The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

Pages: 552

Intended Audience: Adult

Genre: Non-fiction / Biography / World War II / Holocaust

Notes for Parents: This is about the Holocaust and therefore contains mature content.

The Back Cover

1939: the Germans have invaded Poland. The keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Jan and Antonina Zabinski, survive the bombardment of the city, only to see the occupiers ruthlessly kill many of their animals. The Nazis then carry off the prized specimens to Berlin for the program to create the “purest” breeds, much as they saw themselves as the purest human race. Opposed to all the Nazis represent, the Zabinskis risk their lives by hiding Jews in the now-empty animal cages, saving as many as three hundred people from extermination.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The novel was made into a movie in 2017.

What’s good?

The story of the Zabinskis is a captivating tale of courage and defiance in Poland during World War II. This true account of their experiences is both tragic and uplifting as they watch what they’ve built be destroyed, and use that destruction to subvert the Nazi regime. The section of photographs is a fascinating album of memories that reminds of what the family lost. The inclusion of Irena Sendler and other important members of the Warsaw underground, illustrate the level of risk and the importance of the work done by the Zabinskis.

Best Part: I love that all the “guests” were given animal names.

What isn’t good?

There was way too much insignificant information to wade through in order to get to the heart of the story. Things like the history of the architecture of a house, descriptions of beetles, and a page and a half about a cat forced to raise fox pups (which was not as interesting a story as it sounds) bogged down what could have been a very exciting account of bravery during the Holocaust.

Worst part: Ugh! There were so many parts I could have done without.

Recommendation ☺☺☻☻☻ (2/5)

This was difficult to read. The interesting part of the story was so often interrupted by trivial details about things that didn’t really matter. I would have preferred reading more about the people and the situations. The story of the Zabinski’s and the other people working to save Jews from deportation was fascinating! I have a feeling that the movie (which I haven’t seen yet) might be better than the book.

Ackerman, Diane. The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story. New York: W.W. Norton, 2007.