Courage amongst Tragedy: Read our Review of The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer

Inspired by the real-life heroine who smuggled thousands of Jewish children to safety during WWII, the powerful new novel by the New York Times bestselling author.

In the spring of 1942, young Elzbieta Rabinek is aware of the swiftly growing discord just beyond the courtyard of her comfortable Warsaw home. But she has no idea what goes on behind the walls of the Jewish Ghetto nearby until she makes a discovery that propels her into a dangerous world of deception and heroism.

Elzbieta comes face to face with the plight of the Gorka family who must give up their newborn daughter – or watch her starve. For Roman Gorka, this final injustice stirs in him a rebellion not even his newfound love for Elzbieta can suppress. His recklessness puts their families in harm’s way until one violent act threatens to destroy their chance at freedom forever.

Bestselling Australian author Kelly Rimmer’s latest piece of historical fiction is a gripping story set in the darkest days of WWII in the German-occupied city of Warsaw. The interwoven narratives of teenagers Roman and Elzbieta are incredibly compelling, and reveal the horrors that occurred within the Warsaw Ghetto from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945 and the subsequent Soviet occupation.

Alongside the desperation and inhumane conditions, Rimmer’s novel details the bravery of those who risked everything to escape – or risked everything by helping others escape. This novel is in fact inspired by real-life Polish nurse and resistance fighter, Irena Sendler, who smuggled over two thousand Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto in perilous conditions.

Fans of Rimmer, whose previous works include bestsellers The Things We Cannot Say, Truths I Never Told You and Before I Let You Go, will recognise the character of Elzbieta who also appeared in The Things We Cannot Say. This time, however, Elzbieta is the true heroine, whose courage at such a young age is inspiring. I eagerly read this book, desperate to find out what happened to Elzbieta, Roman and their families. The evocative language takes you right into the heart of Warsaw, to a time in history that is truly hard to fathom, yet so important to read about.

Fans of historical fiction and war history will devour this book, as will lovers of Rimmer’s beautiful writing and characters. She weaves hope and humanity into one of history’s darkest chapters. So while you might need to keep the tissues nearby, inspiration and strength abounds within this story.