Publication Date: March 6, 2024
Length: 370 pages
I received this book from The Book Whisperer and the author for an honest review.
This book is the third in the Beyond The Tracks series by Michael Reit. He provides readers with unique viewpoints of WWII through his empathetic, fascinating characters. This book stands alone and reading the previous books isn’t necessary but I recommend it.
When the Nazis conquered a country, one of their first acts was to close the schools. Devoted educators knew that they couldn’t allow learning to stagnate. Some brave educators and students continued learning in underground schools. Each school location was a well-guarded secret. These underground schools were prime targets of the Nazis. When located, all persons involved were punished by being sent to a work camp. Felcia Hodak was an instructor at one such school. She was discovered, arrested, and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, not because of her religion. She was a political prisoner. Sabina Krupka lived with her parents. They had been relocated to an apartment in the town of Auschwitz from Rajsko, Poland. Sabina’s father was a supervisor in the mines, directing both civilian and Auschwitz workers. Sabina attended an underground school and worked in the city archives as a clerk. She is tasked with taking messages back and forth from the archives to the Nazi commander at the Rajsko science work camp.
The Rajsko science work camp was located in Sabina’s former school. As she walked past former classrooms, she wondered what was happening in these rooms. At Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazis learned of Felcia’s scientific background, and they transferred her to work at Rajsko. Her skills and knowledge as a botanist made her valuable to the Reich. As she was leaving the lab one day, Felcia met Sabina. Over time, the two women developed a friendship although against the rules. As Sabina delivered more and more messages to the science camp, she began to witness the Nazi treatment of the prisoners. Her keen awareness of the happenings at Auschwitz-Birkenau prompts her to work with the resistance. Can Sabina continue her secret friendship and work with the resistance?
Michael Reit’s latest book about Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Polish Resistance illustrates the determination of the Polish people, with a special focus on Polish women. Even though cruelty was commonplace with Nazi rules, the two protagonists brave the ever-present threats. During Nazi occupation, it didn’t matter which side of the fence you were on, death was always a possibility. Women were threatened, tortured, and abused by the brutal Nazi female guards. Reit’s characters Felcia and Sabina are not superheroes, they are two women striving to better the awful circumstances of their lives. It is inspiring to see these women find the inner strength to help in any way possible. Their acts of rebellion along with those of many others, helped Poland oppose their captors.
This book and series will appeal to historical fiction readers, WWII readers, and those who appreciate strong women characters. I enjoyed the book and know that many of you will too.
My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻/5