Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher to participant in a blog tour promoting this book.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.  If I did not care for the book, I had the opportunity to opt out of the tour. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

With the thrilling pace and historical drama of Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author Kelly Rimmer's newest novel is an epic WWII saga and love story, based on the real-life efforts of two young people taking extraordinary risks to save their countrymen, as they try to find their way back to each other and the life they once knew.

Following on the success of The Things We Cannot Say, this is Kelly Rimmer's return to the WWII category with a brand new novel inspired by Irena Sendler, the real-life Polish nurse who used her access to the Warsaw ghetto to smuggle Jewish children and babies to safety.

Spanning the tumultuous years between 1942 and 1945 in Poland, The Warsaw Orphan follows Emilia over the course of the war, her involvement with the Resistance, and her love for Sergiusz, a young man imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto who's passion leads him to fight in the Warsaw Uprising. From the Warsaw ghetto to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, through Nazi occupation to the threat of a communist regime, Kelly Rimmer has penned her most meticulously researched and emotionally compelling novel to date.

Review:

I have read many books about World War Two, from All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr, to the more recent novel, The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles. Each book has helped me to understand a little bit more about what happened to regular people during the war. The Warsaw Orphan opened my eyes to what the people of Poland experienced, as seen through the eyes of a Jewish teen living in the Warsaw Ghetto, and a Christian teen living just beyond the Wall in the greater city. There were acts of bravery, both large and small, as well as callousness from those who chose to look away from the terrible suffering. This is an unflinching look at war. With wonderful characters that I could root for, I could not put this book down. I finished this novel in just two days!

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

The author obviously did extensive research as the novel was filled with food, clothing, hairstyles, and many other details that put me right in the time period. Would our heroes get caught? The details of how things were smuggled in and out of the Warsaw Ghetto, and how information was quickly communicated in neighborhoods by means of children helped the novel build the excitement.

Characters:

Emilia begins the novel as a young teen who would seem to have everything she could want. She has loving (if strict) parents, lives in a comfortable apartment, and has plenty to eat. But she is not who she seems. She is hiding in plain sight due to other members of her family defiantly resisting the Germans. With such a family history, it's inevitable that Emilia can't sit on her hands and do nothing. I loved Emilia's empathetic nature and how she was willing to help those suffering in the Jewish Ghetto. She feels a deep sense of responsibility, even when she realizes she is way out of her depth. She knows that people are relying on her and she refuses to let them down.

Roman is a slightly older teen living in the Warsaw Ghetto. He lives for his family, and refuses to give into despair even as their situation gets worse and worse. He meet Emilia when she begins to work as Sara's assistant. Inevitably, Roman and Emilia fall in love. But, the war changes him. After all he has seen, he wants nothing but revenge for what the Germans are doing. He becomes angry and reckless. And this gives Emilia pause. Can she be with someone who doesn't understand that his actions could be endangering those he loves?

Supporting Characters:

While Roman was fiery and wanted to make a gallant stand against the Germans, Emilia's neighbor, Sara, was probably braver than Roman. As a social worker, Sara was able to go into the Ghetto, under the guise of reducing Typhus, and find children that could be smuggled out. She used her intellect, rather than force, to effect change. I also loved that Sara was calm, and practical in the face of grave danger. Because of this, she won the respect of everyone around her.

Emilia's Aunt Truda is a very complex character. She is not very likable at the beginning of the book. She is strict with Emilia, and harsh with nearly everyone. But as her story unfolds, she begins to show a more compassionate side of her personality. When Emilia reflects back on how she has been accepted by Truda and her uncle, she starts to see the love behind Truda's actions. She would do anything to keep Emilia safe.

Civilian War Experiences:

The book is very realistic about the hardships that civilians go through in a war. There's no sugar-coating starvation, illness, rape and murder. Where other books about WWII, might start to describe a violent scene and then fade to black, Rimmer goes full steam ahead with the details. It is brutal, but honest.

Story:

Poland has been invaded by Germany and has forced Jews into a small zone in Warsaw known as the Warsaw Ghetto. This is a story of survival. The Jews have a terrible existence, as so many people are crowded into a small space. Disease is rampant, along with shortages of food and medical supplies. Jews are being told they are being relocated to a work camp, but they all know that no one is coming back.

The people in the rest of the city can see the wall that separates the Jews. They become experts at ignoring the evil around them. Is this a coping mechanism or (worse) indifference? But the rest of Warsaw will suffer in time.

This is a story of survival and endurance. There are people who do dramatic acts of bravery, and those who are equally brave but in a more subtle manner. I loved the characters and the love story between Roman and Emilia. All the obstacles they faced made the story both realistic and hopeful.

Trigger Warning for Rape:

This book contains a scene of extreme sexual violence. Although this was central to the plot of the book, if you are triggered by such things, I would strongly advise that you skip this novel.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  June 1st, 2021

Author:  Kelly Rimmer

Publisher:  Graydon House

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  416 Pages

Source:  Harper Collins Blog Tour

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A unflinching look at the Polish experience during WWII.  Riveting and haunting; I could not put it down.