The Medallion

There’s a lot of World War 2 fiction out there, I know. But even if you think you have read enough, please don’t miss this story of two families in war-time Poland. If you have any interest in Irena Sendler, who helped smuggle so many children out of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, you’ll be interested in this novel which explores the types of families she helped. After reading The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke, I am surprised I have not heard more people buzzing about it. It’s a five-star, award-worthy, keeper-shelf read for me.

Once again Cathy Gohlke has written a masterful story about WWII with “The Medallion”. Any work on that time period has to include the atrocities and horrors which occurred then. As hard as it is to read about, she mixes in courage, hope, and the goodness of others as God works in the midst of all the evil. He raises up people to stand with and for Him. It is an amazing story as well as being inspirational. A must-read for anyone studying or interested in WWII.

Oh my gosh….no words to describe this but my emotions ran rampant and the tears flowed. No one should forget the atrocities that people faced in WWII and a big thank you to authors that are willing to tackle this subject and bring it to life. Ms. Gohlke is a master at her craft and perfectly weaves a story amidst actual people with impeccable research. How far would you go to protect a child in horrific circumstances and after hearts bind could you let that child go? I will never wear my tree of life necklace without remembering this story. It pacts a punch that will be long lasting. I will leave it at this….please read and place on your best books ever shelf.
I won a copy of this book and am so thankful I did. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke is a powerful Christian historical novel set in Nazi occupied Warsaw during WWII. Cathy Gohlke has woven a fictional tale around factual events. Real figures such as Dr Korczak and Irena Sendler put in an appearance in this heart wrenching tale. The fact that we know that these events happens really affects the emotional response to the novel.
As the Nazis marched into Poland, the world seemed silent. “Where was the world?” Poland felt abandoned to its fate and it remained abandoned.
Cathy Gohlke has penned a traumatic tale following two women throughout the war. The novel alternates between their voices as we follow their fates. We witness the bravery – ordinary women who did extraordinary acts of courage to help their fellow man.
Nazi persecution of both Jewish and Polish people was the way of life. There were always those who would report their neighbours. Trust was in short supply. There were those who would put their life on the line. When asked why, the response was: “My husband risks his life each day to save others- because that is what Jesus did, and what He wants us to do.”
War changes people. They do things they would not normally do. We must never judge others if we have not walked in their shoes. Who knows what choices we would make in times of war? One character finds themselves living a lie. It began with the best of intensions but as peace time descends, the lie spirals out of control, threatening the inner peace of a character and those all around.
The final part of the novel is set in London. I was horrified to see that the Polish Jews still received prejudice there.
The Medallion is not an escapist read but it is a necessary one. It is powerful, heart wrenching and realistic. There were some harrowing scenes (based on fact, the historian in me recognised them). Cathy Gohlke has captured the horrors of war for civilians – ordinary Polish people who lived and loved before the Nazis moved in and persecuted them. The two main characters focus the reader’s attention to the microcosm of war. The macrocosm being played out all over Nazi occupied Europe.
Cathy Gohlke is a splendid author. She presents powerful fictional stories grounded in fact. We witness a God who is faithful but we see the realistic struggle of people trying to find God in the midst of all that suffering and horror.
The Medallion must be read in memory of the six million innocents and the brave souls who helped them.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Even as I try to put into words how compelling and beautiful The Medallion is, I find myself coming up short for the task, for I am in complete awe of this book. A master storyteller, Cathy has created unforgettable characters in unthinkable circumstances that pulled at my heart and caused many tears. This story completely undid me, then stitched me back together with hope. A novel that has grabbed my heart—and won’t let go—for what I’m sure will be a very long time.

“The Germans do their best to make us forget who we are, Whose we are. Not just today, but for all time. We must work that much harder so that we don’t forget. How can we hope that the world will not forget us if we forget ourselves?”

Such powerfully moving words. This is the first book by Cathy Gohlke that I have read and I’m still reeling from its impact. Beautifully written, heart-achingly soulful, and hopeful even in the midst of unspeakable atrocities and devastation, The Medallion will steal your heart and mind as the author sweeps you into WWII Poland. The story centers around a Polish couple, Sophia and Janek, and a Jewish couple, Rosa and Itzhak, and their baby girl. As the war rages on, an underground network takes Jewish children out from the ghettos in hopes that they’ll one day be reunited with their parents after the war. The sacrifices made by those parents giving up their children and those risking their lives to help the helpless and the devotion they had to the cause are overwhelming yet so clearly portrayed in the book. Faith plays a large part in all the characters’ lives and unites them in the end.

If you enjoy a well-written historical fiction, you will absolutely love this book. I received a copy of the book from Tyndale Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

This story will draw you in and not let go.

“Remember the Red Sea . . . Adonai makes a way when there is no way. . . . . It is His specialty.”

I was woefully behind in reading this gorgeous novel by Cathy Gohlke, one of my favorite authors, because sometimes life just gets in the way of reading what you want to read. Then once I read it – a couple of months ago – I had to process it before I could possibly begin to review it. And now here I am, fingers to keyboard, still unsure how I can ever do justice to this beautiful story.

I’m not even going to go too much into the characters and the plot in The Medallion because these are better left for you, the reader, to discover on your own. They will be all the more meaningful to you if you meet each one naturally on the pages, as the story unfolds. Gohlke’s writing voice is pitch perfect, and she brings the people and places to life in vivid & emotion-tugging detail. She writes of a season in which the righteous laws we hold to so tightly (never do that. always do this.) blur a bit in the face of loving God with all we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves, reminiscent of the faith questions this rule follower (me) wrestled with while reading one of my fave non-fiction books, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. It was a time when the worst of humanity met the best of humanity in a battle for the lives of people beloved by God.

Bottom Line: Based on true events, The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke spotlights a handful of characters that will grip your heart for months to come. People just like us who must make unimaginable decisions to survive, and people who step into that sacred space of rescue, sacrificing more than our safe, comfy modern lives can imagine to put others’ lives ahead of their own. Embracing the entire story is an underlying reminder that God is in the business of making a way where there is no way, that trusting Him when the next step is unclear is always better than trusting ourselves, and that there is no pit so deep that His love is not deeper still. Beautifully written with hope and grace despite the horror of the events it covers, The Medallion will keep you captivated until the very end. A great next read for fans of Pam Jenoff’s The Woman with the Blue Star and Melanie Dobson’s Hidden Among the Stars.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

A compellingly hope-filled heartbreaking story of two couples during WWII, and one child that links their lives inextricably.

Sophie is a British woman living in Poland and working in the library while her husband fights with his country. The war forces her to change her identity, as she is drawn into the events of wartorn Warsaw.

Young Jewish couple Rosa and Itzhak come to Warsaw to care for Rosa’s mother, but find themselves trapped there as the birth of their long awaited firstborn draws nearer.

A poignant, heartbreaking read based on true events suffered by thousands in Poland during World War II, this story tells of two families, living mere miles apart in Warsaw as it is torn apart by the war. It also honors the brave men and women, Jew and Gentile who risked their lives to help others, like the courageous Irena Sendler.

In the beginning it took a while to get fully immersed into the book, as it bounces between Sophie, Rosa, and Itzhak. But once the threads slowly started to come together and the stakes were raised, I couldn’t put this book down. Ms. Gohlke always writes stunningly real books, well researched, that also cut to the heart, and this one is no different, telling the heartbreaking realities that were faced by many in the Jewish Ghetto and work camps.

There were moments when it was hard to read, because of the reality of the atrocities that thousands of people faced at the hand of other human beings. Yet through it all there was hope, small and flickering, but hope nonetheless. I was inspired by so many of the characters and what they risked, and my heart went out ot both Sophie and Itzhak over the heartbreaking decisions that they faced. Highly recommend this poignant, emotional journey, based loosely on true stories, with characters that will capture your heart.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read this book over a month ago and have been desperately searching for the words to write an adequate review. I still don’t have the appropriate words. I’m still speechless. Mrs. Gohlke’s storytelling ability absolutely blows me away. This is not a feel-good story. This a story about the truths and hardships of war. This is a story that expresses the power of love and forgiveness during unspeakable hardships. Set during WWII, the character development and setting draw the reader into this story like no other. While reading, I had to walk away several times due to not being able to see the page through my tears. While the story ends on a somewhat positive note, this is not a happily-ever-after kind of story. These characters will remain with you long after you’ve finished this book.