Source: Review copy from Berkley
Rating: ★★★★☆
We don’t dream of exotic trips or adventures anymore.
We dream of our old life, and of our routines. We long to return to the world as we remembered it.
I see that my father closes his eyes when my mother works her visual magic.
He is soaking it all up, like I am.
(from My Mother’s Secret, page 126)
Quick summary: My Mother’s Secret is based on the true Holocaust story of two women, Franciszka Halamajowa and her daughter, Helena, who saved several Jews and a German soldier during World War II by hiding them in their home in Nazi-occupied Sokal, Poland (now part of Ukraine). The soldier in the attic, the family in the loft above the pigsty, and the family in the cellar in the kitchen were unaware that Franciszka was hiding anyone besides them. Franciszka and Helena hid them right under the Germans’ noses. The novel is told from the points of view of Helena, who must hide their secret from the man she loves, who is close to the German commander; Bronek, a ranch worker desperate to get his family out of the ghetto; Mikolaj, the young son of a Jewish doctor; and Vilheim, a pacifist who abandons the German army to avoid being sent to fight in Russia.
Why I wanted to read it: I was intrigued when I heard this was a Holocaust story with a happy ending, and I’d never before heard the courageous story of the Halamajowas.
What I liked: My Mother’s Secret is a novel that can be read in one sitting. Its fast pace and simple prose keep the story lighter than most novels about the Holocaust, yet at the same time, author J.L. Witterick makes sure readers do not forget the dangers these characters faced at every turn.
What I disliked: The sparse prose means there is little character development, and the four viewpoints at times are indistinguishable, as they are all written in the same style and voice. However, this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. In fact, it’s quite the page-turner!
Final thoughts: My Mother’s Secret is a short novel that packs a punch despite its simple, direct prose, though at times I longed for more description and details. However, Franciszka and Helena’s kindness, generosity, and bravery overshadow the novel’s flaws and make for a truly fascinating story.
Book 20 for the War Challenge With a Twist (WWII)
Book 21 for the Historical Fiction Challenge
Disclosure: I received My Mother’s Secret from Berkley for review.
© 2014 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Diary of an Eccentric 
I, too, felt distanced from the characters because of the writing style; it almost felt like narrative nonfiction.
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I wonder how much of the story was fiction, whether the people she saves in the book are based on the real-life people she saved, or whether their stories are entirely fictional.
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I’m glad to hear you liked it so much despite it’s stark writing style. I look forward to reading it.
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I can’t wait to see what you think. It was immensely readable, which is surprising for a novel about the Holocaust.
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Anna, thanks for sharing your thoughts about this book. I’m interested in reading it, in spite of it’s brevity.
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I hope you get a chance to read it. I think you’d like it.
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I was curious to see if you would like this book. I found myself pulled into their story immediately and don’t remember being bothered by the simple prose. It reads somewhat like a translation, but isn’t. I agree with you that the two women’s kindness and bravery override the novels flaws.
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I think it’s because readers are able to connect with the characters and their stories. I can see why you’d say it reads somewhat like a translation; I hadn’t thought of that.
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Sounds very worth reading. Glad you reviewed this one. I’ll check it out thanks!
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Hope you enjoy it, too!
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I so want to read this. Great thoughts.
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Thanks, Holly! I hope you get a chance to read it.
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