Sunday, October 2, 2022

The Librarian Spy

A librarian who is a spy set in World War II? I was sold from the beginning. In The Librarian Spy Ava exchanges her job at the Library of Congress where she is an expert at microfilming for a U.S military post in Portugal using the same skills. While microfilming newspapers and other documents from throughout Europe, Ava not only becomes familiar with the plight of many Jewish people trying desperately to leave Europe but also stumbles upon a coded plea for help in a French Resistance newspaper.

Author Madeline Martin does a wonderful job of intertwining two unique stories. The two stories unfold simultaneously involving two entirely different sets of characters and seem completely unrelated. Alternating between the two story lines causes the story to be a bit slow at the beginning, When the two stories intersect, the characters work together to accomplish their mission over different countries and in some cases without meeting in person. Their clandestine work using top of the line World War II era technology combined with their persistence and strong female characters provides a wonderfully, entertaining yet poignant work.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Teacher of Warsaw

Having read several previous books by Mario Escobar, I knew that his fictional accounts of historical events are exceptional. His book The Teacher of Warsaw is no exception!

The Teacher of Warsaw focuses on Janusz Korczak and the Jewish orphanage Dom Seriot he runs in Warsaw, Poland. At the time, Korczak was a well-known and well-respected doctor and teacher in Poland. Based upon his own writings, this book tells the story of his orphanage being moved into the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust and his attempts to keep the children and teachers in his care safe. Although his position in Polish society could have provided opportunity to escape, Korczak chose to stay with the children in his orphanage until the very end when they were sent to Treblinka.

The Teacher of Warsaw was heartbreaking to read, not only because you know how it ends, but due to the well thought out reasons for Korczak's actions. Escobar does a masterful job of portraying the philosophical reasoning for the teacher's actions and how he taught and modeled life for the children in his care. This creates a story that requires the reader to think deeply about the issues raised that are still being wrestled with today. This book is a highly recommended addition to your Holocaust reading list.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complementary copy of this book from Thoma Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.