A dying, now-mute grandmother insists non-verbally that her granddaughter, Alice, fly to Poland and carry out a confusing and seemingly impossible final wish.
If Alice goes to Poland, what will happen to Eddie, her autistic son whom she cares for? This American mother’s life revolves around her heavy family responsibilities, so guilt overwhelms her at the thought of leaving her family, even briefly, to accomplish a mission she doesn’t understand.
And yet, loyalty to the grandmother (Babcia) who helped raise her compels her to book a flight to Poland, trusting her husband (who has little relationship with his son) to care for their son and daughter.
So begins The Things We Cannot Say, a tension-filled dual-time-period novel set in the life of a family in small-town Poland at the beginning of World War II, and in the contemporary U.S. in the life of a family stretched to its limits caring for their autistic, non-verbal son.
Characters:
• Alina Dziak – Polish protagonist who’s a naïve farm girl as the novel begins; with the onset of World War II and its challenges, she matures
• Alice Michaels – American protagonist; her life revolves around her autistic son and her dying grandmother; she, too, matures as the story progresses
• Tomasz Slaski – Alina’s lifelong soulmate and fiancé; he becomes a medical student and ultimately works to resist the Nazi occupation of Poland
• Saul Weiss – a kind Jewish surgeon who befriends Tomasz; he plays an important role in the novel’s denouement
• Eddie Michaels – Alice and Wade’s autistic and non-verbal son
• Wade Michaels – Alice’s husband; his strengths, weaknesses, and character development play a major role in Alice’s maturing
• Pascale “Callie” Michaels – Alice and Wade’s brilliant ten-year-old daughter; she, too, matures as the novel progresses
• Julita Slaski-Davis – Alice’s mother; she’s a hard-boiled lawyer and judge who’s emotionally distant from her daughter
• Emilia Slaski – Tomasz’s younger sister; a lifelong friend of Alina’s because of Alina’s kindness and care for her
Strengths:
• Suspenseful plot (including a love story) drives readers to keep reading
• This novel offers readers a deep immersion and detailed insights into two cultures (kudos to the author!)
• While showing respect to both cultures, the author portrays intense emotional dramas in each setting
Weakness:
In a few places, coincidences seem a bit opportune.
Content review:
This novel includes violence and physical intimacy characteristic of the traumatic era of World War II in Poland.
My Recommendation:
I enjoyed the plot, suspense, and character development of The Things We Cannot Say. Historical fiction readers who can tolerate realistic (but not graphic) descriptions of Nazi atrocities during World War II will find this novel a rewarding read.
Reader, can you recommend a historical novel set in Poland?
How could a tobacco-chewing, defiant, small Polish peasant woman thwart the Nazis’ attempt to exterminate the Jews?
As summer begins in the northern hemisphere, I hope you’ll have opportunities to get away from normal routines, relax and read—perhaps J.L. Witterick’s My Mother’s Secret.
This short historical novel is based on the lives of Franciszka and Helena, a Polish mother and daughter recognized as “the Righteous among the Nations” in Israel.
In the midst of the German occupation of Poland in World War II, they risked everything to save the lives of people they barely knew.
The author weaves the stories of these desperate people with the lives of Franciszka and Helena, crafting a suspense-filled plot that keeps readers turning the pages.
Characters:
Helena – narrator, protagonist, and daughter of Franciszka. Her mother and brother shape her character, but she must make difficult choices on her own.
Franciszka – Helena’s mother, the heroine of the story, hides two Jewish families and a German soldier. She says “If you choose to do the right thing, it’s a conscious decision at first…Your actions with time become your character.” Her life exemplifies her words, and readers will root for her.
Bronek – Jewish carpenter who appeals for help for somewhere to hide his family from the Nazis
Mikolaj – son of prominent Jewish doctor whose family also needs a place to hide from the Nazis
Vilheim – young German vegetarian who values every living being. After being drafted into the GermanArmy, he’s disgusted by the Nazis’ actions and deserts. If caught, he will face death by firing squad.
Strengths:
This story cuts to the core of every character and reveals how each one responds to danger and moral dilemmas.
Weakness:
Heroic characters seem almost too good to be true.
Content review:
Contains references to violence that occurs offstage.
My recommendation:
According to publishing industry veteran, Howard Wells, My Mother’s Secret is “authentic and reads like poetry.” From my perspective, this novel is a quick read that was hard to put down, with characters, events, and themes that challenged me to reflect on what I would do in similar circumstances. I hope you’ll consider it as a worthy addition to your reading list.
Reader, can you recommend a story of heroism to inspire other readers?
