J.L. Witterick's My Mother's Secret is an absolute gem of a book. Based on a true story, it tells how the illiterate and poor Franciszka, along with her daughter Helena, saved the lives of two entire Jewish families and a defecting German soldier by hiding them in the most unlikely places in their tiny home and pigsty. None knows of the others' presence. Then, for her pièce de résistance, Franciszka befriends the German commander, throwing (modest) dinner parties for him literally right on top of the hidden Jews.
Among the results, is much needed food supplies and a greater distance from their fellow villagers. As daughter Helena describes, with the appearance of the German commander, any they would have wished to befriend no longer wanted to associate, while any of those who might have wished to be friends were not the type mother and daughter sought.
Witterick tells this story in four parts, using four different perspectives, beginning with Helena. At fewer than 200 pages, it's an incredibly quick read, the more so for being so engrossing. In all, this is one inspiring piece of work - and how might history have been different if there were more Franciszkas and Helenas?
Five stars.
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