| Title | : | The Polish Nurse: A WW2 Historical Fiction Novel (World War II Brave Women Fiction Book 1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 366 |
| Publication | : | Published September 15, 2023 |
1941, Poland. Though war rages around her and occupying German forces march steadily onward, 16-year-old Aleksandra has lived her life sheltered from danger.
Until one day, she goes to school – never to return.
Pushed roughly into a truck with other schoolgirls like her, a single ominous word tells her all she needs to know about her Lebensborn.
Lebensborn, the infamous German “voluntary reproduction” program – rumored to involve the abduction of blond-haired, blue-eyed girls and forcing them to bear the children of Nazi soldiers.
But when their convoy is bombed en route to Berlin, Aleksandra and the girls see their chance to escape. In a foreign land, far from home, they know their survival depends on keeping their identities a secret.
Resourceful and determined not to be discovered, Aleksandra takes a job as a nurse in the German city of Dresden. Just as she starts to think she might live to see the end of the war, her carefully crafted secret begins to unravel. Aleksandra knows that if she ever wants to see her home and family again, she will have to risk it all – on her own.
Previously published as Before Berlin.
The Polish Nurse: A WW2 Historical Fiction Novel (World War II Brave Women Fiction Book 1) Reviews
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Different viewpoint
What I liked about this story was it was told from a completely different perspective. Typically these stories lean heavily towards anti Nazi and pro Allied forces. This was not the case with all the characters and the author did a very good job of handling the delicacy, although surely truthful feelings for some, on the subject. It certainly makes for interesting reading to try to see things from another's viewpoint. -
Polish nurse
A very insightful tale that describes the horrors of war and trying to stay alive and find a purpose in life. The characters are well developed and tell their adventures in words that keep you enthralled and holding your breath at times. Minute details help to make you feel the whole situation. An informative read. -
Hey folks! 🌟 Just had the most epic journey with "The Polish Nurse: A WW2 Historical Fiction Novel" by Leah Moyes, and let me spill the tea – it's an absolute gem! 📖💎 As a 38-year-old dude from Israel and a massive historical fiction buff, this book hit me right in the feels.
So, picture this: I'm casually flipping through the pages, not even giving it a deep dive, and bam! Moyes had me hooked like a catfish on a hot summer day. 🎣 I know, I know, not the most sophisticated metaphor, but bear with me – this book is worth it!
First off, major props to Moyes for bringing the badassery of women during WWII to the forefront. 💪 The Brave Women series? Genius move! 🙌 The narrative unfolds like a movie in my mind, and trust me, I didn't even need a bucket of popcorn to stay glued.
And can we talk about emotions? 😭😂 I went from tearing up to cheering like I'm at a rock concert. Moyes, you played my heartstrings like a pro! 🎸💔
Now, let's dive into the reviews on Goodreads. One peep said it was an "amazing read" – preach, sister! 🙏 Another spilled the tea on the emotional rollercoaster, and I'm like, "Yep, been there, felt that." 🎢
But what really got me was the attention to detail. Moyes, you're a magician! 🎩✨ It felt like I was time-traveling with characters so real they could've been my neighbors (minus the whole wartime chaos, of course).
As an aspiring historical fiction author from the land of hummus and history (Israel, in case you missed it), this book hit me in the creative gut. 📚💥 Moyes, you've set the bar high, and I'm here for it, trying to absorb your storytelling magic.
And oh, the unexpected twists! 🔄 My jaw dropped a couple of times, but hey, who doesn't love a good plot curveball? Keeps life interesting, right?
To sum it up, "The Polish Nurse" is like a literary rollercoaster with a front-row seat to history. Moyes, you've earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf – right next to my collection of quirky bookmarks. 📚🌈 Can't wait to see what historical magic you conjure up next! Keep 'em coming! 🚀🔥 #HistoricalFictionMagic #BookNerdAdventures -
Germany in 1941. Aleksandra, a Pole by birth, is taken by force to join the Lebensborn programme. Crammed into the back of a truck with seventeen other girls they are driven far from home. When their convoy is bombed, they take the chance to escape but they are stranded in a wood and not everybody survived the subsequent crash. They need water, food, shelter and medical help.
Aleksandra take the lead in guiding the group to safety but, again, multiple challenges need to be faced and navigated, including interacting with a German soldier who has gone AWOL.
The writer packs a lot into her novel and the backdrop is fascinating. When the remaining girls reach Dresden, they think everything is going to be fine but for readers who know about the dreadful carpet bombing od that city, it's only a matter of time until chaos reigns again.
Aleksandra manages to train as a nurse using her nurturing instincts that served her so well on the long trek from the crash. She meets an American soldier who offers her solace and hope for a longterm future, but nothing is straightforward in this story.
I mostly enjoyed this book though some of the words jarred to an English ear. The nearer we gort to the end, the more rushed the plot line seemed to be. I have since found this is a prequel to a series of stories by Leah Moyes. -
The Polish Nurse is a very moving story about a young Polish girl who is taken from her home and family by the Nazis in order to make her participate in their "reproductive program." The girl, Aleksandra, along with other captive girls, find their convoy bombed and she and the girls begin their fight to survive. This is a story of endurance, of moving forward when there is no other choice, of taking a leadership role in order to help all the girls to survive in the wilderness. They are helped on their journey by a German soldier who escaped from his unit and who was being hunted by the Nazis.
This is a heartfelt story, with a lot of pain and suffering endured by Aleksandra and the girls. It is a story of hiding in plain sight, of others willing to help, kindness extended, of living a new life in a new town. I highly recommend this novel - it is an amazing story of Aleksandra and her life during and shortly after the war, how she coped, her losses, her close friends, and all that was to become part of her life.
I read this story under the title of The Polish Nurse, thinking it was a new book to me, but I realized as I was reading it that it was the same as Before Berlin. I read it again and am glad I did. -
I love WWII novels. This one was a bit different. It starts in Poland where this young girl, sister and classmates are kidnapped by Germans at their school. It is a story of bravery, courage and tenacity of this young girl to become the leader of the other girls after a bombing of their truck while being taken away. How she survives and eventually becomes a nurse in Germany where she finds herself with the others who did survive. It is a good read with a few twists you didn’t see coming.
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This book was absolutely amazing. You never knew what was going to happen next. It was truly interesting getting to hear multiple perspectives of characters who had different roles in the war. The only thing I would change is the ending (not the epilogue) Other than that I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction!
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Excellent book by Moyes. I was unaware of the Lebensborn project until reading this book. Excellent storytelling and visually I could picture Aleksandra in her surroundings. THIS book leads into the Berlin Buttergly series if you’re curious about why this book ended the way it did.
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Excellent!
This book will make you feel all the feels. That is the only way to explain how much I loved this book. It's a must read if you enjoy Historical fiction that is so well written you will not want to put it down! -
Book 1 of the Brave women series.
This is an excellent book depicting the strong women who survived the Second World War through all the hardships and danger that war brings to civilians, regardless of where they live and their resources. -
Really enjoyed this book!
I could not put it down! This book is packed with historical events. There’s so much emotion packed. As you read, you experience all the different types of love, perseverance and hope.
I absolutely recommend reading this book! -
A great WW2 story
Even though this was a work of fiction I really enjoy it. It had an interesting story of what some people could have endured.
