We Shall Not Shatter

Resilient Women of WWII #1

by Elaine Stock

A 2023 Eric Hoffer Category Finalist Award winner. An unforgettable story of friendship, family and hope as two courageous young women face one of history’s most horrific tragedies.

Brzeziny, Poland, 1939
Zofia’s comfortable lifestyle overturns when her husband, Jabez, who monitors Nazi activity, has gone missing. Rather than fleeing the country with her young son, as she had promised Jabez who is fearing retaliation, she decides to stay. She cannot possibly leave her friend, Aanya. Since their childhood they have amazed fellow Brzeziners that it does not matter that Aanya is Jewish and deaf, and that Zofia is Catholic and hearing. Now, more than ever with war looming, Zofia will do whatever is necessary to protect her family and Aanya.

As both love and war approach their Polish town, Zofia and Aanya must make choices that will change the meaning of family, home, and their precious friendship. The journey, decisions and the no-going-back consequences the women face will either help them to survive—or not—as Hitler’s Third Reich revs up its control of the world.

Inspired by the author’s paternal heritage from Brzeziny, this is a heartbreaking yet beautiful story of two women who are determined to remain united in friendship and to live freely despite the odds.

"The story and its characters will linger in the reader’s heart for days... perhaps forever."
— Patricia Bradley, Author of the Logan Point Series, Memphis Cold Case Novels, Natchez Trace Park Ranger Series

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Historical, Wwii Fiction, Contemporary

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2022

About the author

Elaine Stock writes historical fiction and domestic suspense novels. While her novels continue to appear on several Amazon Bestseller Lists, what pleases her the most is hearing from readers around the world who say these stories inspire them to face their own tomorrows. Elaine and her husband are owned by two cats, who sometimes allow them to go on long walks down country roads and explore New England towns.

Visit with Elaine at: https://www.elainestock.com
Sign up for Elaine’s monthly Newsletter with guest authors: https://elainestock.substack.com

Links to find Elaine:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elaineloves...
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/elainestock....
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElaine...
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elain...
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1JYAwNy

Reviews

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic story that is both heart wrenching and heart warming. This is Fiction and is about the WWII years and the aftermath of the Holocaust in Poland. The Author has well researched the history and events that actually happened in and around Brzeziny Poland during the time that the Nazi forces began to occupy and control that part of Europe. The Author actually has ancestry that died in Nazi prison camps and some where forced to live in Jewish ghettos in Brzeziny and surrounding communities. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and found it to be very interesting since the Second World War touched the lives of both my parents too. I found the book to be captivating and unpredictable. Even with the hardships and suffering that the Jewish people or anyone who was not Jewish who reached out to help them , love wove it’s way into the heart of the story. It was romantic and had a strong sense of hope for better days ahead in the future. The characters were strong and enduring and made this story come to life as I turned the pages. The book had a beautiful ending that bought me to tears . Five stars but the book certainly deserves more.

Note: I listened to the Audio version of this book also after having read this beautiful story in print. I feel I gained so much more by sitting back and listening to We Shall Not Shatter so beautifully written by Elaine Stock and narrated by Dina Pearlman.

Zofia and Aanya were friends from childhood and on to their adult years. Zofia was Polish Catholic and Aanya was a Jewish girl. This story covers the years before the second war, during the war and the years after the war. The two main characters lived together for safety reasons during the time German Nazi began to occupy Brzeziny and force the Jewish people into filthy ghettoes . Anya was a nurse practitioner and Zofia was a wife to Jabez and mother to her seven year old son Eban. Aanya and Zofia became separated when Sofia's husband Jabez joined the resistance program and feared for his families safety. Sofia and Eban fled to America but Aanya and her new husband Author were forced to stay behind and suffer persecution at the hands of the German Nazi soldiers. Aanya was also deaf and tried to keep her disability from the Nazi because they would have killed her immediately if they had found out. Would the Jewish couple eventually be separated or would they be sent to the death camps to be euthanized ? Would Zofia and Jebez be reunited in America after the war ended?

I recommend this book to readers of the WWII genre and for those who enjoy Historical Fiction. We Shall not Shatter is book one of the Resilient Women of WWII series. I can’t wait for book two to be released.

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and a bond of friendship; best friends communicates in sign language

This is the last book of June I’ve read. I am so excited to read about a deaf person in the book. First book I’ve ever read about deaf people during the Holocaust, because I’m deaf, myself too. The book title is called “We Shall Not Shatter” written by Elaine Stock. I truly believe this should have made into movies by now. I loved reading a romance book also. I must say she writes engrossing, extraordinary, and captivating, and is one of the best books I have ever read. It gives you all the chills. There is a few twists. The author was inspired to write about her family history especially her grandparents have escaped to Austria to the U.S. through the Holocaust. She has a deaf great aunt who stayed behind as a teenager in Brzeziny, Poland and perished in the Holocaust, while her other deaf siblings were permitted to enter the US by medical exams that have passed. This story unfolds two different women are determined to hold a friendship that last forever. Both girls were 5 years old when they meet. Zofia is hearing and Catholic and Anaya is deaf and Jewish. They became best friends. They grew up in Brzeziny, Poland. Zofia marries Jabez and has one son Eban. Anaya lives with her mum. She is a practitioner nurse. Zofia is a housewife and a mum. When her husband joins the resistance. He told her to flee to America. She was torn to protect her son or leave her best friend Anaya behind in Poland. Anaya meets an injury German solider, Arthur, out of blue. Did Zofia and Eban went to U.S. for good or not? Did Anaya, Arthur have survived? Will two women reunited with each other? You can decide.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Absolutely, unputdownable historical fiction!
Two little girls meet unexpectedly in a small Polish town, and become fast friends. In the years preceding WW2, it makes little difference that one girl is Jewish and deaf from birth, and the other is from a Gentile family.
Fast-forward to the years when Hitler’s evil Nazi ideology is spreading rapidly across Europe. For the two friends, now grown women, Aanya’s handicap and her religion means danger to anyone associated with her. But the Nazis underestimate the power of true love and friendship that sustains Aanya and Zofia through the most difficult of times…

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s truly well written story that is based on horrors of oppression Polish Jews.

Is it is an incredibly well written board especially when it comes to characterization. I really could relate to the characters in the story and as I read it I felt a unique connection withThese characters, especially, Zophia the Christian and Aanya, a Jewish girl.

The plot was easy to read. The plot moved along very fast for me because I quite frankly could not put it down.

This is truly a very good book.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patricia Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Shall Not Shatter is the perfect title for this poignant story of friendship, love, and faith set against the backdrop of World War II in Poland. The story and its characters will linger in the reader’s heart for days... perhaps forever.

This is a story that needs to be at the forefront of history, reminding us that unless we take a stand evil will prevail. Elaine Stock's characters will attach themselves to your heart and you'll root for these two women to be reunited. A great story.

[Nadine Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband’s direct ancestors emigrated from Poland well before Hitler’s rise to power, but other family members perished in the Holocaust. I thus approached reading this book with some trepidation. However, I respect Elaine Stock as a writer and decided to take the plunge with this one. It was worth whatever discomfort I held in the process.

Aanya, a deaf Jew, and Zofia, a Catholic, form a deep friendship in childhood. In this story, their bond will be tested in multiple ways. Some of these are the normal challenges of growing up, but in this case, there is also the looming danger of Hitler’s regime. Zofia’s husband has disappeared, warning her to leave with their son to America…but she does not want to leave her friend.

The friendship between the two women is one of the book's greatest strengths. Stock also does an excellent job of building tension and expressing the growing realization of what is happening. Denial is first gently nudged away, then stripped violently as problems escalate.

Aanya’s deafness adds challenge to her status as a Jew, causing her even greater risk for death early on. Her medical skills and ability to read lips help prolong her safety. This fascinating detail pays tribute to one of Stock’s relatives who was also deaf, who died in the Holocaust.

Stock finds a way to balance the need for authenticity by showing readers the brutality of the time with keeping the book accessible. The story will break your heart but keep you reading to find out what happens next.

We Shall Not Shatter is heartbreaking both in its historical examination and its relevance today. With fascism resurging throughout the world, books such as these remind us that for “Never again” to remain a fulfilled promise, we must be vigilant and not take our freedoms for granted.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zofia and Aanya became friends when they were young in Brzeziny, Poland. They were totally different - Zofia was a Catholic and Aanya was Jewish and deaf. Despite their differences , they remained best friends. Zofia learns to use sign language and they communicate through sign language and written notes. In 1939, the threat of war is looming closer. Zofia is married and has a small son. Her husband has disappeared and she has no idea if he is in a German camp or part of the resistance. He very firmly told her before he disappeared, that she needed to take their son and go to America where he had a cousin who was willing to take her in. Aanya lives near her friend with her mother and is studying to be doctor. When the hatred begins to grow, both women are targeted -- Aanya for being Jewish and Zofia for being a friend of a Jewish person. As the war and the violence invade their small town, their friendship is put to the test. Will they remain friends, will Zofia be able to leave for the US or will the borders be closed before she can fulfill her husband's wishes?

Zofia and Aanya's friendship is so beautiful and is really the entire back bone of the story. Both characters are well written and believable. They both treasure their homes and families and are desperate not to lose them but the war made huge changes in their lives. Will either of them survive the war to continue their friendship in a safer world?

Be sure to read the author's notes at the end of the book. This story was inspired by the author’s paternal heritage from Poland. This is a heartbreaking yet beautiful story of two women who are determined to remain united in friendship and to live freely despite the odds.

This is the first book in a planned trilogy. I can't wait to read the new books and be taken back into the world that Elaine Stock creates for her readers that is full of friendship and love despite the hardships going on in the world.

[Barbara Stark-Nemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elaine Stock’s novel, We Shall Not Shatter, the first of a promised trilogy, Resilient Women of WWII, is a poignant and heartfelt tale of perseverance, of friendship across boundaries, of making families in different ways, of horror and of healing. In the characters of Zofia and Aanya, and the families they make and lose in their native Poland, the barbarities of war, the added peril of Aanya’s deafness, and their harrowing escape, the story is offset by the plot strands of Christians helping Jews, Germans helping Poles, hearing people cherishing the strength of the deaf, and the deaf healing others. This is a story not only of resilience, but of the victory of love and friendship over pain and suffering.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. I found it to have a unique twist on a story within my favorite genre of historical fiction. This is not only a story of strength and resilience amongst unspeakable tyranny, but also a story of the bonds of friendship. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to have friendships so deep that those individuals become our chosen family. This is something I really relate to, and this book honors those relationships beautifully. This is a stunning reminder that home cannot be found in a physical place. Highly recommend.

[Dive Into A Good Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Shall Not Shatter will bring you joy and break your heart into a million pieces. Yet the characters will hold strong and will not shatter along with you. Elaine Stock brings a unique twist to this World War II story about friendship that will be tested at every possible turn, as Poland is brought under German control. It is told through two points of view, Aanya and Zofia. They have been friends since childhood. Aanya is deaf and Jewish, and Zofia is Catholic. You will be transported back to when they first became friends and how it has bloomed over the years. Where one stops, the other begins. While Aanya is determined, Zofia is stubborn. Both women will do anything for the other, no matter their background or where the world is turning. They will hold each other up, bring strength, and focus to what needs to be done during these horrifying times. As the war progresses, harder decisions must be made. Each woman supporting the other, their families treated as their own. As each day brings a new hurdle that must be overcome.

Stock moved me to tears with her eloquent writing and the friendship that stands the test of time. I cannot wait to read the rest of this trilogy! I loved the fact that Stock based Aanya on one of her relatives that was deaf and in Poland during WWII. It brings a new perspective to this book. Not only is Aanya Jewish, but she is also deaf. Which is two major strikes against her with the Nazis. This elevated the book for me. I cannot imagine going through a war and not be able to hear what is going on and to try to hide that you are in fact deaf. Thank you to Elaine Stock, HF Virtual Book Tours, and Amsterdam Publishers for sending me this astonishing read.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing from her own family's history, author Elaine Stock has created a compelling story of enduring friendship, heart wrenching sacrifice, and resilient strength. While set during one of the darkest moments on history's stage, We Shall Not Shatter's themes—conveyed through characters who will inhabit your heart—have much to say to readers in today's world, too.

[Christine Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new WW2 historical novel kept me riveted from page one. Two multi-faceted friends, Zofia who is Christian and Aanya who is Jewish, are just ordinary women in the horrific times of war, but due to their deep moral code and love for all neighbours, they stand out as heroines. This author has always gripped me with her ability to weave well-researched detail into a riveting and heart-stirring story, a story of love and resilience set against a backdrop of Nazi hatred.

[Yvonne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A WWII story of friendship, family and hope against all odds”


I really don’t want to churn out the same, often used epithets to describe this book, as it is worthy of so much more. Yes, of course it goes without saying, that this was a heart-breaking, tear-jerker, however my feelings about this storyline went so much deeper, the only word which kept coming to mind time and again as I was reading, was ‘moving’! The premise itself, the characters and even the touching, almost naive style of writing, which so suited the entire landscape of the story, all genuinely moved me beyond belief, as together they brought some of the terrible events of WWII to life in a real and tangible way, as perhaps never before.

So with hopefully no spoilers, here is what you can expect from this storyline…

…

Two families, both Polish, one Catholic, the other Jewish. Brought together and inextricably bound, by the enduring lifelong friendship of their respective daughters, Zofia and Aanya. Life has never been easy for the community of Brezizny, however things are set to become a whole lot more difficult, with the outbreak of WWII in 1939. Zofia is now married with a young son and Aanya, who has been deaf from birth, is at home caring for her mother, whilst working hard to complete her studies to become a doctor.

Whilst on a surveillance operation, Zofia’s husband Jabez, is reported as missing, although she believes that there is more going on in his life than she is privy to. Just how much, it will take Zofia another six years to discover, with the truth of his bravery and sacrifice for his motherland, not being revealed until the family is reunited in a land far away from home, where Jabez has the safe space and time to begin the long journey back to both physical fitness and emotional wellbeing.

As if for Aanya, being Jewish was not enough in these hate fuelled times, to also have a ‘disability’ and to be married to a traitor, marks her out for hate crimes, both from the German and Russian invaders and enemies, and also tragically, from within the community where she has hitherto been accepted for her entire life. An act of kindness she and her husband Artur, endow on someone who arguably does not deserve their help, at first seems to be completely unappreciated. However that good deed is not forgotten and is unexpectedly returned tenfold, at a time when the couple find themselves in their most desperate hour of need. Aanya is already keenly aware that in any conflict, not everyone who finds themselves on either one side of the divide or the other, is all good, or all bad. Many are good people, who are forced to do bad things.

With the two families separated and decimated by the vagaries of a war seemingly without end, captors who have no humility or humanity, the ravages of living standards taking a toll on health, and after all the things they have collectively witnessed and experienced, is there any hope for a future where Zofia and Aanya, courageous sisters in all but blood, can be reunited in peace?

…

If I had one tiny niggle, it would be that given the importance of the whole storyline, I thought the last couple of scenes might have been a little rushed, with just a few pages more being all that was needed to bring things to a more complete conclusion. But perhaps that was just me not wanting the story to end at all, so immersed was I in the lives of the characters! It certainly wouldn’t stop me rating this with the full five stars, that’s for sure! Surely an important work of cultural and societal fiction, based on and wrapped around, the reality of some well established historical facts and personal experiences, written sympathetically from the heart, with touching poignancy and deference to the subject.

From having read author Elaine Stock’s personal profile, I see that some of the inspiration for the storyline, is taken from her own personal family experiences, which really shines through in the compassionate honesty and integrity of this totally immersive, multi-layered storyline. Fluent and well structured in short, easy to navigate chapters, the story is intense, highly textured and fast moving in a constantly changing theatre of action, and with a pervading claustrophobic atmosphere of mistrust and fear. When, in the second half of the story, the action is divided between two continents and cultures, the transitions back and forth, are seamlessly executed, making for a fluid reading experience. Some beautifully nuanced and descriptive narrative and dialogue, afford a wonderfully visual and evocative sense of time and place, lifting the sights, sounds and smells from the page, as I took my ‘armchair journey’ back in time.

Elaine affords that same attention to detail and and visual inclusion, to her eclectic cast of characters, no matter how small a part they play in the whole. They are well developed and defined, and whilst not all are easy to connect or empathise with, the overall dynamics and synergy between them, makes them completely investable, genuine and authentic in their individual roles, as they are given a generous and strong voice with which to tell their courageous story of resilience over adversity. They represent a complex jigsaw of vulnerable human emotions, which are laid bare when the fragility of the lines between life and death, defeat and survival, love and hate, trust and duplicity, the frailty of the human mind and indeed their very existence, are drawn. However a raw addictive passion and the will to survive, overcomes all the odds stacked against them, making them stronger, determined to be true to themselves, and more united as time goes on.

What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. This story was definitely one of a kind, having the power to evoke so many feelings, that I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor the next, so I can only recommend that you read We Shall Not Shatter for yourself and see where your journey leads you!

To connect with the author and share my memorable extracts and lines from the book, visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...

[DAB-E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of WWII books, and this one is now one of my favorites. While discussing the terrible and unthinkable things that happened to during the war, the book provided a look at the hope and friendships that survived this time.

This would be great Book Club read.

I look forward to the next installment in this series.

Thanks goodreads for providing me with the book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about two devoted friends, set during the Holocaust. One friend Polish, and another Jewish and deaf. How they narrowly survived during WWII. I won this book from Goodreads and the Author Elaine Stock. Thank you! Looking forward to reading more books from this author.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story of a lifetime friendship and commitment between two vastly different young women under horrendous circumstances. It is a heartbreaking tale but it also an inspiring one. And the brief descriptions of associated books describing the same circumstances that are at the end of the story gives me other ideas for future reads.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Felicia Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elaine Stock’s latest novel We Shall Not Shatter details the unlikely friendship of two little girls in a small village in Poland with different backgrounds and religious beliefs and follows them into their adult years, set in a dramatically different time when courage, loyalty, and faith are tested repeatedly against the backdrop of the atrocities of the holocaust. Well-defined characters, and the challenges they face in the name of survival, make for an absorbing and emotional read. I was sorry when the story ended.
Felicia H - Historical Fiction Fan

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaine Stock has penned such a beautiful, touching, heartwarming novel that will stay with readers for years. She took such a difficult part of our history, and told a story that readers can resonate with, take pause for, and learn from. Yes, there were emotional scenes, heavy topics, heart wrenching parts. But with that there was hope, beauty, and faith. There were moments that required tissues, and moments that enabled rejoicing. It was a roller coaster of emotions, but so worth it in the end.

You can tell how special this story must be to Stock. She took such care with the details, even the small ones, to get them just right. But the friendship between Zofia and Aanya was simply exquisite. Two girls/women who had their differences, and even at first a language barrier (Aanya being deaf), and yet found a way to communicate right from the very beginning. They formed a friendship that lasted a lifetime. They saw each other through so many difficulties, and really it was this friendship that spoke to me the most while reading.

Stock surpassed any expectation I had about reading this book. It truly touched my heart and I know it will touch the heart of others as they read. I highly recommend We Shall Not Shatter.

[Eileen Brill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story on the eternal bonds of friendship and family, validating the idea that our memories of love and safety often sustain us through time, distance and trauma.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I read the blurb I knew I had to read this, although I hadn’t read this author before. This book was inspired by the authors family, including a deaf aunt who died during the Holocaust. Oh my goodness it was a fabulous read. Heartbreaking, emotional, thought provoking story about friendship, love and families set in Brzeziny, Poland in 1939 - as the German Army approach. The story centres around two women, Zofia a catholic and Aanya who is Jewish and deaf, inseparable friends since childhood.

Briefly, as the Nazis March into their village Zofia’s husband has disappeared but she refuses to leave the country with her son, determined to stay to help her best friend. Aanya is studying to be a doctor when her dream are shattered by the war. With both women at risk, Aanya from her religion and her deafness and Zofia from her friendship with Aanya. Can they both survive?

This is a compelling read and probably one of my favourite reads so far this year. The sheer depth of friendship between the two women, despite all the obstacles in their way, was just beautiful. The decisions they were forced to make were heart rending. This was truly a wonderful read and please don’t miss reading the authors notes at the end, they add to the poignancy of the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sandra Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Shall Not Shatter embraces a poignant Holocaust-era friendship between two valiant women whose connection defies convention, as Aanya is deaf and Jewish and Zofia is hearing and Catholic. Yet despite the consequences, as Nazis sweep into Poland intent on destruction and eradication, Zofia continues to support and shelter her childhood companion.

Beginning the book in 1939, Stock offers a gripping, vivid picture of families uprooted from their pleasant lives into a world of uncertainty, fear, and horror. The novel is especially affecting with the Ukraine invasion, and in knowing that the author’s grandparents fled Poland during the Holocaust atrocities, forced to leave a deaf aunt behind.

We’re drawn in by these characters’ depth of emotion, selfless actions, and resiliency to sincerely hope they do survive and succeed. Though this is her historical fiction debut – first of a trilogy – Stock previously wrote inspirational books, and that higher spirit is evident here. Such thought-provoking works immerse us into the lives of those who are thrust into harrowing challenges, strengthening our knowledge and resolve that history must not be allowed to repeat.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! WWII historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I love reading about the lessor known parts of the war. It is so important we know everything that happened and not only the concentration camps. I loved the characters and the writing. The story is first set in a a small town in Poland where many people are Jews. You feel their pain and uncertainty along with the non-Jewish people. Everyone is trying to protect and keep themselves save at the same time. Hard decisions are made in an attempt to survive. I can’t imagine having to make these decisions. I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series!

[Lelita Baldock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel sings. Beautifully written, heartbreaking in its poignant emotional journey. We Shall Not Shatter follows the lives of close childhood friends, Aanya and Zofia, as they navigate life and then the horrors of war. Their friendship forms the lens through which we explore the story and the turmoil of history. I read this book in but a few days, I simply could not put it down. Highly recommend.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elaine Stock’s We Shall Not Shatter is the first in her Resilient Women of WWII trilogy and came about from her family’s own history. The novel features two friends, Zofia and Aanya, and their families as they face the atrocities of war. Stock’s attention to detail brought this story to life, and she’s crafted authentic, engaging, sympathetic characters that readers can’t help but be drawn to. The author reminds us of the power of doing good and standing up for what’s right even when it’s difficult (seemingly impossible) to do.

[Amylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOCK BUSTER!!!!

Wow! Just WOW!! This book a amazing!! I don't know where to start. I don't want too drop any spoilers! The characters are phenomenal! It's like a movie! it should be a movie!! So much action! I held my breath when Roff took them out at gun point GEESH! Before that when Eban and mom was on the boat! To know that Artur was German and loved a deaf Jewish woman whole heartedly I loved! The love in this book flowed so strong I wish I could experience it before I leave this earth! I hate Hitler and his supporters I do not know if I was Jewish and loved during this time what I would have done! Wow amazing book

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a first for me by this author. I had won in the GoodReads giveaway. The story is heart wrenching yet breathtaking. It is one of the guest historical fiction books I have read this year.
I can not wait for the next book in this trilogy.

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Each of the dozens of WW2 books I’ve read have separate amazing stories. I learn more each time. This one tells of emigrating and what it was like as a deaf person during this horrific time.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story!! Poland, 1939: two best friends, Aanya, a deaf Jewish woman, and Zofia, a Gentile woman. Will their deep friendship survive WWII ? Will they survive the war?

This a story about friendship, love, resilience, tolerance and hope. Aanya, Zofia and their families will not escape the war. Before Zofia's husband disappeared, he had arranged for his wife and son to join his cousin in New York. Zofia is torn between saving her son and leaving her Jewish friend in Poland. Is this separation really necessary? Could she live with her guilt?
I really enjoyed all main characters who strive to focus on their human values, while experiencing doubts, despair and guilt. A very moving, poignant and absorbing story.
Very well written by the author whose Polish family inspired her to write this first novel of a trilogy. The second book should be published next autumn. I will definitely read it! Highly recommended!

[Ron Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Shall Not Shatter is a compelling novel, inspired by real-life events in Brzeziny, Poland that so dramatically changed the fortunes of both a close-knit Jewish family and a Catholic family during the Hitler years. Elaine Stock’s poignant narrative charts the despair, confusion and sheer will to survive during this terrible period in modern European history. This is a story that oozes tragedy, hope, love and courage in the face of adversity.

Ron Vincent, author of The House on Thrömerstrasse: A Story of Rebirth and Renewal in the Wake of the Holocaust

[Kathleen Stamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Shall Not Shatter will evoke a wide range of emotions in its readers, pulling one into the story until the very end but then not letting you forget the characters determination to overcome their dark circumstances.