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Book Review Pro | Karen Pool
Book Review Pro | Karen Pool
Author : Kelly Kimmer
Genre : Historical Fiction
This is a beautifully-written book. Kelly Rimmer came up for the idea for this book at a family reunion. She realized she knew nothing about her grandparents who had escaped from Poland during World War II. Alice, granddaughter to her beloved Babcia—Hanna, is watching her grandmother’s slow decline since she had a stroke that robs her of the ability to speak. Alice’s son Eddie is on the autism spectrum and has a device that uses icons so he can communicate. With the use of this device, Hanna asks Alice to return to Poland and find her Tomasz. This is confusing because they had buried her grandfather, Tomasz, last year. Hanna, whose original name was Alina tells her story along side Alice’s complicated one.
It is only when Alice breaks away from her family responsibilities to fulfill the wish of her grandmother to have her go to Poland that Alice is able to learn the truth about Thomasz.
“He draws in a deep breath, then he lifts his hand from my upper arm to cup my face gently between his palms. ‘In these past few years you’ve lived and breathed our family. You’re a wonderful wife. A brilliant mother. But . . . Ally’ He draws in another soft breath, then his gaze grows pleading. ‘As great as that is, that’s not all you wanted to be, honey. I know this trip is for Babcie. But I also kind of hope it’s also for you. A chance for you to drop some of the heaviness of our family life and for me to catch it, so you can pick up something else too.'”
“Here is the thing, Alina,” he whispered softly. “War breaks us down to nothing more than our most selfish will to survive—but when we rise above that instinct, miracles can still happen. I helped Tomasz, Tomasz helped me, you helped me—in more ways than you can ever know. And now, at last and in this small way, I am grateful for the opportunity to help you in return. This, my friend, is how we find the best of humanity during times when the worst of humanity may seem to have the upper hand. You are not alone—you won’t be, not for a single moment until Tomasz arrives.”
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