A review by mtzbookworm64
The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer

5.0

What a compelling story of what life was like during WWII in Poland for thousands of Jewish children and their families in the Warsaw Ghetto. The polish people go from Nazi occupation to the threat of a communist regime and rebuilding their country - all while trying to keep their culture and identity in tact.

The story follows Elzbieta Rabinek - who is hiding her true identity, while living with Trudy and Mateusz who have taken her as their own daughter with papers provided by Uncle Piotr - after her own family was killed by their Germans. They all now live in an apartment with Uncle Piotr. Elzbieta befriends Sara, who lives upstairs and is a friend of Uncle Piotr. However, no one knows that she secretly helps smuggle children out of the Warsaw Ghetto until one night Elzbieta hears something and discovers her secret.

Elzbieta convinces Sara to let her help the cause in some way. This is how Elzbieta meets Roman Gorka and his family who are trapped in the Ghetto. Is Roman’s new found love for Elzbieta stronger than his fight for the resistance - even through all the battles the families must face - death, rape, fire, and relocation?