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When We Had Wings: The Gripping Story of an Orphan in Janusz Korczak's Orphanage. A Historical Novel
“Until they broke my legs no one could run faster than me. Thanks to my amazing speed, I won races, eluded street gangs and bullies, and also managed to grab and run, to steal. I was proud of my running but not of stealing. I especially hated being called a thief and the son of a thief, but that was the truth.”
Janek Wolf is an injured, angry, petty thief. When he arrives to Janusz Korczak’s orphanage, he gets a once in a lifetime chance to change his destiny. It is a place managed by the children, and their society is based on friendship, solidarity, and justice. Will they accept him? Can he break his street life habits and become one of them? And could he possibly find a new dream?
Janusz Korczak, an educator, pediatrician, writer, and champion of children's rights, established a democratic orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw, Poland, 1912. It was managed by the children. They were judges in its court, writers in its newspaper and helpers in the kitchen and yard. For 30 years it was a loving home for hundreds of children. They called it “A Garden of Eden for kids.”
Janek Wolf is an injured, angry, petty thief. When he arrives to Janusz Korczak’s orphanage, he gets a once in a lifetime chance to change his destiny. It is a place managed by the children, and their society is based on friendship, solidarity, and justice. Will they accept him? Can he break his street life habits and become one of them? And could he possibly find a new dream?
Janusz Korczak, an educator, pediatrician, writer, and champion of children's rights, established a democratic orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw, Poland, 1912. It was managed by the children. They were judges in its court, writers in its newspaper and helpers in the kitchen and yard. For 30 years it was a loving home for hundreds of children. They called it “A Garden of Eden for kids.”
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2023
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88 people want to read
About the author
Tami Shem-Tov
19 books3 followersSee also תמי שם-טוב , תמי שם טוב
תמי שם-טוב נולדה בקרית אונו. עבדה כעיתונאית בשבועון 'לאשה' וכעת עוסקת בכתיבה (מחזות וסיפורים) ונפגשת עם ילדים ובני-נוער. ספרה הראשון, "רק בשביל מילי" זיכה אותה בפרס זאב לספרות ילדים ונוער לשנת תשנ"ט. ספרה "מהפכת התפוזים של מתי" עובד על-ידי המחברת למחזה והועלה במסגרת פסטיבל הצגות ילדים בחיפה. ספרה האחרון "ואיך קוראים לך עכשיו" זיכה אותה בשני פרסים: פרס יד-ושם למפעלים חינוכיים ובפרס זאב לספרות ילדים ונוער לשנת תשס"ח.
תמי שם-טוב נולדה בקרית אונו. עבדה כעיתונאית בשבועון 'לאשה' וכעת עוסקת בכתיבה (מחזות וסיפורים) ונפגשת עם ילדים ובני-נוער. ספרה הראשון, "רק בשביל מילי" זיכה אותה בפרס זאב לספרות ילדים ונוער לשנת תשנ"ט. ספרה "מהפכת התפוזים של מתי" עובד על-ידי המחברת למחזה והועלה במסגרת פסטיבל הצגות ילדים בחיפה. ספרה האחרון "ואיך קוראים לך עכשיו" זיכה אותה בשני פרסים: פרס יד-ושם למפעלים חינוכיים ובפרס זאב לספרות ילדים ונוער לשנת תשס"ח.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 1, 2025
Janusz Kirczak is known for his books for children and for adults to learn to handle children as well as for his heroic action of going to the gas chamber with his orphanage children so "they wouldn't be afraid". This in spite of his being given several chances to avoid going on the train with the children. Tami Shem-Tov has chosen to tell the story of his orphanage through the eyes of one orphan. The story, this story is historical fiction, based on stories of what really happened in his orphanage.
Janek was a young boy during pre-war Warsaw. His mother had died and he was left in the hands of his grandmother and sister, Mira. It wasn't long before it was just Janek and Mira. Mira had promised her mother to look after Janek and she did her best. Janek had a gift which he exploited, he was a fast runner. He saw himself as an Olympic runner as he ran down the streets of Warsaw beating everyone he raced against. This included the storeowners from which he often stole food and the men he stole papers from. He was an avid newspaper reader. He was caught and placed in The Shelter. This was a harsh orphanage which was run by the bullies in the orphanage. Here because he was a thief, he was beaten so badly that his legs were broken and healed leaving him with a limp. He was brought home and nursed by his sister who now was married with a son. Janek blamed Mira for being in the Shelter and losing his hope for the Olympics. When he became too difficult to handle, Mira managed to get him a place in Korczak's orphanage.
Janek was suspicious at first of the orphanage, his mentor, and Korczak himself. The orphanage was clean, the children clean with clean clothes, the children respected each other and Miss Steffie and Doctor Korczak. Children who broke he rules were brought before a panel of heir piers and judged by them. Punishment was made by adding extra chores, apologizing, loss of privileges, etc. There was no corporal punishment or other harsh punishment. This was not what Janek was used to and he pushed the limits.
This book tells us about Korczak through Janek's eyes. We saw how Janek changes simply by being in Korczak's orphanage. We watch as the atmosphere begins to change as the Germans come closer and closer to Warsaw. We watch as Jews begin to find ways to leave Poland. However, no everyone had the means to leave. Janek was still in school and his sister Mira and her family were very poor.
The book is a must-read book. Although fiction, it is well done and shows Warsaw as it was.
Janek was a young boy during pre-war Warsaw. His mother had died and he was left in the hands of his grandmother and sister, Mira. It wasn't long before it was just Janek and Mira. Mira had promised her mother to look after Janek and she did her best. Janek had a gift which he exploited, he was a fast runner. He saw himself as an Olympic runner as he ran down the streets of Warsaw beating everyone he raced against. This included the storeowners from which he often stole food and the men he stole papers from. He was an avid newspaper reader. He was caught and placed in The Shelter. This was a harsh orphanage which was run by the bullies in the orphanage. Here because he was a thief, he was beaten so badly that his legs were broken and healed leaving him with a limp. He was brought home and nursed by his sister who now was married with a son. Janek blamed Mira for being in the Shelter and losing his hope for the Olympics. When he became too difficult to handle, Mira managed to get him a place in Korczak's orphanage.
Janek was suspicious at first of the orphanage, his mentor, and Korczak himself. The orphanage was clean, the children clean with clean clothes, the children respected each other and Miss Steffie and Doctor Korczak. Children who broke he rules were brought before a panel of heir piers and judged by them. Punishment was made by adding extra chores, apologizing, loss of privileges, etc. There was no corporal punishment or other harsh punishment. This was not what Janek was used to and he pushed the limits.
This book tells us about Korczak through Janek's eyes. We saw how Janek changes simply by being in Korczak's orphanage. We watch as the atmosphere begins to change as the Germans come closer and closer to Warsaw. We watch as Jews begin to find ways to leave Poland. However, no everyone had the means to leave. Janek was still in school and his sister Mira and her family were very poor.
The book is a must-read book. Although fiction, it is well done and shows Warsaw as it was.
June 27, 2024
It was meh. A lot of telling and no showing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews