Nadzieja: The Story of a Girl Named Hope

by Nadzieja Jadwiga McMillan

She was born in Russia but ended up in a Polish orphanage. Later, she crossed the ocean to America, while many of her friends stayed behind to eventually face the oppression of Hitler. What happens in Nadzieja’s life will amaze you and amuse you and sometimes grieve you. But Nadzieja means “hope” and where her hope is placed is the most important part of this story. In the midst of adversity and unthinkable challenges, Nadzieja’s hope is a constant. Her story may challenge your idea of what it means to have a “good life” and, most certainly, will require you to think about where your hope is. In her humble and candid manner, Nadzieja tells her story, a true story, of what it can look like to put your faith in the One, True, Living God.

409 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very delightful book about a Polish woman who married an RPCNA minister. The book covers her years in an orphanage in Poland, her time spent in America at university and with the Polish choir, and lastly her years as a minister's wife in various congregations. Her love of music, the Psalms, and her Savior is the thread woven throughout. There is no great literary skill and the are numerous typos but the story itself is told with an honesty and love that makes it quite enjoyable.

[Amelia King · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great to hear more about Poland between the wars, one refugee's story, and the growth of the RP church. It was definitely an accurate story, but it didn't feel like it was written for readers. Random names were dropped that meant nothing to the reader. This is a thorough account of her life, but the lack of ability to mainstream the story makes for uninterested reading.