Waiting for the Storks by Katrina Nannestad

Katrina Nannestad, author of award-winning books, We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, continues with the theme of war in her latest release, Waiting for the Storks. This deeply moving and at times cruel and disturbing story, centres on eight-year-old much-loved and adored Polish girl, Zofia Ulinski.

Zofia, with her parents Joseph and Halina, and Aunt Barbara live in the city of Krakow, Poland which in 1941 has been overrun by German soldiers.  Unfortunately, Zofia comes to the attention of German soldiers and is subsequently kidnapped and taken on a long and difficult journey with many other stolen Polish children. Their destination is Germany, and it is here that these young, traumatised children begin to understand why they have been taken away from their families and homeland when they realise they are all blonde haired and blue-eyed. What follows is the complete and utter indoctrination of the children into the ways of the Hitler and the Third Reich.

Once again, Zofia who is now known as Sophia Ullman, a good German girl, is singled out by Doctor Engels who oversees the continual assessment of the Polish children, and is taken to his home to be adopted by himself and his wife. Sophia is treated as a princess and has no memory of her past existence until meeting a young boy called Tomasz, a Polish slave on a neighbouring property, and her forgotten past becomes her present.

The meaning of the title Waiting for the Storks is referred to throughout the story and connects Zofia to her family story and home. Even through the worst possible traumas, Zofia was able to maintain a positive outlook by constantly playing a family word game where there is only one choice between two quite outrageous questions. At the end of the book the author shares with readers the inspiration behind the story, The Lebensborn Program, where Hitler’s plan was to grow a strong, pure German population.

 A truly inspiring and heart-wrenching story that will have a place in the hearts and minds of its readers. A wonderful read. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: World War Two, Nazism, Stolen Children, Poland, Germany, Family, Friendship, Trauma, Resilience.

Kathryn Beilby