There seems to be an abundance of books set during World War II in the market at present, with a wealth of stories about the atrocities that befell Jewish people who were in the way of the Nazi machine. This novel gives a different view from two teenagers – one inside the ghetto and one outside. The main character, Elzbieta, is inspired by a real woman who managed to save thousands of Jewish children from torture and almost certain death.

Our story starts in the spring of 1942, when teenage Elzbieta Rabinek finds she can no longer ignore what is happening just beyond the walls of her Warsaw home. The Germans have long been a menacing presence, with their curfews, aggression and killings. Together with her friend and neighbour they decide to help smuggle children out of the ghetto. Here we meet the Gorka family who live in the ghetto, and who must make the heartbreaking decision to give up their newborn daughter to be smuggled out, or risk her death from starvation. Elizbieta finds herself falling for 16-year-old Roman Gorka, who has finally decided that enough is enough. She cannot dissuade him from his need for vengeance. His youthful recklessness could lead to the end of everything they were trying to achieve.

The intertwining stories of the two teenagers are well told, and each character is believable and of their time. Their growing love story is both poignant and beautiful, set amid the decay of war and all its horrors. This is well written and researched novel and is gut-wrenchingly sad. Have the tissues ready.

Reviewed by Lesley West