- MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW
- The novel Polish girl surrounds the characters Wanda Odwaga and Finn Keller, happening in 1944 war-torn Poland where the country is attacked by the Third Reich and the Soviet Union, led by Adolf Hitler and Stalin. The original book of the Polish Girl is called THE LAST SKETCH. The armed soldiers were everywhere with their German tarpaulin-covered lorries, and the streets were crowded with women crying and men cursing.
Wanda Odwaga: She rescues a smart child named Kubus from the Nazi soldiers in the crowd and brings him home to her mom giving him shelter. One day Gestapo attacks their house looking for Wanda's brother Mateusz Odwaga then one of the Gestapo officers fires Gunshot into Wanda's father Tata's heart and kills him leaving Wanda and her mother shocked with hysterically angry. Twenty-three-year-old Wanda vows to herself that she will kill the cruel soldier who was the monster behind the reason for her father's death. Wanda joins the Polish resistance.
I enjoyed the character Wanda who is brave and determined where she is ready to take risks for her country denying herself.
Finn Keller: Finn lives in New York where his grandparents lived. Finn is disgusted by his brother Stephan's disgraceful actions in the war. In Poland, Finn's twin brother Stefan was a significant figure in the Gestapo headquarters in Warsaw. He works directly under SS - Arthur Veicht in a department that concentrates on tracking and eliminating the Polish resistance. Stephan hunts down polish jews and murders them massively therefore he was called by the polish people "Ruthless Stephan." This made Stephan's identical brother Finn very angry and when realizing the awful truth of Stephan's evil acts. Finn promises his captain to replace Stephan on the condition that Stephan's life is spared and is imprisoned.
How is it possible that identical twins are different, one is a Nazi Killer, while the other helps the resistance? What happens when Wanda's and Finn's paths cross? This book was very emotionally moving historical fiction and beautifully written by Gosia Nelson.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture publishers for an advance copy for my honest review.
The Polish Girl by Gosia Nealon
- Publisher: Bookouture
- Pages: 276
- Publishing date: February 24th, 2023
- Hashtag: #Historical World War Fiction 2 #Romance #Literary Fiction #NetGalley
BOOK COVER: Poland, 1944. “Please, officer, I beg you—”, I cry. But my father has already fallen. “Don’t leave me, Tata,” I whisper, rushing to desperately cradle him close. As the kind, loving man who raised me takes his last breath, I weep into my hands and promise to fight to end this terrible war, no matter the cost…
Although it won’t bring her beloved father back, twenty-three-year-old Wanda vows to honour his memory and all he stood for. Throwing herself into the Polish resistance, she risks her life on the dangerous mission of transporting ammunition for the underground network’s uprising against the Nazis.
Slipping through the night-time shadows of an empty park to meet an informant—one who could provide crucial supplies in the battle for what’s right—the sight of the man waiting turns Wanda’s blood to ice. Even in the dim light, she instantly recognises him as the soldier who killed her father.
The soldier claims he is a double agent, working for the resistance. Questioning everything, Wanda’s heart races as she is forced to make a split-second decision. Believe the man who she thought was the enemy? Or endanger the lives of her network—and their secret plans to fight the Germans?
Can Wanda trust the man she hates most in the world? Did her father die in vain? Or if she fights her every instinct, will she truly change the tide of the war?
Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will adore this utterly heartbreaking page-turner. You will not forget this unputdownable story of love, loss, and the courage it takes to hold on to hope in darkest times.
Previously published as The Last Sketch.
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