Mario Escobar has once again written a moving story of children's lives upended by war. The story, though a work of fiction, is largely based on real life pediatrician and teacher Janusz Korczak during his time running an orphanage for Jewish children in occupied Warsaw, Poland. The author's note at the end of the book is extremely helpful in sorting fact from fiction, and this book has a healthy dose of fact. The book also has a healthy dose of insight into humanity, insight that remains true for our current national and world experiences. Escobar's writing style is at once simple and complex, enlightening and depressing, entertaining and educational, but mostly it is empowering.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Teacher of Warsaw from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. ( )

Janusz Korczak spent his entire life looking after children and giving them the best opportunities possible. As an orphanage director in Warsaw, when the Nazi's invaded, he selflessly continued to look after his children.. Despite lack of resources and the continuous threat of death he stayed by the children until the end.

I admire Janusz and consider him a hero. However, I did not enjoy this book. It rambled all over the place and spent more time on philosophy rather than what was going on in the ghetto. Despite its subject matter, this is not a book I would reread or recommend. ( )

The Nazis have moved all the Polish Jews to the ghetto, including all the children in Janusz Korczak’s orphanage. Everyone’s life has changed. There is little or no food. Every day is a struggle to survive.

Janusz Korczak battles day in and day out to find enough food, medicine and clothing for all the children in his care. The atrocities of the Nazis and the deaths he witnesses every day are almost too much to handle. But, he never gives up!

This is a story which will break your heart. But, it is also a story which will show you about the love, hope and strength one person can have on others. Dr. Korczak saved so many but he could not save everyone. But, he is determined. This is a novel I will not soon forget. It is so beautifully written and well researched. I love that it is based on a real life hero.

Need a fantastic historical fiction you will be thinking about for days after…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

In his latest Mario Escobar dramatizes the real-life of Janusz Korczak and his work protecting orphans in the Warsaw ghetto. Under the Nazi their hardships increased and all had to deal with overcrowding, typhus and chronic hunger. Korczak did his best to keep the children’s spirits up even as rumors swirl about Jewish people to be relocated to Treblinka.....This is the story of a hero.

The book begins on the eve of WW11 and doesn’t end well.

Not surprisingly this is a difficult book to read mainly I knew from page one how it would unfold. Even if I had read many stories in the past, the unimaginable Nazi brutality and sadness that surround the events are hard to take. I was touched by the amazing optimism and resiliency of human beings in the midst of chaos and how a remarkable a single person can touch the lives of so many.

“The Teacher of Warsaw” is a powerful and emotional story of a spiritual leader who sacrificed himself for others. Mario Escobar brings this extraordinary man to life through his interpretation of Korczak’s notes and dairies. We follow this caring man slowly protecting his flock and doing the impossible to get food and shelter till the very end when he accompanied them to Treblinka....

This historical fiction has graphic scenes everything one would expect from a WW11 book although I did found the story hard to get in to: was it because it is so slowly said and narration seemed to turn in circle rehashing the same old things. It didn’t flow as well as Mr. Escobar’s other books and unfortunately the end couldn’t come fast enough for me. Leaving me with mixed feelings, up to you to give it a go or not....

I received a copy of this book from harper Muse via Netgalley for my thoughts ( )