Really interesting read. I knew of Irena before requesting this book and that she'd saved so many children at great risk to herself but knew nothing else. So this was a really interesting read and I enjoyed learning more about her, and her activities in WW2. She's definitely someone that should be taught about in school when they learn about that period.

What an inspiring story! Well written tale of the resistance in Poland during WW2-focusing on one young woman who took extreme risks to save small children, and also made an effort to keep track of them so they could be reunited with their families after the war.

What an incredible book of an absolutely INCREDIBLE woman - who deserves much more fame than she currently has. Her courage was inspiring and I the author did a wonderful job of telling her story!

Heartbreaking and unbelievably moving. This is one of those books that will stick with you. It is a story that everyone should know and remember. The horrors of World War II and the Holocaust are some of the worst of all of human history, but should never be forgotten. Most importantly we cannot forget the selfless heroes and the sacrifices that were made for others. We live in a world that can look so bleak and heartless so often, but there are always glimmers of the good that is out there and the people that put others above themselves. This amazing story of Irena and the thousands of children she and her ring of fellow heroes should be so more well known than it is. I had never heard this story and now I will never forget it.

It was also very well written and I could not put it down. I lost count the amount of times I cried. You become immersed and the author does not pull any punches. I can just say well done and such a worthy read. I highly recommend.

Still in print, this tells the amazing story of a courageous Polish social worker who rescued over 2500 Jewish children during WWII.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this book to review.

The overwhelming feeling you get from this book is sadness, followed by anger and confusion as to why those things had to happen to the Polish population. Nevertheless, this book also stands to show how the people fought all the way to help their fellow citizens and how they were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for ALL their people.
That is not to say that all Polish people were good in their actions and intentions during WWII but the striking stories of those amongst it all that bravely stood up to German oppression stick in my memories thanks to this books.
I am a great believer in learning some little thing from each book I read and this book taught me how the smallest of actions can help save numerous souls. I recommend this read to everyone with a heart and a sense of right and wrong. There are many characters in the book that can teach us humility and hope.

I recieved a complimentary copy of Irena's Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I must admit that I am more than upset and embarrassed with myself that it took me so long to read Irena's story. I have read many stories about the Holocaust but this one should be read by all. Irena's fearless courage to save thousand of Jewish children was relentless even though she lived with the constant fear of discovery and death. Her heroic and carefully planned attempts to smuggle children out of the Warsaw ghetto were recognized by her peers who saw Irena as a friend, general and hero. As Irena smuggled these innocent children from the ghetto,sometimes through sewers and sometimes inside coffins, to the safety of adoptive parents who would protect their identities, Irena systematically kept detailed records of all the children's real names. Her hope was that after the war was over, the children would be able to reunite with their families. However, for the majority of those children, that never came to be. Irena never imagined that more than 90 percent of the families of the children she saved would perish by the hands of the Nazis.

Irena Sendler, is a woman to celebrate. I highly recommend this book.

An amazing woman, overcoming the odds to rescue an impressive number of children.

A good read if you are looking for a historical novel. I was moved to tears more than once. Heartbreaking at times.

What a powerful tale of strength and courage. This is a non-fiction book about Irena Sendler, who helped rescue over 2,500 children in Warsaw during WWII. Even though it's non-fiction, I think even those who don't usually like non-fiction would like it because it's told in a story format. If you are interested on what it was like in Warsaw during WWII, this book is definitely worth reading!

For anyone that is interested or studies World War II this is a must read. The author does a wonderful job of bringing Irena Sendler's story to the attention of historians, but also the lives of those that worked with her. The network that was built by Sendler and her colleagues was amazing. The saved not only the children but also some families. Siblings were given a chance to stay together and have a chance to survive the holocaust. This was an excellent book that brings a new part of history to light. Irena and her group showed that there can be good in the mist of evil.

This book was very heavy...I really enjoyed it but at times I had to sit it down and come back to it. The suspense was there but what Irena did for those children left me moved beyond words. I loved this story. It is definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. A fabulous books! I have recommended it to several customers already!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this - however, I found that the style of the storytelling jarred with the story being told, and am unable to finish it. No review has been written or posted.

Tilar Mazzeo went to Poland and stumbled upon this story when she saw all the lights in the forest. She researched and what she found compelled her to write Irena's story. I read a children's version of Irena Sendler's story Jars of Hope a little while ago. I had not heard of Irena or her heroic efforts to save the children before that. I was very impressed with this woman and when I saw this book I wanted to read it to find out more about this incredible woman. I actually had to put this book down a couple of times and read something lighter because the atrocities that happened in Poland, particularly Warsaw were horrific. When this young woman decides that she needs to do what she can to save the children from death, she set to the task without being deterred by the dangers to herself. The book can be dry in parts, but it is a mesmerizing story. The resistance in Poland had such strength of character and the moral right on their side.

Mazzeo does an amazing job of setting the scene for the reader, I could picture what was going on almost as it I was there, although I am glad I was not. She brings the characters to life in a way that makes the reader feel as if you really know them. You can feel what they feel from despair, pain, discouragement, fear and in some cases relief and excitement. Irena's cell of "saviors" were so important to her story. She constantly said she was not a hero, there were so many others that risked so much more than she did and many of them were mentioned in the book. I felt sick in my heart to know that anyone had to endure what these people lived through. The number of Polish people (both Jewish and non-Jewish) that perished during this time was unbelievable. The strength shown by so few to save as many as they could is empowering knowing that good will go up against evil to save even one. This is a must read for those who are interested in WWII, not for the fighting and war, but for the positive spirit shown by so many that had been counted down and out. As they were referred to in the book by the Germans, "Untermensch" or subhuman showed that they were the most human of all.

This was an inspiring story of the bravery of some uncommon "common" people. Faced with the horrible injustice of Hitler's government and the anti-semitism of many of their neighbors, they risked their lives and the lives of their families to save Jewish people in Warsaw Poland. Irena Sendlar is the main focus of this book. She was a dedicated social worker who helped to rescue even more people than Schindler did.