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The Silver Sword

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 2,226 ratings · 229 reviews

In 1942 Warsaw, World War II is raging, and people live in fear from day to day. Ruth, Bronia, and Edek have to fend for themselves when both of their parents are taken by the Nazis.

Can they survive? A gripping story based on true accounts.

Paperback, 160 pages

Published April 30th 1960 by Puffin (first published 1956)

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Sep 16, 2011 Conor rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Silver Sword is an epic tale of a family who were separated when the Nazi’s invaded Poland in 1940. The story centres on the Balicki family, who consisted of the mother Margrit, the father Joseph and their 3 young children; Ruth, Bronia and Edek. With their father taken to a prison camp and their mother captured as a slave, the three children were left to fend for them self in a country ravaged by the Nazis.
The name of the book, ‘The Silver Sword’ is significant, as this sword belonged to J...more The Silver Sword is an epic tale of a family who were separated when the Nazi’s invaded Poland in 1940. The story centres on the Balicki family, who consisted of the mother Margrit, the father Joseph and their 3 young children; Ruth, Bronia and Edek. With their father taken to a prison camp and their mother captured as a slave, the three children were left to fend for them self in a country ravaged by the Nazis.
The name of the book, ‘The Silver Sword’ is significant, as this sword belonged to Joseph, the father of the Balicki children and throughout the book it is a constant beacon of hope in a story so heart wrenching. Upon escaping from the prison camp, Joseph meets a ragged young boy called Jan and gives Jan the sword instructing him that if he ever encounters his children to send them towards the safety of their grandparents home in Switzerland.
While the three young children struggle, things go from bad to worse as Edek; the Balicki brother is arrested for smuggling. With the girls on their own they return to the remains of their former home were they meet Jan, the young boy with the silver sword. Jan at this stage is gravely ill with TB, however his encounter with the girl’s father ensure they take him to a refugee camp were they are reunited with their brother Edek after a chance meeting. Inspired by the silver sword, the four children embark on an emotional journey towards Switzerland desperate to be reunited with their parents after an arduous journey of 5 years.
I read this story as a 9 year old child and loved it, reading it again has made me remember why I loved it. Not only is the story informative giving children an insight into war literature and making them aware of specific events such as the Nazi invasion of Europe, the selection of characters are fantastic as it keeps the reader embroiled in their plight. The inclusion of cheeky, likeable characters such as Edek and Jan along with compassionate souls like Ruth really has the reader championing the kids all the way to the haven that is Switzerland. An excellent read for children from year 5 and upwards.
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Jul 03, 2012 Peter rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens

Four child refugees hide out in Warsaw at the end of the WW2. When it is finally over they set out on a journey across Poland and Germany to Switzerland, where they hope to meet their father, who escaped from a Nazi prisoner of war camp earlier on in the war.

I remember reading this book as a child and finding it very enjoyable and exciting. The book is a great adventure story that gives a lot of social history to kids about life as a child refugee in destroyed post-war Europe. At the time it was...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first read Ian Serraillier’s novel The Silver Sword when I was 12. All these years later I had vague memories of what the story was about, but very vivid memories of having loved it. We read it in school and so it wasn’t a book that I’d actually come across elsewhere. One day, while perusing the selection at Book Closeouts I came across the book and decided to order it. I wondered, after all these years, if it would stand up. Some childhood books do and some don’t.

The Silver Sword is the story...more

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May 18, 2013 Jenny / Wondrous Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars

I bought The Silver Sword on my dad's recommendation, after he mentioned he'd read it many years ago in Secondary school. It made a lasting impression on him, and is a book he'll remember reading for the rest of his life.

To a child, this book and its story would be both horrifying and fascinating. It's a simple, short look at a family ravaged by war, and the lengths they'll go to to be reunited. It was first published in 1956, and because of this, it's very different to contemporary fiction. It...more I bought The Silver Sword on my dad's recommendation, after he mentioned he'd read it many years ago in Secondary school. It made a lasting impression on him, and is a book he'll remember reading for the rest of his life.

To a child, this book and its story would be both horrifying and fascinating. It's a simple, short look at a family ravaged by war, and the lengths they'll go to to be reunited. It was first published in 1956, and because of this, it's very different to contemporary fiction. It moves at a much faster pace, and omits any superfluous description or dialogue, which results in a very quick read. Readers of Morris Gleitzman's books Once and Then will find some similarities in the narrative, and are perhaps the best examples of a similar reading level.

I warmed to the Balicki family very quickly, and followed their journey with bated breath. I find that nothing is more devastating than thinking of children caught up in the Second World War, and stories about such things never fail to strike a chord with me. Ruth, Edek, Bronia and Jan are all shining examples of stubborn, headstrong children, with an astounding amount of bravery and a belief that they'll find their missing parents.

Serraillier chose to focus more on the children's journey, which isn't as perilous as it could have been given that a war was raging througout Europe. His story isn't as shocking as other war fiction I've read, which does mean that the more interesting side of the history is often glossed over. It's perfectly understandable, as this is a book for younger readers, who shouldn't be well-versed in the true horrors of war until they can handle it.

Published just eleven years after the end of the war, The Silver Sword was ahead of its time, and was used for both educational and recreational purposes. As a war text, it's not the most informative, but as a story about what it was like to be a child and survive, it's a veritable source of accuracy. I think it's a book that will be read for years to come, and although it's not one often mentioned, I don't think it'll ever be forgotten.

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Nov 28, 2012 Montserrat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book under its English title, 'The Silver Sword', but couldn't find this on Goodreads so had to review under the US title.

The story begins with the escape of Polish headteacher Joseph Balicki from a Nazi prison camp in the early 1940s, at the height of the Second World War. After a year unfairly imprisoned for refusing to display a picture of Hitler in his school, he has managed to escape. Over a matter of weeks, Joseph makes his way back to his home city of Warsaw, Poland with help...more I read this book under its English title, 'The Silver Sword', but couldn't find this on Goodreads so had to review under the US title.

The story begins with the escape of Polish headteacher Joseph Balicki from a Nazi prison camp in the early 1940s, at the height of the Second World War. After a year unfairly imprisoned for refusing to display a picture of Hitler in his school, he has managed to escape. Over a matter of weeks, Joseph makes his way back to his home city of Warsaw, Poland with help from an elderly couple who shelter him. When he arrives, the city is unrecognisable due to the mass bombing. He finds his wife was also taken by the Gestapo and the same night their house was blown sky high. His three children were never found and are assumed dead. Heartbroken, Joseph leaves Warsaw and resolves to find his wife, and perhaps his children.

The action then shifts to what really happened that night the mother was taken. Realising the Gestapo will come back for them, the three children - Edek (11), Ruth (13) and Bronia (3) - escape over the Warsaw rooftops. Thus starts a long journey of hardship and courage to find their parents. They manage to survive in bombed cellars, woods and by stealing food. Even after the liberation of Warsaw in 1944 and the subsequent end to the war the year after, the troubles do not stop. Edek goes missing, and the reality of life as fugitives begins to take its toll. Across the backdrop of war-torn Europe, the Balicki family faces many struggles to find their way back to each other.

The writing is gripping, fast-paced and hooks the reader. You become so invested in the characters and long for their family to reunite. It is one of the most powerful books I have ever read, and as a child it sparked my interest in finding out more about the Second World War. The subject matter is serious and the setting realistic, but it is presented in a way appropriate for children. The fact that the book depicts a Polish family in Central Europe is also refreshing, as many British children's books about the Second World War are only focused on Britain. It ties in well to a study of history - I would suggest it for at least Year 4 and up as I first read it when I was 8.

The book was published in 1957 but remains as relevant today as ever. A story of the triumph of hope over adversity, the Silver Sword leaves a lasting impression on you and demands to be re-read again and again.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-mainstream

THE SILVER SWORD (US title: Escape From Warsaw). (1956; this ed. 2012). Ian Serrailler. ****.
This is a classic YA novel, primarily in England, although it has been published in the U.S. under a different title. Ian Serrailler (1912-1984) was a school teacher and published several books for children and collections of poetry. This edition was from The Folio Society and contains an introduction by Anne Fine, an afterword by Jane Serraillier, and illustrations by Raul Allen. It is a simple story o...more THE SILVER SWORD (US title: Escape From Warsaw). (1956; this ed. 2012). Ian Serrailler. ****.
This is a classic YA novel, primarily in England, although it has been published in the U.S. under a different title. Ian Serrailler (1912-1984) was a school teacher and published several books for children and collections of poetry. This edition was from The Folio Society and contains an introduction by Anne Fine, an afterword by Jane Serraillier, and illustrations by Raul Allen. It is a simple story of a family of children, living in Warsaw when the Germans invaded. They are separated from their father and mother and don’t know when, or if they will see them again. The children are Ruth (13), Edek (11), and Bronia (3) Balicki. They manage to hook up with another young boy, Jan, who has also become displaced and doesn’t know where his family is. Jan is the rebel among the group, and manages to learn how to survive very quickly. Ruth, the oldest child, stands in for her mother, who was taken by the Germans to work as slave labor on German farms. The father after searching Warsaw cannot find the children after their house was destroyed, but he does let them know – through Jan – that he will ultimately be in Switzerland and will meet them there when the war is over. To help identify them, he gives them a small letter opener – the silver sword – that can be used as their ID when they get there. The sword is, obviously, a plot device in addition to serving as a link between the father and his children. As long as the children have the sword, they will manage to escape Poland and arrive in Switzerland safely. What made this novel different from other books for children about the war is that the author believed that children should get a true idea of the war and the horrible conditions it placed people under. We live with the children in bombed out residences; we steal food with them; we hide out from the German soldiers. All of this was something new for the young adults of the day. It does have a happy ending, but that is to be expected. I’d recommend this for all young adults and the younger thinking adults among us.
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Oct 10, 2011 06mckinleed rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-reports

Escape From Warsaw
Author: Ian Serraillier
Pages:218

I gently picked up the old looking book and inspected the interesting front cover which read "Escape From Warsaw". It didn't look like much with its fraying corners and it words which looked like a typewriter had zipped its way along the pages in such a weird print that it was hard for my eyes to read. But as I opened to the first page I began to read and began to become more interested in the little, Polish family that is striving to find their...more Escape From Warsaw
Author: Ian Serraillier
Pages:218

I gently picked up the old looking book and inspected the interesting front cover which read "Escape From Warsaw". It didn't look like much with its fraying corners and it words which looked like a typewriter had zipped its way along the pages in such a weird print that it was hard for my eyes to read. But as I opened to the first page I began to read and began to become more interested in the little, Polish family that is striving to find their parents who have disappeared after they have been captured by Nazis'. This book is full of many perilous adventures and happy moments and I would like to tell you how I feel about these things and why I think you would really enjoy this book.

The author of this book Ian Serraillier I believe has done an amazing job writing this book and interruptering the events that happened in such a way to catch the attention of young adults and adults. This book is about a family that is basically ripped apart by the Nazis'. Ruth, Jan , Edek, and Bronia are the young polish children who have to deal with the hardships of losing their parents. These children basically live a great deal of their lives working together, hopping about to different places trying to work for food and shelter to provide for their family and traveling to Switzerland to find their parents.

I really like this book because of the strong family bonds that are expressed in this story. Here are some quotes that represent my point. "Nobody's going hungry." Says Jan as he is preparing to steal food for his siblings. This quote is also a good example of the love in this family:"We're saving up to buy a pair of boots for Edek," Bronia the youngest says this to a soldier that is going to make them pay a fine but they need the money to pay for boots for their sick brother.

The Theme of this book is Good things always come from bad things. I strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy stories about war that have happy endings. This is a very unique book because it takes a hard subject to describe and makes it simpilar to understand. I thouroughly enjoyed this wonderful book and I have learned that I am very lucky to have what i have and that I have a wonderful family as well.

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Sep 04, 2011 Karl A rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Silver Sword is about the Balicki family who are separated during WWII when The Germans Nazis had invaded Poland. The story begins with Joseph the Father of the family escaping from a prison camp. Joseph Returns to find his home as a pile of rubble and uncertain of whether his children and wife are still alive. His only source of information believes his wife was taken to Germany and his children may have been killed by the Nazi’s. Not knowing whether his wife or children are alive Joseph se...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Alex Baugh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-2

The Silver Sword is the story of the Balicki family, Joseph and his Swiss wife Margrit and his daughter Ruth, 13, and Bronia, 3, and son, Edek, 11. In 1940, they are living in a Warsaw suburb in Poland during the Nazi occupation of that country, where Joseph is the headmaster in a primary school.

One day while teaching, Joseph turns a picture of Hitler so it faced the wall. His action is reported to the Nazi authorities by a student. Joseph is arrested and sent to a prison camp in Zakyna. He spe...more The Silver Sword is the story of the Balicki family, Joseph and his Swiss wife Margrit and his daughter Ruth, 13, and Bronia, 3, and son, Edek, 11. In 1940, they are living in a Warsaw suburb in Poland during the Nazi occupation of that country, where Joseph is the headmaster in a primary school.

One day while teaching, Joseph turns a picture of Hitler so it faced the wall. His action is reported to the Nazi authorities by a student. Joseph is arrested and sent to a prison camp in Zakyna. He spends two years in the prison camp, ill but determined to escape, which he finally does manage to accomplish. Joseph spends 4½ weeks walking back to Warsaw, but when he arrives he discovers that his house has been destroyed, his wife has been arrested and sent to a work camp in Germany, and his children have survived but are no where to be found.

At the ruins of his home, Joseph finds a silver letter opener in the shape of a small sword. He also meets a young boy there carrying a wood box. Eventually he befriends the boy, Jan, who shows Joseph how and where to safely jump a train to Switzerland. Before he leaves, he gives the silver sword/letter opener to Jan and asks him to tell his children, should he run into them, that their father has gone to their grandparents in Switzerland to find their mother, and to follow him there. Jan puts the sword in his wooden box for safekeeping.

When their mother was arrested, Edek had secretly shot at one of the officers with a rifle, hitting him in the arm. Scared, the children decided to run away that night, over the rooftops of the adjoining buildings and just in the nick of time. As the children are running away, their house explodes – Nazi retaliation for the rifle shot. The children hide in a wood, surviving on the kindness of peasants and on Edek’s ability to smuggle. But one day Edek is caught and arrested. They hear nothing about him for two years, continuing to survive in the woods in summer and in Warsaw in winter.

In the summer of 1944, Ruth, now 15, and Bronia, now 5, hear that the Russians are pushing westward and are not far from Warsaw. This rumor turns out to be true and by January 1945, the Nazis are gone from Warsaw, but because of the fighting to regain it, so is Warsaw. At their former home, they find a very ill Jan. They nurse him back to health and are helped to survive by a kind Russian soldier, who also traces the whereabouts of Edek in Posen. But when they arrived in Posen, they learned Edek has TB and is in isolation. At the makeshift hospital for TB patients, they are told that he has just run away. Tired and hungry, they go to a refugee camp for food and rest, but when a brawl breaks out, the hand the pulls Ruth away from the fray is that of Edek. Together, the four children begin their journey to Switzerland in earnest by first taking a train to Berlin. By now, it is May, 1945 and the war over in Europe.

Their journey to Switzerland takes Ruth, Edek, Bronia and Jan isn’t easy. Edek’s TB gets progressively worse. Then Edek and Jan are caught stealing from the American troops in Germany, and Jan must do a week of detention. The children are taken in and cared for by a kindly farmer and his wife, but when they hear that all Polish people will be sent back to Poland, they are forced to make a middle of the night escape in some old canoes the farmer owns. All through their journey, the silver sword has been an inspiration to carry on and find their parents. But in their hasty escape, the silver sword gets left behind at the farm. It was their talisman and as long as they had it, they had good luck overcoming the obstacles they faced. Now it seems that their luck has run out. The canoe trip, which should have been easy, is not without hazards: Ruth and Bronia are shot at and one of the other canoes is destroyed. Later, they face a terrible storm while crossing Lake Constance, located in both Germany and Switzerland. Will they ever be reunited with their parents without the sword?

At the heart of this novel stands is the idea of family. The Balicki’s are is a warm, loving, supportive family, reason enough to motivate the children to find their parents. And the reason that the homeless, parentless Jan decides to stick with them. Like many people who lived through the war, the children find strength in themselves to endure, discovering that they can deal with all kinds of difficulties and hardships.

Throughout the novel, Serraillier juxtaposes the hatred and destructive nature of Nazism and the people who supported it against the kind and helpful people who rejected it, people who were willing to take a chance, even risking of arrest and death, to help the children

The Silver Sword was published in the United States under the name Escape from Warsaw, and is still available from Scholastic by that name. I prefer the original name, The Silver Sword since it has so much meaning the central characters in the story.

Although the novel was published in 1956, it remains a very exciting adventure for young readers and I highly recommend it.

The book is recommended from readers aged 12 and up.
This book was borrowed from the Juvenile Collection of the Hunter College Library.

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Jul 07, 2011 Audrey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was disappointed by this near-200 page historical fiction book, and its attempt to retell a Polish family's harrowing experience during the Nazi occupation. Some of the concepts, characters, or scenes were wonderful ideas, however, I felt the author neither fleshed out the storyline, nor developed potentially strong characters. Additionally, the author never employed their rhetoric to draw me in. I felt that the vocabulary was common-place and oversimplified, at the cost of the book.

The premis...more

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Oct 26, 2010 Jesse rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is about the Balicki family and they're struggles during World War II. The book starts out on the father(Joseph who was taken to a german work camp. He was the headmaster of the school, one day during prayer he turned the picture of Hitler to face the wall. People talked about it which was a terrible mistake because the Germans found out and hauled him off. After being beaten, tourtured and worked near to death he is determined to escape. After stealing a German uniform and walking rig...more This book is about the Balicki family and they're struggles during World War II. The book starts out on the father(Joseph who was taken to a german work camp. He was the headmaster of the school, one day during prayer he turned the picture of Hitler to face the wall. People talked about it which was a terrible mistake because the Germans found out and hauled him off. After being beaten, tourtured and worked near to death he is determined to escape. After stealing a German uniform and walking right out the front door he is able to make his way home to warsaw. He is shocked to find it in complete ruins and after talking to the few who remain he remembers that he and his family decieded to meet at his wife's parents house in Switzerland if they got seperated. Later that night he jumps on the goods train headed for switzerland and hopfully to find his family.

Late in the night a while after the father was taken the Germans decieded to come back for the mother(Margarit). With all the noise all the kids(Ruth, Edek and Bronia) were woken up and locked in their room. Edek who was 11 was part of the Boy's Rifle Brigade. From his window he could see the Germans taking his mother but waited to shoot because of the possibility of hitting his mother. He waits for them to get in the car and then shoots the tires. All this accomplished was making them angry. The soilders sent out a second car with the intent of blowing the house up. Edek knew this so got his sisters and himself out before they got to the house. They spent the next years living in the ruins of warsaw during the winter and the woods during the winter. They were forced to be mature and a lot more grown up then they had to be. They started a school, and many other things. Edek was the main source of income which meant selling things illegaly sometimes. He was very crafty in what he did. He would hide goods in logs and his jacket. He was eventually caught and that broke up the family even more. Although they had food cards Ruth and Bronia were very unable to provide completely.

This was a very easy read and recomend it to those who wish to get a better understanding of World War II and what families went through during that time. Some of words I didn't know but other than that it will be easy for most anyone to follow.(less)

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Aug 27, 2009 Autumn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-just-for-teens, world-war-2, true-story

Amazing story, based on true events, about a children's journey from war-torn Warsaw to their parents in Switzerland. Their honest hope and determination and selfless love for each other is encouraging and refreshing. The good people they meet along the way that willingly and selflessly help them build your faith in human nature amid the horror and hate of the war that surrounds the people. The style of writing and nature of the language makes the book approachable for older elementary age child...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Joan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: historical fiction fans. WWII, etc

Shelves: 5-6-fiction, j-books, historical-fiction, fiction

I found this interesting in that it is a story of World War Two that has no mention of what happened to the Jews (well, almost no mention, and it was more of a side note than anything else.) 4 Polish kids survive the war and walk to Switzerland in hopes of finding their parents. One of the four is actually an acquaintance and the other three are siblings. They had a tough trip of it and it seems pretty realistic, right down to the Swiss reluctance to allow anyone into their precious land. In cas...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Rebecca Douglass rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, historical-fiction

scape from Warsaw is a children's war story, and written less than a decade after the end of WWII. This lends a certain immediacy to the story which is, I think, offset for modern readers by the somewhat distancing style. We are accustomed nowadays to children's books depicting war, suffering, and despair with the same gritty realism that we (and the kids) see on the evening news. Oddly, in this period so soon after so many children had lived through events most of us can't even imagine, few wri...more scape from Warsaw is a children's war story, and written less than a decade after the end of WWII. This lends a certain immediacy to the story which is, I think, offset for modern readers by the somewhat distancing style. We are accustomed nowadays to children's books depicting war, suffering, and despair with the same gritty realism that we (and the kids) see on the evening news. Oddly, in this period so soon after so many children had lived through events most of us can't even imagine, few writers chose to show the bitter despair, death, and suffering in quite such a cinematic fashion. I have to state right here that this is neither criticism or praise, merely observation. Writing styles change, and my recent bout of reading classic children's books gleaned from the pages of 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up has made that abundantly clear to me. We don't dress like we did in 1956, either (for which I, addicted as I am to blue jeans, t-shirts, and sweats, and very grateful). In part, I wonder if Serraillier felt no need to describe in detail what too many had so recently lived through.

The story spans the years of the war, being the account of how the war went for the Balicki family of Warsaw. For most of the book we follow the adventures of the children, Ruth (13 in 1940), Edek (11) and Bronia (3). But the story opens, not with them, but with several chapters in which their father is taken by the Nazis, locked in a camp, and escapes and makes his way back to Warsaw. By this time it is 1942, as far as I can make out.

When Joseph Balicki arrives in Warsaw, he finds his home destroyed, his wife taken to labor in Germany, and is told that his children are surely dead, as the Germans blew up the house after taking Mrs. Balicki. Despite weeks of desperate searching, he is unable to find any trace of them, but refuses to believe they are dead. In the first of a series of coincidences that admittedly strain credulity, he encounters a young orphan, a boy of perhaps 10 or 11 named Jan, and gives him a token--the silver sword of the original title--and a message for the children, in case he should ever meet them. The message is that he has gone on to Switzerland, to his wife's family. One thing that I found jarring here was that he was able to inquire through official channels, despite being an escaped prisoner. It's not clear who was running the Polish Council for Protection to which he turns (presumably Poles, not Germans), but it is hard to believe it would have been safe.

We then turn to the children, beginning on the night their mother is taken, and move rather quickly through about two years (? dates and the passage of time get a bit fuzzy, which I have to say bothers me--I like to know exactly when, where and how). The children make a home in the ruins of their city. Edek, now 12 or 13 or so, supports the girls with small jobs and smuggling, and Ruth starts something of a school among the many, many orphaned/abandoned children. The hardship of this time is presented matter-of-factly, without harrowing the feelings (unless you stop and think too much about all those homeless children with no one to look after them). Still more oddly, the fact that Edek is eventually captured and sent to a labor camp, leaving Ruth and Bronia to struggle on until the liberation of Warsaw by the Russians, is rather off-handedly presented.

Roughly the second half of the book is taken up by the reconstruction of the family. First, Jan becomes part of the family by chance, and only later is the connection discovered. He and the two girls then set out in search of Edek--and find him, again by chance (this is about the 3rd unbelievable coincidence). A series of adventures and narrow escapes follows--even though the Germans are defeated, the occupying armies would prefer to put children somewhere safe, and keep refugees out of Switzerland. In a final coincidence (yet presented in a fashion more believable than some of the others), the family is reunited on the Swiss border, and a happy ending is constructed for all.

I did find it interesting that the author didn't quite stop with the joyful reunion of the family, but includes a wrapping-up chapter that gives them a new home, and describes the challenges each of the four children faced in recovering from the war and re-entering a more normal life. Each of the older children has significant issues to overcome (can you say PTSD?), but each eventually puts the war behind him or her and goes on to live a normal life--as did so many after the war. One wonders what illnesses, stresses, and mental disorders it inflicted on them in later life, but that lies beyond the scope of the book.

I found the book an easy read, fairly gripping, and enjoyable. Stylistically, as noted, it is dated, and may seem strange to today's children, but is not difficult at all. My largest criticism is of the use of what seem to me unreasonable coincidences to lead to the happy ending. The note at the beginning of the book states that the "characters are fictional, but the story is based upon fact." It is not clear exactly what parts are fact--I have to assume it is factual in a rather general way, perhaps pulling the adventures of many refugees together to make for one glorious story.

I give the book 3.5 stars, down from 4 due to the outrageous-coincidence factor. Still a good read, and a good introduction for young readers to the WWII era, though it would be better with maps. (less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Andrea added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1900s-1950s-era, childrens, war, poland, germany

On a recent rare trip to an Actual Book Shop, I saw a display of classic children's novels, and this one was the only one I'd never heard of (I'd read all but three). I liked the concept so picked it up on impulse.

The storytelling style here is almost fable, very much told instead of shown (with occasional emphasis for moral homilies), and a little distancing as a result. The tone is definitely aimed at easing younger children into some of the vast impacts of war, telling of its horrors and cost...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Jenee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book when I was younger and I still love and read it today.

One of my favorites!

This is a story about the struggles of a group of children trying to find safety during the hollocaust.

I think the thing that stands out to me most about this story is the fact that the characters are so lovable. I read this when I was a lot younger and so some of the characters where about my age so it was a lot easier for me to identify with them.

Something about adventure stories always got me so excit...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Adela Bezemer-Cleverley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I added this apparently well-beloved children's classic to my to-read list because it was recommended by one of my internet friends, Amy. I had never heard of it before, but according to the cover this is the 50th Golden Anniversary Edition that I read--it is a classic... though an old one.

This is going to be a very short review because there's not much I can say about it. The Silver Sword is certainly a good book, an excellent children's book. I know I definitely would have enjoyed it as a chil...more

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May 12, 2008 Phil Knight rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I was younger I loved this book so I have decided to give it to my class to study. I remember I identified with the character Jan as I thought he was very funny. I envied him because he seemed to lead such an exciting life. I always wanted to go on a war adventure like the characters in this book.

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Aug 22, 2011 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-read-growing-up, holocaust

I remember reading this book at school when I was in 5th or 6th grade. I remember it being a thrilling book detailing one family's struggle to escape from the horrors of the Holocaust.

I read it again recently to see if it would measure up to my childhood memory. I have to say that the book was not as developed in plot and character development as I would have liked as an adult, but I could see why I liked it as a child. I believe it is simplistic because it is written for a younger audience. I...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Stephen added it · review of another edition

I read this when I was about 10, as I played Joseph in the Windsor Arts Club Junior Drama production. Apart from 2 or 3 bits, I didn't remember most of the events in the story. It's interesting in that so much of the book takes place after the end of the war - it shows the allied occupation, and how the different countries managed their sectors (I don't want to overplay this though - it's interesting, but it isn't one of the major parts of the book).

The structure of the book is quite interestin...more

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Dec 26, 2012 James rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: old-books

The Silver sword is a book about a family trying to find their parents in Poland through to Switzerland after ww2.They stumble through broken streets meet other children like them and struggle to find food to feel all of them along with their animal-lover friend Jen. At the time I was reading this book I was also reading the second phoenix files book (which I would strongly recommend) and had trouble trying to read this book and almost gave up on in because it was so INCREDIBLY boring and didn't...more

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May 30, 2012 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens

I have a very soft spot for this book. I read it when I was around 11 and remember gradually realising that it was a book about Polish children. I was born in the UK but my parents were both Polish and with a strong cultural identity, and they had both lived through WWII.

Reading this book was great: I was at an age where I just wanted to be assimilated into English culture and here was an excellent English book about a Polish experience. It allowed me to validate my Polish heritage as it equall...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Verena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Father, mother n siblings were separated from each other during WWII. Father was captured n managed to escape. He returned to Poland in search of his family, but it came to nought. He left a silver sword with a young boy n told him to look out for his kids n tell them that he'll wait for them in Switzerland (where he n wife had a prior agreement to head there if they get separated from each other). Turns out Jan did meet his 2 girls. The story went on to detail their journey to find their father...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Caroline rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adored this book as a child and I still adore it now. Maybe it was something to do with being the eldest child (with a younger brother and sister) that ensured I fully empathised with the main character Ruth, the would be teacher. Great characterisation and storytelling meant that it was a book I could not put down and also one I would re-read over and over again. For a book set in such a difficult context (WW2) I strangely found it a comforting read and would often turn to it when feeling fed...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this was a really well-done children's book! It's really fitting for the audience, and is a war story that focuses on the journey of the children and the hardships that result from war. It's charming, if I can say that about a book that focuses on a bit of a sad subject, in the same way that Narnia is. Perhaps it's because the style of writing is similar to Lewis. It's very matter-of-fact, and leaves gaps in the story for the "ugly affairs." But, Serrailier doesn't shy away from the ef...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Isaac rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutly loved this book. I couldn't put it down, even when I was supposed to be doing my chores. Oh well. Anyway this story was originally called The Silver Sword and if you read this book you will find out why. I loved how these three children and a friend make thier way to Switzerland from Warsaw just to get back to their family, but also keep in mind that there is also a war raging on. Wow can you imagine. This is in a way kind of like the european version of the underground railroad if y...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Shandi Hibbert rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eng-356-yal

This book is old. It started with the whole, " Once upon a time..." thing. I was dreading it before I started. Come to find out though, I am really glad I stuck with it. It was a cute little story that highlights a Polish family as they struggle through the problems of WWII.
At the beginning of the book the family is split up. Throughout the book you follow the three children as they journey across Poland and Germany to meet their parents in Switzerland. They encounter all sorts of struggles as t...more

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May 18, 2011 Marris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, school

This is a great WWII era book that is based upon true accounts. Unfortunately, the story just fell flat for me. I know that the things that happen in the book really happened, but I wish the characters were better developed. I wasn't emotionally attached to them and I couldn't picture them as living, breathing human beings with feelings and emotions. I think that in order to truly understand their plight, you have to care about them and it was hard for me to do that because it seemed like they d...more

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May 08, 2013 Lady Bugs In June rated it 4 of 5 stars

i really quite liked this book it was a good insight into what it was like for children during a war. it was really clever as you could see all points of view because there were a variety of ages and you could see how the war affected them differently. the siblings meet Jan who is a mysterious boy with a silver sword that ties them all together as they make their way to neutral Switzerland, they do not know if their parents are dead of alive. its really realistic and captivating. it is based on...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Sarah-Lambert Cook rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-bit-of-adventure, read-again-and-again, ya-literature

I first picked this up when I was 10 and I was immediately hooked. I reread it over and over for several years after that and again when I was in college. This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's a memorable adventure of a family torn apart by the horror of war. We follow as they struggle to find one another again. It's a wonderful story and I am happy to say it is just as fun now as it was when I was 10.

And that's just how readers are made: by falling madly in love with a book for no...more

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About Ian Serraillier

Ian Serraillier (24 September 1912 – 28 November 1994) was a British novelist and poet. He was also appreciated by children for being a storyteller retelling legends from Rome, Greece and England. Serraillier was best known for his children's books, especially The Silver Sword (1956), a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1957 and again in 1971.
He was born in Lon...more Ian Serraillier (24 September 1912 – 28 November 1994) was a British novelist and poet. He was also appreciated by children for being a storyteller retelling legends from Rome, Greece and England. Serraillier was best known for his children's books, especially The Silver Sword (1956), a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1957 and again in 1971.
He was born in London, the eldest of four children. His father died as a result of the 1918 flu pandemic when he was only six years old. He was educated at Brighton College, and took his degree at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and became an English teacher. He taught at Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire from 1936 to 1939; at Dudley Grammar School in Worcestershire from 1939 to 1946; and at Midhurst Grammar School in West Sussex from 1946 to 1961. As a Quaker, he was granted conscientious objector status in World War II.
In 1946 his first children’s novel was published. It was followed by several more adventure stories of treasure and spies. His best known work, The Silver Sword, was published in 1956 and has become a classic, bringing to life the story of four refugee children. Three of the children are siblings: Ruth, Edek and Bronia. Jan is another of the many Warsaw war orphans who somehow had met their father, and then fainted near the bombed out basement which served as home for the siblings, and was taken in by them. The four joined together in their search for the siblings' parents in the chaos of Europe immediately after the Second World War. In the United States the book was published under the title Escape from Warsaw.
As well as children’s novels and poetry, Serraillier produced his own retellings of classic tales in prose and verse, including Beowulf, Chaucer and Greek myths. Together with his wife, Anne Margaret Rogers, he founded the New Windmill Series in 1948, published by Heinemann Educational Books, which set out to provide inexpensive editions of good stories. He continued as co-editor of the series until the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the early 1990s. The illness finally contributed towards his death in November 1994 at the age of 82.(less)

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