The Warsaw Orphan

 The Warsaw Orphan
by Kelly Rimmer

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson & Charlie Thurston

I have always felt such a strong connection to the Polish people. It in part probably has to do with the fact that I too am Polish. I remember my Polish great grandparents. I remember spending time with my great grandma as an adult as I lived near her while going to school. 

My ancestors had left Poland before Word War II broke out. But as I read and listen to these stories I still feel such a connection to those who did experience it. It so easily could have been that my family was still there. They may have had friends that were still there. 

My Great Grandma and Grandpa I got to know. I had the opportunity of knowing them. They lived until I was an adult and loved them. I have so many fond memories of my grandma. They are my polish grandparents.

The Warsaw Orphan follows two youth and the experiences of their families. I really enjoyed hearing the different perspectives and experiences. Some of them just went along with what was happening and tried to help those in the situations they were in. While some of them fought to make a difference and try to get their independence and to make changes that way. 

It was interesting to learn new things that I didn't know before. I didn't know that they worked so hard to try and find adoptive families for the younger children in families to give them the chance of survival. That had to truly be such a hard decision for families to make. To give up their children knowing there was a high chance that they may not survive and may never see them again. 

To those brave people who were willing to sacrifice their lives and chance of being caught for taking  in those children. That had to be the scariest thing for them as well. To think at any moment they may be caught and they could be imprisoned or put to death.

They had two different narrators for this book which I really enjoyed. A male narrator for Roman and a female for Emila. I felt like it truly helped to build a better connection with the characters. I find that when I read a book or listen to it that I tend to be drawn more to one character then another. I really loved hearing Emila's story.