Inspired by a true story, My Mother’s Secret is a captivating and ultimately uplifting tale intertwining the lives of two Jewish families in hiding from the Nazis, a fleeing German soldier, and the mother and daughter who save them all. Franciszka and her daughter, Helena, are simple, ordinary people…until 1939, when the Nazis invade their homeland. Providing shelter to Jews in Nazi-occupied … to Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland is a death sentence, but Franciszka and Helena do exactly that. In their tiny home in Sokal, they hide a Jewish family in a loft above their pigsty, a Jewish doctor with his wife and son in a makeshift cellar under the kitchen, and a defecting German soldier in the attic—each party completely unknown to the others. For everyone to survive, Franciszka will have to outsmart her neighbors and the German commander.
Told simply and succinctly from four different perspectives—all under one roof—My Mother’s Secret is a testament to the kindness, courage, and generosity of ordinary people who chose to be extraordinary.
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A forthright account of exceptional heroism. Often we think of “heroes” performing a single act of bravery. Hiding Jews and an AWOL soldier for a year in a Nazis occupied Polish village is an incredible enduring life of bravery.
It was about a woman doing what was right is spite of her own personal danger. It reminds people of how so many sacrificed in WWII.
Who we are shows in our actions toward others.
This story is powerful, and the main character is a woman of great courage and inventiveness. But the book seems more like a journal, without the richness of detail and breadth of description that would make it seem more real to me. If a great movie produces/director put this on the screen, it would be very good!
I had no idea what to expect from this book, but I was prepared to read another horrifying account of the holocaust. What I discovered was a poignant story about courage and the very best qualities humans possess.
Not only did this story deliver on the storytelling, it also delivered on the crisp and clean writing style I so admire. No frill. Just one good word after another.
Loved this book. The characters were real and the drama kept you reading. The strength of the characters to be strong and resilient in the face of war so close to their front door makes you hope you would have the same courage.
This story stayed with me long after I had finished the book. I love a book that makes me want to meet the characters. A good sense of place imbibed the main locations. How did these people manage what they did for the length of time they did? A compelling read.
Lots of twists and turns
This was a good book, but not excellent. When I finished it one night, I went back the next night to see if there was something I missed (there wasn’t.) It was based on a true story, but I would have liked a bit more into the mother’s struggles to put her family in danger while helping the Jewish families or more about what happened after the war.
Eminently readable story of a truly humane heroic woman!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Excellent story – shows how caring a person can be-even risking one’s life for the safety of others
Moving story of bravery and care for other humans during a very horrific time.
Very interesting story. It’s a little choppy in the way it’s written, some chapters are less than a page in length.
Loved this, people need to read about and remember this time in history.
I read this book in less than 24 hours. I literally could not put it down. I loved all the characters and cheered for their survival. I felt like each one was in my home telling the story and sharing their experiences. Have already recommended to family and friends. Best read!
Wonderful story of a strong, wise, courageous woman and how she helped to save a soldier and two Jewish families.
This was an inspiration story. It’s amazing how someone could be so giving. I was glad to be able to read a WWII book with a different twist.
Great story of brave ladies who put their lives in danger for strngers.
Ordinary people doing heroic and selfless things on pain of death if caught!