Synopsis

War thrust them together. Love will tear them apart.

Inspired by a true story…

When the Nazis invade his sleepy Polish town, Mirek swears to keep everyone in his orphanage safe at all costs. Yet, despite his struggles and sacrifices, the war drags him and his children deeper and deeper into its violent nightmare.

With 89 children looking to him for hope, Mirek must do whatever it takes to protect them — no matter how criminal, distasteful, or perilous it may be.

And just when he thinks things can’t get any worse, the arrival of a sadistic SS captain brings unspeakable atrocities to his town — and surprisingly, a glimmer of hope for Mirek to save all those he cares about if only he has the courage to grasp it…

Inspired by a true story of love, bravery, and compassion, A Song of Silence explores history’s darkest hour and how, even in the face of overwhelming evil, one man can become a dazzling beacon of light.

Discover what it means to be human. Discover A Song of Silence.

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Review

This is the second book this author has written about the holocaust and WWII. As with the first book, it is engaging and shines a light on what it was like for those living in towns overtaken by the Nazis. I love that it is inspired by a true story. Considering how the book ends, it isn’t too surprising that there is some truth to the story.

Mirek is an amazing character. He takes everyone else’s needs into consideration above his own. This is evident by the 90+ children he has in his care. Then, he takes in displaced Jewish families as well. This is an overflowing home, but it is filled with love and laughter despite the circumstances.

This book does not sugarcoat the hardships of the people in this town in Poland, their interactions with the Germans, and the atrocities that they endured. The needless deaths and the cruelty towards everyone could be hard to read, but it is not overly graphic. It is honest about how people were treated during the war just for their religious beliefs.

Despite the ugliness of the war, there is hope. Mirek struggles to find a way out of all of his charges. There is also a love interest for him. Just when you think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, another tragedy occurs. But happiness is found, just not the way that we might have preferred.

There is one of the children that causes problems, Jacek. Not because he is unruly or disobeys but because he is very attached to Mirek and tends to follow him into town and other potentially dangerous situations. It is hard to keep him safe when he freezes up in situations or wanders into a place that is not safe.

While this book depicts a sad time in history, it is filled with hope and love. We give it 5 paws up.

About the Author

Apart from animals and writing, Steve’s passion is travel. He’s visited 60 countries and enjoyed some amazing experiences, including cage-diving with great white sharks, sparring with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and watching a turtle lay eggs on a moonlit beach. He’s explored Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China, yet for all that, he’s a man of simple tastes — give him an egg sandwich and the TV remote control, and he’ll be happy for hours!

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, and two black cats who arrived in the garden one day and liked it so much, they stayed. Graciously, the cats allow Steve and Ania to stay in ‘their’ house.

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