The Warsaw Sisters

A Novel of World War II Poland

By: Amanda Barratt

Narrated by: Rachel Botchan, Leah Horowitz

Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

A richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and resilience

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dabrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their cherished city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina’s beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw’s Jewish population, Antonina knows she cannot stand by and soon becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Meanwhile, Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland’s secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation.

But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear them apart—and the cost of resistance may prove greater than either ever imagined.

©2023 Amanda Barratt (P)2023 Recorded Books

Tear Jerker! So good!

If you enjoy WW2 history you will enjoy this one. A gripping tale of two sisters and their lives during WW2 Poland. Be sure to carry a hankie with you. You might cry.

A Difficult Story- Resplendent in Hope

Without graphic depictions of battle, the sixty-three day Nazi siege of Warsaw, Poland is eloquently told through the eyes of an exceptional writer.

Rot with examples of hardship, separation and grief, this story places two sisters amongst the antisemitism that caused the death of thousands of Jewish citizens and the eventual mass executions of both military and civilian Poles. This book’s exploration into the occupation of Poland establishes a portrait of the lowest of human qualities meshed with the desire to fight for something in the midst of war.

Barratt’s characters within this novel tend to be as complex as their setting. I felt like a spectator watching Antonina and Helena grow in emotionally distinct ways when met with the circumstances brought upon by war. These women were resilient. Bearing strength and determination they didn’t realize they had.

The audiobook version of this novel is captivating. Narrators, Rachel Botchan and Leah Horowitz, bring to life the surroundings that effect the worlds these characters live in. Both narrators were distinct, easy to understand and maintained vocal inflections that differentiated characters. The emotion displayed throughout the storyline shone through in this audiobook. I highly recommend this format for this story.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. However, without descriptive details, two unmarried characters do spend the night together and conceive a child.

I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review. I also purchased the audiobook and print versions of this title.

“Once there was a city…”

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt

“Once there was a city…”

What a beautiful book that encompasses not only the struggle, but the prevailing hope of sisterhood and love.

Like her other books, this one is breathtaking in its scope. It covers history I knew little of, concerning Warsaw and the various, staggering acts of resistance fought during WWII. I felt as if I were walking the street with the two sisters, Helena and Antonina, seeing through their eyes and living through their lives. It tells their story in such a way, with such detail, that hints at the depth of research Barratt conducted in order to tell it well. While it tells the story of two sisters, it also tells the story of Warsaw, Poland, encompassing the lives of so many who fought, loved and experienced unimaginable loss. It’s the anthem of a people. A people with histories we’d rather forget, but what an injustice it would be if we did. I appreciate that Barratt doesn’t shy away from these stories but dives into them, so they will not be lost and dubbed irrelevant.

I listened to this one on audiobook due to time constraints, but there were so many thoughts, descriptions and profound lines:

“Fear was another kind of occupation. Hunger and cold and privation did not steal from one as fear did.”

This one stopped me in my tracks. What an unforgettable way to describe fear!

“The waning light touched the ruins, softening their scars.”

Barratt’s ability to talk about the hells of war with such beauty and tenderness, is breathtaking. She causes you to see the beauty, inside the ruin.

“For in the moments when it seemed no heart could bear such emptiness, I had learned God is nearest in our shattered places.”

She never ceases to intertwine the protagonists faith in authentic and poignant ways, causing the reader to dig a little deeper and ask questions like “would I still believe God is good, even if…?”

This is an immersive, harrowing and beautiful book. Historical Fiction at its finest. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own.

Terrible Times

It was wonderfully written. One felt like one was right in the midst of the emotions and battles taking place. As a writer it was a masterpiece, but so very hard to listen to the cruelty of those people who are hell bent to power. Man’s inhumanity to man.

Heartfelt Review

I liked the historical read and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of Poland/Germany.

Disappointed

Someone I respect recommended this book. I’m giving it 3 stars bc it’s well written, and the author put a lot if effort/research into it. However, I need to warn you. I’ve listened to SEVERAL audiobooks abt WW2. The war was HORRENDOUS. However, there had to be some small, good things that happened throughout those years. Most of the books I’ve listened to have enough good things that I can stomach all the horror. Again, however, this is the 2nd WW2 book I’ve listened to that was DARK, the whole book, almost. For me, there was not enough good things. The ending is technically HEA, but it was like things just kept getting darker and darker, then poof, small, happy ending.

How long it took 😂

Gosh a very long winded sad story - stumbled to finish it because it is after all history and did not want to trivialize anything but wow compared to other WW books this is my worst one