Irena's War: one woman's resistance and rescue of Jewish children

Irena’s War by James D. Shipman is based on the true story of an unlikely resistance fighter who helped save thousands of Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto. In September 1939, the Nazis are sweeping through Europe as Irena Sendler, a social worker in Warsaw, is determined to get the food and supplies the people need, she just doesn’t know how. The answer comes when Klaus Rein, a Gestapo agent, offers her a job running the city’s soup kitchens. Reluctantly, she takes the job, anything to make sure the people do not go hungry. Klaus becomes suspicious of Irena’s activities, but has very little evidence of any wrongdoing. As the Warsaw Jews are confined to the ghetto, Irena realizes that providing food isn’t going to be enough. Working with Zegota, the Polish resistance, Irena begins to smuggle the Jewish children out of the ghetto and to safety. It is a race against time as each success brings Irena closer and closer to danger. 

Already familiar with the heroic activities of Irena Sendler, I was intrigued at Irena’s War and how the author would tell the story of this unique woman. This story was a cat-and-mouse thriller as the mouse outwits the cat at every turn. Irena Sendler has been a folk hero who fought against injustices and worked tirelessly to help as many people as she could. While her life after the war was filled with strife, she is best remembered for her rescue of over two thousand children. With the benefit of historical knowledge and the outcomes, it is easy to say that of course, she helped the  children. However, given the wartime and political climate, she was taking a great risk and readers will have to ask themselves, would have I done the same? Especially after reading how she got the children out of the ghetto, would we have done the same? Overall, I enjoyed Irena’s War. If you have never read about this courageous woman, I recommend Irena’s War. 

Irena’s War is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Irena's Children: the story of a woman who was determined to save lives

Irena’s Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo is the true and amazing account of Irena Sandler. Irena has been called the female Oskar Schindler as she rescued an estimated 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto. The story opens in 1942 when Irena realizes that the Gestapo is coming to arrest her and she makes every effort to save the list she has of the names of the children and where they have gone. As the general of an underground army, Irena and her network has successfully hidden Jewish children in Warsaw and beyond. The story then takes the reader back to her beginnings. As the only child of a Catholic doctor and his wife, Irena learns from a very early age to care for all people regardless of religion. If they are in need and you are able to help, you are to help. This philosophy helps mold Irena’s sense of social obligation to help those less fortune. As the war breaks out and the Jews are being rounded up and pushed into the ghetto, Irena begins her plan to save all she can.

Irena’s Children is an amazing story of one woman’s determination to stand up to injustice even if it means her own death. Told from her birth to the end of the war, Irena’s story is one of danger and ingenuity in order to smuggle children out of the ghetto. An amazing story which remained untold until a group of American schoolchildren discovered her story and created a play which brought her name out of the shadows. When she died in 2008 at the age of 98, she was still very humble about her efforts. I highly recommend Irena’s Children. Her story needs to be told and retold so that the contributions of Irena and others will not be forgotten in the horrors of Holocaust.

Irena’s Children

is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

in hardcover and eBook