The Silent Unseen: A Novel of World War II

by Amanda McCrina

Book Overview

A mesmerizing historical novel of suspense and intrigue about a teenage girl who risks everything to save her missing brother.

Poland, July 1944. Sixteen-year-old Maria is making her way home after years of forced labor in Nazi Germany, only to find her village destroyed and her parents killed in a war between the Polish Resistance and Ukrainian nationalists. To Maria's shock, the local Resistance unit is commanded by...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374313555
• ISBN13: 9780374313555
• Release Date: April 2022
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 12 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 7 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Felt Real

Title: The Silent Unseen: A Novel of World War Two Author: Amanda McCrina 320 Pages Published on April 5th 2022 Genre: Historical fiction This book takes place in Poland in July of 1944 during World War Two. The main character Maria is on her way home after labor she was forced into in Nazi Germany only to find her parents deceased and village gone from the war. When her brother Tomek commander of the local Resistance unit disappears Maria is determined to find him. This book had a slow start but I love Historical fiction especially World War Two novels so I decided to continue. I loved the plot of the story it's very interesting and felt so real. I love what you can learn from historical fiction novels too. It shows us how emotional and hard it was for the people living during this time. I will be honest that some parts were hard to follow listening to the audiobook though so if you plan to read this book I reccomend getting the physical copy. It didn't take away from the storyline though I still loved it. Finally, I would definitely reccomend reading this emotional book if you love Historical fiction and love novels about World War Two.

Beautiful, sad, hopeful and powerful

This story is set toward the end of WWII in Poland and what is now Ukraine and follows the dual perspective of two young people caught up in conflict and change. Maria is Polish and is making her way home after being kidnapped and sent to a German work camp for two and a half years. Kostya is part of the Ukrainian nationalist movement. They meet when Maria saves Kostya from being interrogated and killed by Russian soldiers. The Polish resistance and Ukrainian nationalists are enemies, but Maria needs Kostya's help when her older brother Tomek goes missing. Both are very sympathetic characters, having suffered so much terror and loss. The story is well written, interesting and fast-paced with unrelenting suspense and tension. I could not put it down. There are many nationalities and factions involved, and I was grateful that an index and character directory were provided in the back of the book, to which I referred frequently. I liked learning about a part of WWII history which gets little to no attention in fiction. It would have been helpful to have more historical context provided. The ending seemed abrupt, and I wanted the book to last a little more. The Silent Unseen is a powerful and sad, yet beautiful and hopeful story which makes the reader think about the futility and horror of war, especially given current events in this part of the world. Thank you to BookishFirst for a review copy.

A quick but confusing read

The Silent Unseen depicts a historical time that is not often the focus of other World War II novels, which hooked me in. Set in Poland in 1944, Maria begins her journey home after years spent in a labor camp in Nazi Germany; however, she soon tragically discovers that her family has been killed but her brother Tomek, who she previously presumed dead, is in fact alive. Her reunion with Tomek is short-lived as he goes missing. Partnering with the enemy, Kostya, a Ukrainian prisoner, Maria sets off to find her brother, hopefully alive. As a lover of World War II historical fiction, The Silent Unseen taps into a part of that history that I wasn't as familiar with - the Polish Resistance and Ukranian Nationalists. While quick-paced, I found myself often confused between the jumps between chapters - it seems like time had passed but you weren't privy to the details. I also was confused by the various groups they introduced: the UPA, Resistance, NKVD but then realized there was an appendix at the end that served as a glossary; I thought that could've more been helpful at the beginning to set the stage. I also love novels that feature a bit of romance but this fell a bit flat for me; I didn't really buy the chemistry between the two MCs, Maria and Kostya. While I don't typically enjoy a slow burn, I did feel like these two love interests deserved a bit more time to add believability to their relationship. Overall, I found the plot too rushed and the ending a bit abrupt. Thank you Bookish First and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for free copy in advance for my honest review.