The Girl in the Green Sweater by Krystyna Chiger
Krystyna Chiger is just a child when Poland is overrun, first by the Russians, then by the Germans. The Russians take away her father's business; the Germans take away their home and all their possessions. Before the Nazis can take away their lives, Krystyna and her family escape to the safety of Lvov's sewer tunnels, along with several other Jews.
None of these Jews would have survived the war without the help of Leopold Socha and two other Polish sewer workers. These men find them safe places in the sewers to hide, and they bring them food and other necessary supplies. At first, the Polish men charge the group 500 zlotys a day (about $100), but when their money runs out, Socha finds he cannot simply abandon them. In fact, saving Krystyna and her family becomes Socha's own quest for redemption. And when the war is over and they finally emerge from the sewers, Socha proudly announces to all the amazed Poles watching these thin and ragged survivors rising from the darkness, "These are my Jews. This is my work!"
This book made me cry. It's such an amazing story of friendship, miracles, hope, and survival. I'm glad so many survivors of World War II and the Holocaust have written down their stories so that we can read them. This is one of my favorite books from that time period. For me, this book is a definite must-read! I hope you read it, and think so, too.
Happy Reading!
Similar reads:
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
This sounds like a wonderful story! I will have to look for this one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great read...and it's not very long so you could probably read it easily in a weekend.
DeleteI am putting this at the top of my list. I had heard of people hiding in the sewers in Poland, and I have wanted to read more about it. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteSounds so good. I love books about WWII (and WWI), they bring history to life for me and what people endured was unimaginable. I'm so glad that it's documented so the world never forgets.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really great read. I think you'd like it.
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