Zofia Nowak and her friends love to read, but in Warsaw in August 1939, reading has become a radical activity. With a Nazi invasion imminent, Zofia and her friends scramble to read as many Hitler-banned books as they can before they’re confiscated. When the Nazi invasion arrives, Zofia and her father hide the banned books beneath the floor in their apartment, hoping to keep them safe until a time when Poland might be free again. When her father, a physician, is taken off to prison along with so many of Warsaw’s intellectual elite and her best friend, Janina, is confined to the Jewish ghetto, Zofia realizes she herself must join the resistance against the Nazis. The Nazis are trying to control the Polish people by controlling the ideas they have access to; Zofia and a few other librarians find clever ways to continue getting books into hands and education into minds of the people. As the crackdown against the Jewish people gathers strength, Zofia puts her new skills to work hiding away not only the banned books but also the Jewish people she’s helping to smuggle out of the ghetto. Madeline Martin has created a novel that is both heartbreaking and timely. Through Zofia’s eyes, the reader experiences the agonizing separation of families at the hands of the Nazis and the anger that so many Polish people had to tamp down in order to survive. The fear that so many families must have felt as friends and neighbors disappeared and there was no way to know who might be next was so vividly captured. Through it all, Zofia recognizes the hope and love this beloved clutch of hidden books represents and she knows and understands that love in itself is precisely the reason that Hitler wanted the books stamped out in the first place. Zofia reflects, “Books inspired free thought and empathy, an overall understanding and acceptance of everyone". Those of us living in what has always been a "free world" will find parts of this story difficult to read and even more difficult to understand, but may Heaven forbid this ever happen again! ( )

In 1939, Zofia and Janina thought the only thing they needed to worry about was finishing high school. Soon their world was rocked by the German Army taking over Poland. They loved books and going to the library. Hitler didn't want any books to exist that went contrary to his plans to take over the world, including destroying books just because they were written by Jewish people and other people he didn't like. For most of the book Zofia is tasked with hiding books before the Nazis could get their hands on them to destroy them. I enjoyed this book and felt it got you into the moment all throughout the book. Since we follow Zofia closely, the book could have been written in first person. which is my preference. ( )

Interesting story about librarians who rescued books from destruction by the Nazis during the occupation of Warsaw. I gave it a lower rating because the author kept reminding me very frequently how wonderful books are. ( )

Having read “The Last Bookshop in London,” also by Madeline Martin, I knew I wanted to read this book too. And I’m glad I did. It was disturbingly wonderful. I am in awe of authors like Martin who write historical fiction because, unlike the Stephen Kings and James Pattersons of the literary world, their imaginations make up just half of the work. Martin’s research to make this WWII novel not only entertaining but also informative and educational. Martin tells the story of the Nazi occupation of Poland from 1939 through the war and to the Soviet occupation after the war. It wasn’t until 1989 that Poland was truly free. The story is told through the efforts of the brave Polish book lovers who protected the libraries of Warsaw and treated the libraries’ books like their own children. In our own time of book bans and censorship by more than 50 different groups in 140 school districts in 32 states, including Florida, where book bans are common (source: EducationWeek Sept. 22, 2022), Martin’s story is especially important. All book lovers should read this book and be concerned about what the current movement to censor books in schools and public libraries throughout the United States can lead to. ( )

I confess: I love book-centered historical fiction and this novel fits the bill. Set in Warsaw during World War II, this book tells the story of librarians and library workers who sought to save books from Nazi destruction and to get those books into the hands of readers. I also appreciated learning more about the uprisings in Warsaw, which I'd like to see more books provide coverage of. Overall, a wonderful read that book lovers and historical fiction fans are likely to enjoy. ( )