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The Stolen Sisters
‘The lorry is ready to take you to the train station,’ the soldier announced, and Marta clung to her little sister. ‘I want to stay with her,’ Marta said, voice shaking. ‘It is not possible. You belong in the Reich,’ the officer said. ‘And she does not.’
Poland, 1944 When twelve-year-old Marta and her little sister Joanna are snatched while out shopping for food and pushed into an army truck with a swastika on the door, they are heartbroken. Terrified they will never see their mother again, the little girls cling to each other as the truck full of stolen children rumbles through the countryside.
But worse is yet to come. When they arrive at their strange new home, tears streaming down their cheeks, Marta is sent into a separate room. As she is measured, her blonde hair and blue eyes exclaimed over, she doesn’t realise she has seen her sister for the last time. Later, as she sobs alone in the chilly dormitory, her only crumb of comfort is the memory of a kind German nurse who took a photo of the two sisters, and promised Marta she will do what she can to find Joanna.
Berlin, 2005 In her cosy sitting room, seventy-year-old Marta freezes. The woman on her television talking about lost children is someone she could never forget. Margarete Weiss is the nurse who took the photo of her and Joanna, the photo with the secret message on the back…
Marta has never been able to find her younger sister and has buried herself in work so as not to be haunted by the ghosts of her past. But, seeing Margarete’s blue eyes again, a shoot of hope takes root in her heart. Margarete may not have been able to prevent the sisters being separated during the war. But might she be able to help Marta find out what happened to Joanna now?
A beautiful and emotional read about finding hope in the darkest corners. Fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz, Before We Were Yours and The Orphan Train will lose themselves in this beautiful and heartbreaking book.
Poland, 1944 When twelve-year-old Marta and her little sister Joanna are snatched while out shopping for food and pushed into an army truck with a swastika on the door, they are heartbroken. Terrified they will never see their mother again, the little girls cling to each other as the truck full of stolen children rumbles through the countryside.
But worse is yet to come. When they arrive at their strange new home, tears streaming down their cheeks, Marta is sent into a separate room. As she is measured, her blonde hair and blue eyes exclaimed over, she doesn’t realise she has seen her sister for the last time. Later, as she sobs alone in the chilly dormitory, her only crumb of comfort is the memory of a kind German nurse who took a photo of the two sisters, and promised Marta she will do what she can to find Joanna.
Berlin, 2005 In her cosy sitting room, seventy-year-old Marta freezes. The woman on her television talking about lost children is someone she could never forget. Margarete Weiss is the nurse who took the photo of her and Joanna, the photo with the secret message on the back…
Marta has never been able to find her younger sister and has buried herself in work so as not to be haunted by the ghosts of her past. But, seeing Margarete’s blue eyes again, a shoot of hope takes root in her heart. Margarete may not have been able to prevent the sisters being separated during the war. But might she be able to help Marta find out what happened to Joanna now?
A beautiful and emotional read about finding hope in the darkest corners. Fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz, Before We Were Yours and The Orphan Train will lose themselves in this beautiful and heartbreaking book.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
314 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 29, 2024
There is nothing that brings out the empathy in readers more than to have down on their luck characters involving animals or children. This one involves children and it's heartbreaking. The author, I love her writing style her words are so fluid, they just flow effortlessly. A book like this just gets to you, as you keep reading hoping against hope to find that silver lining amongst the sadness. There has to be hope somewhere.
Sisters in Poland ten and twelve are out minding their own business when they are kidnapped. Scared out of their wits, the older does everything she can to comfort and protect the younger, all the while having no one to reassure her. Their mother, sickly and at home has no idea what has happened to her children.
Put through unwanted medical tests they had no choice but to receive, all of the kidnapped children are Germanized if they pass the medical tests. The process involves shipping them off to different facilities, none a pleasant place to be with no security or comfort.
The Nazi's don't care how the children are treated or if they have enough to eat.
There is one little ray of hope in a kindly German nurse who puts her life on the line to treat the children kindly and offer comfort for the little time she is with them.
When the unthinkable happens and the children are separated will they find the will power to go on or just give up? Utterly heartbreaking and intense. I loved the ending it was rewarding and satisfying. I really enjoy WWII historical fiction especially when it's as realistic as this author writes it. This is an automatic buy author for me and looking forward to many more great reads.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Sisters in Poland ten and twelve are out minding their own business when they are kidnapped. Scared out of their wits, the older does everything she can to comfort and protect the younger, all the while having no one to reassure her. Their mother, sickly and at home has no idea what has happened to her children.
Put through unwanted medical tests they had no choice but to receive, all of the kidnapped children are Germanized if they pass the medical tests. The process involves shipping them off to different facilities, none a pleasant place to be with no security or comfort.
The Nazi's don't care how the children are treated or if they have enough to eat.
There is one little ray of hope in a kindly German nurse who puts her life on the line to treat the children kindly and offer comfort for the little time she is with them.
When the unthinkable happens and the children are separated will they find the will power to go on or just give up? Utterly heartbreaking and intense. I loved the ending it was rewarding and satisfying. I really enjoy WWII historical fiction especially when it's as realistic as this author writes it. This is an automatic buy author for me and looking forward to many more great reads.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 3, 2024
I listened to an advance copy of the audiobook for The Stolen Sisters.
This book follows 2 sisters that were taken by the Nazi officers in Poland as they were visiting the market. They were taken from their families and the book follows the girls through their journey. We also follow the nurse working for the German officers in the home where the girls were initially taken.
This book was heartbreaking as the girls described their living conditions, treatment, etc as they find out more about themselves and are either Germanized or taken to work in work camps. Their nurse does her best to make their conditions better and tries to keep the girls together, but is unsuccessful. The story seems accurate historically, and emotionally moving. I especially enjoyed that the characters were all followed up with many years later so we as readers are aware of where they ended up. This book was wonderfully written and tugged at my heartstrings.
This book follows 2 sisters that were taken by the Nazi officers in Poland as they were visiting the market. They were taken from their families and the book follows the girls through their journey. We also follow the nurse working for the German officers in the home where the girls were initially taken.
This book was heartbreaking as the girls described their living conditions, treatment, etc as they find out more about themselves and are either Germanized or taken to work in work camps. Their nurse does her best to make their conditions better and tries to keep the girls together, but is unsuccessful. The story seems accurate historically, and emotionally moving. I especially enjoyed that the characters were all followed up with many years later so we as readers are aware of where they ended up. This book was wonderfully written and tugged at my heartstrings.
November 24, 2024
A powerful read!
The darkness of Germany during WWII knew no boundaries. I’ve known about the Lebensborn program for als,it 30 years and I’m glad it’s turning up in more historical fiction.
Not content enough to breed perfect children the Nazis stole them from occupied countries. Thousands were torn from their homes and reeducated as Germans.
It’s a chilling story but a heartwarming ending, illustrating that it is never too late for a happy ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
The darkness of Germany during WWII knew no boundaries. I’ve known about the Lebensborn program for als,it 30 years and I’m glad it’s turning up in more historical fiction.
Not content enough to breed perfect children the Nazis stole them from occupied countries. Thousands were torn from their homes and reeducated as Germans.
It’s a chilling story but a heartwarming ending, illustrating that it is never too late for a happy ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
December 30, 2025
Couldn’t put this book down… it’s one of those that is so good you can’t stop reading… absolute 5-star
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews