intervene for those who saved others and be arrested as well in the process (meant) your sacrifice would be for naught.” Ms. Martin does an outstanding job of capturing just what it means when tyrants are in charge and how that actually looks for the folks suffering under their rule. It has the added benefit of highlighting just how much courage and perseverance it took for those who did resist.

That said, the author’s talent for making the reader really feel the cost of the occupation makes The Keeper of Hidden Books a tough story to enjoy. It’s a novel I’m glad to have read, and one that serves as a reminder of important history, but it wasn’t joyous or fun to read. I would recommend it to everyone, but I would also recommend choosing a moment when you're ready to experience some angst and heartache.

I was lucky enough to read "The Keeper of Hidden Books" and interview its author, Madeline Martin, for the Storytime in Paris podcast. Here is what I said:

"Ep 65. Madeline Martin, “The Keeper of Hidden Books”

For this Season Finale of Storytime in Paris, I’m thrilled to be joined by New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Madeline Martin, who will be giving us a sneak peek into her latest book, ”The Keeper of Hidden Books.” ”The Keeper of Hidden Books” is based on the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, Poland. Zofia is an intelligent, outspoken and rebellious 17-year-old, who wants nothing more than to dig into a good book and chat about it with her Jewish best friend Janina. She is wholly unprepared for the horrors that the Nazi Occupation brings, and will do anything to protect those she loves most.

"The Keeper of Hidden Books” is a beautiful book that made me cry with the hope it radiates. Listen now to my conversation with Madeline, and to hear a reading from her book, which will be released on August 1st..”

Full episode available on the Storytime in Paris podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts.

This book, based on true events illustrates how much books have helped people in difficult times, as well as good times. This story is about the library in Warsaw during WWII and details the struggles and fights the Poles had to keep the library open and to put books in the hands of their fellow countrymen. My only criticism was at times it seemed to drag some, but a great story.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin is a captivating and memorable novel. The book is set in Warsaw, Poland during the German invasion. The premise of the story is that a group of librarians hide banned books from the Nazi’s. The main character Zophia is Polish and her best friend Janina is Jewish. This becomes a very important part of the story. Another important part of story is a secret book club. Zophia who works at the Warsaw Library starts hiding books to protect them but also to preserve them for future generations. The act of defying the Nazi’s leads to more involved resistance work.
The story also examines how quickly everyone had to grow up, especially Zophia and her friends. The relationship between Zophia and her mother changes and shifts through the book which is interesting to witness. The book is about standing up for what you believe in, passion, friendships, the importance of family, religion and love.
The settings were so vivid. You could picture the library, Warsaw, the ghetto, the apartments and so many other places. Ms. Martin’s writing is superb. Her characters are rich, warm, brave, optimistic, and truly unforgettable. They will stay with you long after the story has ended.
I think this book is a definite for Bibliophiles. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While this is my first book by Ms. Martin, it will definitely not be my last. I am interested to see what Ms. Martin has in store for us next. Well done.

This is my third book by Madeline Martin. I loved The Last Bookshop in London and The Librarian Spy. The Keeper of Hidden Books is as wonderfully written as the other two I've read. It's a 5 ⭐ book.

It's WWII, and the Nazi are in Warsaw. There we meet Zofia and her best friend Janina. They both are trying to save books from being destroyed by the Nazi and endangering their own lives in this process. We see so much distruction not only in books, but in the lives and the spirit of the people of Poland. We will see all the horrible things that war brings, like the air raids destroying the beautiful city, and the killing of so many innocent people.
A very powerful book which I recommend. I really loved the authors note where she explained the fact from fiction.

I worked as a librarian, and I love and feel that the library is my second home. My four children love the library and what books have offered them, not just knowledge, but also an escape to other places in their mind. A beautiful place that we should all travel to. Enjoy ❤️.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square for the arc ebook copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.

Pub Day August 1, 2023

#MadelineMartin
#KeeperofHiddenBooks
#Netgalley
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#HanoverSquare

I have read several historical fiction books by this author and I am always impressed by how she is able to pull you into the character’s lives and the World War II setting. This book is set in Warsaw, Poland and follows a young woman who initially becomes involved in the resistance by hiding banned books from the Nazis. This evolves into more intrenched resistance work as she tries to save those she loves while fighting against the Nazi occupation. If you read a lot of World War II era books, I don’t think this really offers anything different but these stories are still very important to tell. This book is well researched and immensely readable and I will continue to read this author’s historical fiction.

I received a digital Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because god damn it deserves at least 10!
I'll preface this review by saying it is a heavy topic and does get hard to read at times but it's mostly because of the raw emotion from the exquisite penmanship and the choice of words Madeline used for some pivotal and crucial parts of the book. I truly truly would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! Especially the times we live in where a lot of these past historical situations are being forgotten, it's such an important topic beautifully written.

The premise: Zofia is a HS student and book lover in postwar Poland as Hitler is coming to power and fighting in several European fronts. The majority of the book takes places during the timeframe right before the invasion of Poland, the capture of Warsaw, and ends as the Soviets "free" Poland. She goes through a lot of loss, suffering and love and hope as well.

- I have to give mention to the fact that even the Author's note was beautifully written, I almost never read those in their entirety but I loved her explanations and information on where she got the information and research for this book to make it as historically accurate as possible even within its fiction.
- I can't pick any character as my favorite because they were all incredibly complex and beautiful in so many ways.
- I very much enjoyed the complicated relationship Zofia has with her mother and how it changes throughout the book as she grows, learns and sees her perspective.
- This book made me think about a lot of things, especially how we take for granted reading books nowadays but there was a period of time when it wasn't possible and was even a crime....
- The letters from Janina featured in the book where some of the most heartbreaking parts of the story, I made the mistake of reading it during my commute on the subway and was shedding tears while everyone wondered wtf I was doing.

Truly a great book, if you take anything away from this review, it's this is a MUST read culture wise, to put things into perspective, for extra knowledge, humility, to learn about the past and to truly be inspired by human nature.

Note: I received an ARC for honest feedback.

A World War story of a Warsaw group of librarians that hide banned books in the library from the Nazis as well as create a hidden book club to read some of the books. Also, The relationship between the main character who is polish, and her best friend who is Jewish is also a large part of the story, and how she and others helps her friends and families during the German invasion into Warsaw and their subsequent internment.
Unfortunately I found this story not new to me. I’ve read similar stories before. The characters relationships were not developed well enough for me to be invested in their outcomes. And it was slow going throughout the entirety. There was just surface information and dialogue. I found myself losing interest about half way through. I finished the book but was disappointed.
The premise for protection of our libraries and all books is evident and it could have been so much better if we had more information about the specific banned books, maybe why Hitler chose these books, how librarians across the country dealt with the bans and more about the books outcomes after the war. Just needed more in my opinion.

4.8 stars.
On pages 346 and 347 there are typos, FYI to the publishers (which thank you for the ARC).


A wonderfully researched historical fiction about our main character Zofia and Warsaw. Zofia has something in common with us as the reader; she loves books. This story is about her love for books, the importance and impact on saving Polish books for future generations, and also the struggles of war and how it makes everyone grow up fast. It’s not gruesome in trauma, but it doesn’t shy away from it. It’s not romantic, but there is tenderness. It’s not just a war book. It’s a book about love, passion, friendships that pass all boundaries, and the importance of what’s right- even over the importance of what is safe.

I really enjoyed this book, it helped get me out of my slump lately. I will definitely be recommending it to my patients who love to discuss historical fiction when they come in for their appointments. With that, this review ends with a calico cat named Jackie (sorry I don’t know a Nela!).

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a story about the power of books to offer hope during the most devastating times.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is inspired by the true story of the underground library in Warsaw, Poland during WWII. Zofia has two important things in her life: her books and her best friend, Janina. As Warsaw is occupied during WWII, books are in danger of being banned and/or destroyed. At great risk, Zofia saves what books she can, continues to meet secretly with her book club, and hides books. Lending saved books to readers and sneaking them into the Ghetto for her best friend are dangerous activities and as the situation becomes more dire, she also participates where she can in the Resistance.

Just as the Grinch can’t steal the spirit of Christmas, Hitler can’t steal the love of reading from book lovers. Books might be banned, but readers are gong to read. I thought this morning how fitting it is to review this book about books and libraries on #BookLoversDay !

One important reason to read is for escapism. This is never more true than during war! (How many of you read for escapism during the Pandemic?!) Books about the power of literature to offer hope in devastating times and the importance of libraries are addicting! I’m adding The Keeper of Hidden Books to my growing list of books about books and books set in libraries.

So much loss in war. In addition to the loss of precious life, people caught in the war put everything on hold to focus on survival and resistance. This could mean loss of educational opportunities, loss of careers, loss of romance, loss of friendships, loss of travel, loss of security, loss of family treasures, loss of brilliant minds and artists, …..and the loss goes on. War changes our entire world. The tragedy and sacrifice can’t be measured.

“The world needs to remember to never take for granted what has been gifted to us through the sacrifice of others: the right to education and leaning, the power and luxury of freedom, and the beauty to appreciate the routine of simple, ordinary life.” ~Zofia, The Keeper of Hidden Books

I anticipate a good reading experience when I pick up a book by a trusted author. Even though the content is not easy, Madeline Martin writes well-researched, meaningful, and page-turning historical fiction. Her characters are well-drawn and admirable and her themes are substantial. Themes I appreciate here include friendship, family, sacrifice, taking risks, fighting evil, and the power of books.

Content Consideration: difficult and emotional WWII content

Fans of Madeline Martin will definitely be interested in this new release. Also for fans of WWII historical fiction and stories of brave difference-makers. Book clubs might find thoughtful discussion possibilities.

Thanks #NetGalley @htp_books @Hanover_Square for a complimentary e ARC of #TheKeeperOfHiddenBooks upon my request. All opinions are my own.

What a good book! I really appreciated the protagonist's perspective of a young adult female Warsovian (lived in Warsaw, Poland) during the Nazi occupation. Her experience was harrowing, heartbreaking, and also filled with hope, kindness, and love. I totally recommend this book!

In 1939, Germany, under the control of Hitler, invaded Poland. During their occupation, Hitler had his troops take over libraries and began banning books that did not align with his viewpoint deeming them "inappropriate" and destroying them. This story centers on a group of young people who form a Bandit Reading Club to begin reading books on Hitler's banned book list. As they come together to discuss the books, they begin to form a plan to save books by hiding them. As the Nazis close schools and set up ghettos for Jewish residents, these group of young people begin smuggling books out and setting up secret libraries and even run libraries out of suitcases. The author writes "This is how they would rebuild the beauty or Warsaw, through community, one book at at time in a city of readers with open hearts and learned minds."

I enjoyed this book and learned a great deal. I did not know that Helen Keller was a banned author on Hitler's banned list. Nor did I know that the Girl and Boy Guides (predecessors to Girl and Boy Scouts in the US) played such an important role in the resistance movement during WWII. I do feel that the author's content was too broad in this book. This made it hard to follow at times. I do, however, feel this book is a timely read and will suggest it to others.