The Keeper of Hidden Books [B1814]

2023 PB in nice clean condition. A BookBub Pick for Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2023. A heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London. All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler's forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto. But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families - and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This really made me think of how ordinary citizens can be supportive of their community in dire times and also how careful everyone must be."; "This book moved me deeply. It's a testament to the power of cultural resistance, to the importance of preserving identity and history in the face of those who would erase it, and to the ordinary people who became heroes simply by refusing to give up. Stories like this need to be told, and I'm grateful Martin told this one."; "Absolutely amazing book from cover to cover."; "I continue to make my way through Madeline Millers books, and I have yet to be disappointed. The Keeper of Hidden Books had a more ominous atmosphere, being set during WWII Warsaw, and although this made it slightly more of a tougher read, I enjoyed it just as much."