Everyone who has read some of my book reviews knows that I love historical novels. I am fascinated with the World War II era, as it has impacted my family as well.
War is horrendous and of that there is no doubt, but I think we all need reminding that war can turn "normal" humans into savage beasts.
A Song of Silence is a book that is hard to read and harder to put down. Steve Lee's characters are all based on true life people that were able to corroborate the "horrors" that were inflicted on so many people all over Europe, during the uprisings in 1938-1939 and beyond!
A Song of Silence is a love story and a story of unbridled heroism and self-giving.
Mirek Kozlowski is running an orphanage for children who have been displaced by marauding Nazi henchmen. Mirek takes in all the children that are brought to him. People in his village know that he will take care of them and give them some much needed "normalcy" in a world gone crazy. His orphanage houses over 80 youngsters, Mirek feeds and houses them all and treats each one of them like they were his own son or daughter. There is the classrooms where Mirek insists the children learn to read. It is what a child between the ages of 6 to 13 should understand, schooling!. Mirek's hope is to give these children a loving and caring home where they should have no fears. So many of them have already seen much more than a child should.
His little town in Poland so far has not been noticed by the Nazi's and he hopes that it will stay that way until the war is over. But, that will not be the case.
Mirek knew it was a long shot that they could remain unscathed from the realities that was happening all over Poland. But he was an optimist at heart. reality tells him to have the children ready for anything! The worst case scenario would be to taunt the Nazi's with "Polish" sentiments and identity. He needs to train the children on what to do if that worst case scenario actually happens. Everyone has been trained on what to do in case of an "unexpected visit" by the Nazi's.
Everything Polish has been put away and all things German now fill the classroom. It was a sickening sight for Mirek and the children, but needed to be done. Safety of the children was most important and after all and this was just window dressing.
Ania (Anne Maria) Kisiell comes to work with Baba Hanka (the housekeeper) and meets Mirek for the first time. Ania and Hanka work to keep the children fed and the house in a reasonable state of order. Hard to do with so many youngsters.
This is the background of Mirek and Ania's story, the start of a love story that you will not soon forget. But I must confess that I won't tell you anymore now! This book has to go on your reading list and I know that you will be touched by the self-sacrifice and love that both Mirek and Ania shower down on the children in their care.
I could not put A Song of Silence down and I have read many World War II novels over the years. This one will be etched on my mind for a long time. A Song of Silence is one book that you should not miss!
This book gets a ***** (Five) Star rating from me and I don't give those up too easily.
It is out on May 12 and available to you through Amazon.com, Kindle edition and many national book retailers. Steve N. Lee is a masterful story teller, you will not be disappointed!
