DAUGHTERS OF WARSAW by MARIA FRANCES is a well written, inspirational, both heartbreaking and heartwarming, dual time WW11 novel that is set both in Warsaw durng the German occupation of Poland, where Zofia Szczesny joins the Zegota, the Polish underground, risking her life taking medicine and food into the ghetto where Jews are living and dying in the most horrific conditions, and shepherding hundreds of children to safety; and in present day Seattle, where her great granddaughter, Lizzie Marshall, comes across photos that lead to her travelling to Warsaw to try and find out more about Zofia’s life.
We see Zofia’s courage and sacrificial love as she lives a dangerous double life, with her job at the Social Welfare Department to help her family financially, and her secret work with Irena Sendler, saving hundreds of Jewish children from certain death at the hands of the Nazis. There is betrayal, suspense and incredible sadness as parents in the ghetto bravely say goodbye to their children, knowing there is little chance of ever being reunited with them…….
I like to see the faith and strength of these incredibly brave people who stood up for God’s chosen people during one of the most horrific times in the history of mankind. I also like the sensitive way in which the book is written.
In the present day we find Lizzie temporarily separated from her husband after several miscarriages, trying to overcome her grief at her parents’ home. The research into her family’s history proves to be just what she needs to turn her life around……
I cannot recommend this lovely book strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Avon Books UK. The opinions in this review are completely my own.