This novel is based in a Polish family’s experience during World War II. They are deported by the Soviet soldiers and forced to travel by train and later by foot to labor camps in Siberia. This was near the beginning of the war when the Soviets occupied Poland. You follow their travels, often being separated from each other, in Siberia, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Africa, Italy, England and finally all ending up in the United States.

Krysia Jopek has the story unfold with chapters from the perspective of four family members: Andrzej, the father; Zofia, the mother, Henryk, the oldest son, and Hegia, the daughter. It is fascinating to hear the story from the different voices. Andrzej works hard to provide for his family in cold barren Siberia. He is later separated from the rest of his family but sends money when he can. Zofia is concerned about feeding her children and when her husband is gone she provides food for the children. She worries about the effects of the cold of Siberia, the heat of Africa and the lack of food will have on the growth of all the children especially the youngest, Jozef. Henryk is seen has a young boy, and as he grows he is separated from the family, learning skills as he grows into a man. Hegia is also young when they are deported and writes poetry of the family’s experience. Hegia’s poetry also often separates chapters and is beautiful and powerful especially the one entitled “[D]ANGER: to live in a place not one’s own.”

The harsh realities bring the family together in Siberia and they try to stay in connect even when they are separated later. After the war, as Poland is now occupied by the Soviets the family cannot return without renouncing their Polish heritage. The Polish Army Resettlement Corps created by the British government worked to get Polish soldiers back into civilian life. Opportunities also were made available to the rest of the family and so they eventually immigrated to America with skills that opened up job opportunities for them all in their new country.

This is the story of Krysia Jopek’s own family as Henryk is her father. This story is well written and hard to put down as you hear the story of a family that loves each other and is put through such horrible experiences. Their story is powerful and gives a glimpse of one of the many families that were deported during World War II. The book includes a reading guide with study questions that makes it appropriate for Book Clubs and I also think that older teens would appreciate this story. My brother-in-law’s family immigrated to the United States from Poland and I plan on giving him this book for Christmas.

Reviewed on 09/08/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Janice Hidey

"Maps and Shadows," a novel by Krysia Jopek, informs readers about an aspect of World War II that has rarely seen the light of day – the Soviet deportation of almost 1.5 million Polish civilians to forced labor camps in Siberia. Jopek's family was among those deported.

Each chapter in Jopek's novel is narrated by one of four family members: Andrzej (father), Zofia (mother), Henryk (brother), and Helcia (sister).

The story begins with the family living a good life farming land the Polish government gave to Andrzej as a reward for his service in the Polish army during World War I. Then, in September 1939, Germany attacks Poland, easily overpowering its military and slaughtering civilians. While Germany invades from the west, Russia invades from the east.

At gunpoint, Russian soldiers force Jopek's family to be herded with other Poles onto trains to Siberia where Andrzej and Henryk are part of a work crew charged with felling trees to aid in Russia's war effort. The family is at the work camp for 18 months, enduring seasons of bitter cold and a paucity of food. They are freed only because Russia needs the Poles to help fight the Germans.

The family is then torn apart. Andrzej leaves the camp to enlist in the Polish army while the rest of the family flees to Uzbekistan, where Henryk joins the Young Soldiers Battalions. Zofia, Helcia and Jozef, the family's youngest son, continue on to Persia. Henryk's battalion is then assigned duty in Palestine, where fate brings him together with Andrzej for a few precious minutes.

Family members endure more displacement until the end of the war. Surviving against all odds, they reunite in England and finally make their home in Connecticut.

I had not heard of the Polish deportation prior to reading "Maps and Shadows" and find it amazing that this family and other families endured such a long journey of displacement and cruel and inhumane conditions. It all makes my current troubles seem so very insignificant. I appreciate the story being told from four different viewpoints, each shedding light on the family's inner turmoil and struggles. Author Kysia Jopek is also a poet and she intersperses poetry throughout the novel. The cover art is beautiful, adding more historical snippets to the story. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to those of Polish descent and to readers of historical fiction.

My review is based on an advance copy from the publisher, Aquila Polonica Publishing. The publication date is November 2010.

Reviewed on 08/07/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Darcy Odden