Warsaw during those stinking-hot summer days of our trip in 2017. Maybe I complained at the time, especially on that one day when we did 40,000 steps, but I couldn’t have written this book without the research I did on that trip and it turned out that seeing so much of Warsaw by foot was handy after all! To all of my writer pals—especially Sally Hepworth, Lisa Ireland, Kim Kelly, Pamela Cook and Vanessa Carnevale. At different times, each of you imparted some wisdom or encouragement that kept me going while I was working on this book, and I am so grateful to have your friendship and support.
Dan, Maxwell and Violette, yet again I am sorry for how impossible I am to live with when I’m writing, and I know this book was particularly tough. Thanks for loving me anyway. And to Mum and Dad, thanks for emergency babysitting, Tim Tams and cups of tea.
To my agent, Amy Tannenbaum, and the entire team at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. I am so honored and grateful to be working with you—and, Amy, thanks for always going the extra mile. And to Susan Swinwood and the team at Graydon House, Harlequin and HarperCollins, you have made so many of my dreams come true and I am so thankful to know that my stories are in such capable and skilled hands.
To booksellers and librarians, you superstars who place my books in the hands of readers, thank you, thank you, thank you. And to the bloggers, bookstagrammers, reviewers and to anyone else who has recommended my books to someone else over the years—thank you so much for believing in my work and spreading the word.
And finally, to readers. I still sometimes pinch myself—it seems a dream that anyone wants to read my books. Thank you for journeying through these stories with me.
THE
WARSAW
ORPHAN
Kelly Rimmer
Reader’s Guide
Questions for Discussion
Early in the story, Emilia can be wildly impulsive and determined, and is even willing to manipulate to get her own way. Did you find her to be a likable character anyway? If so, why?
When we first meet Roman, he is a young man trapped in an impossible situation, but to his own thinking he is “a prisoner by choice.” What did he mean by this? Did you empathize with his decision to refuse to consider alternatives to remaining in the ghetto?
Roman initially refuses to engage with the Resistance, but eventually becomes fixated on fighting back. Why was this? Do you think he made the right decision at each point in time?
Why do you think Chaim saved Roman’s life?
During the Warsaw Uprising, Uncle Piotr undergoes a period of transformation. After years of focusing on himself, he becomes determined to look after his family. What drives this? Why did it happen in that particular moment?
Emilia’s thoughts on her unborn child also undergo a transformation. Did her ultimate decision seem realistic to you, given her circumstances? Roman initially has a very different perspective. Were you sympathetic to his refusal to accept baby Anatol?
Piotr and Sara have a complex relationship that is tragically cut short. What do you think would have happened between them had Piotr survived?
Were you already familiar with the historical events that take place in this story? Is there any aspect to that history that you’re planning to look into further?
Which characters in this book did you like best? Which did you like least? Why?
Which scene in The Warsaw Orphan affected you the most, and why? What emotions did that scene elicit?
Were you satisfied with the ending? What do you think happened next for Roman and Emilia?
Fiction set during World War II has been increasingly popular in the last few years. Why do you think readers are drawn to these kinds of stories in this present moment?
What will you remember most about The Warsaw Orphan?
Who would you recommend this book to?
Was this your first Kelly Rimmer book? If you’ve read any of her other titles, which did you prefer?
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.