Within These Walls of Sorrow: A Novel of World War II Poland
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Book Overview
Christy Awards 2023 BOOK OF THE YEAR and winner for best Historical Fiction 2023, by multiple-time Christy winner and widely-acclaimed author, Amanda Barratt.
"As superbly written as it is haunting in its truth." --Kate Breslin, best-selling author of For Such a Time
"This tense WWII historical from Barratt (My Dearest Dietrich) follows a woman's efforts to help her neighbors survive the Krak w ghetto. . . . Moving and effective, this inspirational finds light in the darkest of places."--Publishers Weekly
"Meticulous research and lush, award-winning writing result in an emotionally moving story about a group of unsung heroes who fought for hope and humanity in the most harrowing of times."--Midwest Book Review Zosia Lewandowska knows the brutal realities of war all too well. Within weeks of Germany's invasion of her Polish homeland, she lost the man she loves. As ghetto walls rise and the occupiers tighten their grip on the city of Krakow, Zosia joins pharmacist Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his staff in the heart of the Krakow ghetto as they risk their lives to aid the Jewish people trapped by Nazi oppression.
Hania Silverman's carefree girlhood is shattered as her family is forced into the ghetto. Struggling to survive in a world hemmed in by walls and rife with cruelty and despair, she encounters Zosia, her former neighbor, at the pharmacy. As deportation winnow the ghetto's population and snatch those she holds dear, Hania's natural resiliency is exhausted by reality.
Zosia and Hania's lives intertwine as they face the griefs and fears thrust upon them by war, until one day, they are forced to make a desperate choice . . . one that will inexorably bind them together, even as they are torn apart.
Amanda Barratt's meticulous research and lush, award-winning writing shine once again in this moving look at a group of unsung heroes who fought for hope and humanity in the most harrowing of times. "An unflinching tale that implores readers to stop and see, not a massive crowd of people, but individual hearts and souls. This book will linger in your heart and mind long after you've read the final page." --Amanda Cox, Christy Award-winning author of The Edge of Belonging
"As superbly written as it is haunting in its truth." --Kate Breslin, best-selling author of For Such a Time
"This tense WWII historical from Barratt (My Dearest Dietrich) follows a woman's efforts to help her neighbors survive the Krak w ghetto. . . . Moving and effective, this inspirational finds light in the darkest of places."--Publishers Weekly
"Meticulous research and lush, award-winning writing result in an emotionally moving story about a group of unsung heroes who fought for hope and humanity in the most harrowing of times."--Midwest Book Review Zosia Lewandowska knows the brutal realities of war all too well. Within weeks of Germany's invasion of her Polish homeland, she lost the man she loves. As ghetto walls rise and the occupiers tighten their grip on the city of Krakow, Zosia joins pharmacist Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his staff in the heart of the Krakow ghetto as they risk their lives to aid the Jewish people trapped by Nazi oppression.
Hania Silverman's carefree girlhood is shattered as her family is forced into the ghetto. Struggling to survive in a world hemmed in by walls and rife with cruelty and despair, she encounters Zosia, her former neighbor, at the pharmacy. As deportation winnow the ghetto's population and snatch those she holds dear, Hania's natural resiliency is exhausted by reality.
Zosia and Hania's lives intertwine as they face the griefs and fears thrust upon them by war, until one day, they are forced to make a desperate choice . . . one that will inexorably bind them together, even as they are torn apart.
Amanda Barratt's meticulous research and lush, award-winning writing shine once again in this moving look at a group of unsung heroes who fought for hope and humanity in the most harrowing of times. "An unflinching tale that implores readers to stop and see, not a massive crowd of people, but individual hearts and souls. This book will linger in your heart and mind long after you've read the final page." --Amanda Cox, Christy Award-winning author of The Edge of Belonging
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0825447011
ISBN13:9780825447013
Release Date:January 2023
Publisher:Kregel Publications
Length:304 Pages
Weight:0.80 lbs.
Dimensions:1.2" x 6.2" x 8.6"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
masterfully written
Published by MJSH , 2 years ago
"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.
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