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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I cried and I laughed. You are transported into the book and made to feel as if you are part of it. You won’t put it down until the last page.
This was very uplifting, that a simple woman could put herself and daughter’s life in danger to save lives of people she did not know. What a wonderful person.
This is a wonderful book based on a true event –
I’m fascinated in how caring some people are when the world is falling apart around them.
Wonderful story about events during WWII’s holocaust, which showed the kindness of people. Very touching without all the horror of that time in history. And it was based on an actual person who helped save so many Jews.
This was an easy to read story. I left it wanting to know more. I still have questions. It was interesting who the characters were and the part they played. These women were true heros.
A heartwarming story.
Reminder of great generosity in the face of horror.
I did not like it
Stories like this restore my faith in humanity. Very well written and researched.
This took me on a trip into yesterday. Women were often the unsung heroes of WWII. I would hope that I could be as compassionate as this Mother.
Great books
Fabulous read. Ended too quickly or I read it too quickly
The story based on real characters was excellent and heartbreaking. The courage displayed by the protagonist was extraordinary and remarkable. I was intrigued by the ability of persons under the stresses that came with the war and holocaust to act so courageously. It was not difficult for me to believe the tale, having personally known survivors of the holocaust.
Another moving story about WW II
uplifting
I read this very moving book and was glad that in a turmoil past there was people who stepped up and gave hope to a future that was uncertain.
A haunting story based on real events during the Holocaust. It was well written but too short.
Easy, fluid read. Unforgettably have characters. Well worth the read
It is likely that whenever events inspired this story would have made for a better book