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The Girl with the Red Ribbon
1939, Poland. An extraordinary young woman vows revenge on the Nazis after her family are murdered… Ania hears the explosion of gunshots before she sees the Nazi soldiers approach her beloved home. Her family don’t have time to run, but she does. Hiding nearby, she watches and listens to her sister’s screams. But, stroking the red ribbon she keeps tied around her wrist, she begins to plot her revenge…
Taunted her whole life for being smarter than anyone else in the village, now living in war-torn Poland, being governed by Nazis who think Poles are subhuman and women only good for one thing… Ania knows only has her wits to rely on for survival.
But then she comes across a group of misfits all rejected by the resistance movement for bringing too much risk with them – a scarred Jewish man, a madwoman, a gypsy, and a quiet, handsome Russian soldier. And Ania realizes she alone has the power to unite them. Together, they will destroy each and every one of the people who took everything from her.
The Nazis have no idea what – or who – they are up against. And they’re about to discover that no one should cross a woman who has nothing to lose…
Inspired by an incredible true story from the author’s own family, comes a absolutely gripping story about courage and sacrifice in the darkest days of war.
Taunted her whole life for being smarter than anyone else in the village, now living in war-torn Poland, being governed by Nazis who think Poles are subhuman and women only good for one thing… Ania knows only has her wits to rely on for survival.
But then she comes across a group of misfits all rejected by the resistance movement for bringing too much risk with them – a scarred Jewish man, a madwoman, a gypsy, and a quiet, handsome Russian soldier. And Ania realizes she alone has the power to unite them. Together, they will destroy each and every one of the people who took everything from her.
The Nazis have no idea what – or who – they are up against. And they’re about to discover that no one should cross a woman who has nothing to lose…
Inspired by an incredible true story from the author’s own family, comes a absolutely gripping story about courage and sacrifice in the darkest days of war.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2024
812 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Carly Schabowski
15 books188 followersCarly Schabowski worked as a journalist in both North Cyprus and Australia before returning to Oxford, where she studied for an MA and then a PhD in creative writing at Oxford Brookes University.
Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.
The Ringmaster’s Daughter is Carly’s debut novel and will be published by Bookouture in July 2020, with her second novel, The Watchmaker of Dachau coming out later that year. These texts are both true, epic, moving historical novels centred around survival, human suffering, and the finding of love within the backdrop of the desperate and uncertain times of 1940s Europe
Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.
The Ringmaster’s Daughter is Carly’s debut novel and will be published by Bookouture in July 2020, with her second novel, The Watchmaker of Dachau coming out later that year. These texts are both true, epic, moving historical novels centred around survival, human suffering, and the finding of love within the backdrop of the desperate and uncertain times of 1940s Europe
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 16, 2025
There are some authors whose writing i do not click with. This is my 3rd book by Carly Schabowski I have determined she is one. Her books are slow and seem to ramble. Good luck readers
January 24, 2025
This is a delightful read about a band of misfits who range around war-torn Poland doing the unthinkable.
November 3, 2024
This was a fascinating book. While I suspect it will not be everyone's cup of tea, I personally, found it intense and fascinating. Carly Schabowski is a wordsmith. Her descriptions captivated me. Here is one sentence as a short example. "The sky that night had been a purple bruise, as if the heavens themselves were in pain."
The main character of the story is a young girl named Ania who believed that she killed her mother simply by being born. She had red ribbons from birth which I believe were significant in Polish tradition. The colour red was a theme that ran through the novel, from birth til the end. Ania never really fit in her family or her community. It was as if she had no emotions or feelings. The second world war had begun and already life was getting harder. An emotional wounded man named Benj was living in her families barn and in some way, as misfits, they connected as friends. After discovering the murder of her father and sister at the hands of those in power, Ania and Benji left her home and headed off into the unknown. In their travels they connected with Gosia, an old woman who seemed most in anger at her departed husband, and then Wanda, a woman of beauty and mysterious background when seemed at times to see what would lie in their future. Wanda came with Aleksi, a Russian who had managed to escape the hellhole of Maidanek. As a group, they became an unlikely family, doing what they could to survive and take revenge where they could too. Ania was the lynch pin that seemed to hold them all together even though at times, they couldn't understand her at all.
The primary voices in the story are those of Benji and Ania. There is a definite element of paranormal activity in the telling, but short of giving things away, the book has to be read to be understood. It isn't an easy read, but it's worth it.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book due for publication in November. All opinions are my own.
The main character of the story is a young girl named Ania who believed that she killed her mother simply by being born. She had red ribbons from birth which I believe were significant in Polish tradition. The colour red was a theme that ran through the novel, from birth til the end. Ania never really fit in her family or her community. It was as if she had no emotions or feelings. The second world war had begun and already life was getting harder. An emotional wounded man named Benj was living in her families barn and in some way, as misfits, they connected as friends. After discovering the murder of her father and sister at the hands of those in power, Ania and Benji left her home and headed off into the unknown. In their travels they connected with Gosia, an old woman who seemed most in anger at her departed husband, and then Wanda, a woman of beauty and mysterious background when seemed at times to see what would lie in their future. Wanda came with Aleksi, a Russian who had managed to escape the hellhole of Maidanek. As a group, they became an unlikely family, doing what they could to survive and take revenge where they could too. Ania was the lynch pin that seemed to hold them all together even though at times, they couldn't understand her at all.
The primary voices in the story are those of Benji and Ania. There is a definite element of paranormal activity in the telling, but short of giving things away, the book has to be read to be understood. It isn't an easy read, but it's worth it.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book due for publication in November. All opinions are my own.
October 26, 2024
Historical fiction set in Poland during World War II. Ania is an unusual young woman; these days she would likely be diagnosed as autistic. She doesn't understand emotions but is an expert at language and geography. She has a lot of anger, mostly towards her father and older sister. Her mother died giving birth to her, leaving behind a red ribbon which Ania faithfully wears. At times Ania seems a bit like a stereotype of an autistic person; she is poor and living at a farm yet knowledgable in everything.
She is also fearless and frequently very angry. One day Ania comes home to find her father and sister murdered by German soldiers and she doesn't understand how to feel or act but knows she must go on the run. She leaves the farm with Benjamin, a simple minded man with a scarred face who had been hiding at the farm because he was a Jew. The two of them meet others: Goshia, an old woman who was left behind and a young couple who were hiding out in Ania's uncles farm.
The book tends to get repetitive as Ania repeats her story over and over again and while I enjoyed hearing about the ways this makeshift family survived, I found some of Ania's antics to be unbelievable. At only five feet tall, Ania is mistaken often for being a child, but her forceful personality makes her a leader of her little group and she decides they will try to kill as many German soldiers as possible.
As the group tries to hide out, stealing food from nearby farms, Ania becomes more and more bold in her quest to do her part in revenging the deaths of her family. Parts of the story are told by Benjamin, who comes to care deeply for Ania. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for review..
She is also fearless and frequently very angry. One day Ania comes home to find her father and sister murdered by German soldiers and she doesn't understand how to feel or act but knows she must go on the run. She leaves the farm with Benjamin, a simple minded man with a scarred face who had been hiding at the farm because he was a Jew. The two of them meet others: Goshia, an old woman who was left behind and a young couple who were hiding out in Ania's uncles farm.
The book tends to get repetitive as Ania repeats her story over and over again and while I enjoyed hearing about the ways this makeshift family survived, I found some of Ania's antics to be unbelievable. At only five feet tall, Ania is mistaken often for being a child, but her forceful personality makes her a leader of her little group and she decides they will try to kill as many German soldiers as possible.
As the group tries to hide out, stealing food from nearby farms, Ania becomes more and more bold in her quest to do her part in revenging the deaths of her family. Parts of the story are told by Benjamin, who comes to care deeply for Ania. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for review..
October 5, 2024
I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and this was very different than others I have read. This focused on a group of outcasts trying to survive capture. The group included Ania-a girl who is labeled mad because she doesn’t understand emotion and social cues, Benjamin-a Jewish man with a disfigured face and likely some degree of brain injury, Wanda-a Gypsy, Gosia-a woman who escaped from a psychiatric institution, and Aleksi-a Russian POW who escaped from a concentration camp. This unlikely group survives together in the woods of Poland. Sad ending as most of these books have with interesting characters you root for.
December 18, 2024
Listened to as an audiobook this week driving to work and loveeeed it! Started a bit slow but loved the story when it picked up! Nice mix of action and good storyline!
September 1, 2025
I'll give it four stars because I find the context relatable. I love that the author included clippings of the history related to the context of the storyline. If you've ever felt you don't fit in, this storyline may help you to see through the eyes of a kindred
October 11, 2024
We meet Ania, a girl that is misunderstood. She thinks logically and has outbursts. She doesn’t understand emotions. She’s struggled her whole life with navigating people and social situations. She’s been marked since she was born. Desperate to find family in this ever changing world she meets a group of misfits like herself. Each member finds their role. Ania is finding her purpose, that is to seek revenge.
This dual time line novel takes place in Poland during the occupation of Germany. The novel is also dual point of view which I greatly enjoy, you can see different perspectives from vastly different people. We see the characters unfold and their backstory that adds so much depth. Each character has their story and motivation to survive. My favorite thing about Carly Schabowski’s books is the realness of the characters. As I read I was able to see the beautiful arcs and how each one pursued their path. It’s their choice;change and adapt to the circumstances or overcome. You’re left to question does each of us have a purpose?
This novel differs from her other novels but is just as powerful and impactful. We see a darker side to this story. We see what it truly means to lose everything and have no one. Some may go mad while others grow. What I love most about all of her books is the amount of research that goes into them. Best of all many stories have family ties to her life which makes them more intriguing.
This dual time line novel takes place in Poland during the occupation of Germany. The novel is also dual point of view which I greatly enjoy, you can see different perspectives from vastly different people. We see the characters unfold and their backstory that adds so much depth. Each character has their story and motivation to survive. My favorite thing about Carly Schabowski’s books is the realness of the characters. As I read I was able to see the beautiful arcs and how each one pursued their path. It’s their choice;change and adapt to the circumstances or overcome. You’re left to question does each of us have a purpose?
This novel differs from her other novels but is just as powerful and impactful. We see a darker side to this story. We see what it truly means to lose everything and have no one. Some may go mad while others grow. What I love most about all of her books is the amount of research that goes into them. Best of all many stories have family ties to her life which makes them more intriguing.
November 7, 2024
1939, Poland: World War II has begun and the Nazis are carrying out their orders. They are approaching Poland without notice and people are fearing for their lives. As they arrive at Ania’s house, she is the only one that flees. She hides nearby and hears the cry’s of her family as they are taken away by the Nazis. In that one moment Ania’s life had changed forever and will never be the same. As she is trying to find a safe place to go, she comes across a group of others in her same situation. Ania vows to destroy those that took her family from her. She will stop at nothing to make sure they pay for what they did, not just to her and her family but to the thousands of innocent people they killed.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon, written by author Carly Schabowski is a phenomenal story of loss, love of family and surviving the worst of times. I read this book as the tears flowed down my face, and my heart broke for Ania and her family. This was such a horrible time and I am always amazed at the strength and resilience of those that endured life during this time. Families ripped apart and still relentlessly helped those around them survive. This unputdownable book is one that needs to be read with a box of Kleenex by your side. Schabowski is a phenomenal author that draws the reader in to the story and never lets you go. This wonderful book inspired by true events is one that I highly recommend.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon, written by author Carly Schabowski is a phenomenal story of loss, love of family and surviving the worst of times. I read this book as the tears flowed down my face, and my heart broke for Ania and her family. This was such a horrible time and I am always amazed at the strength and resilience of those that endured life during this time. Families ripped apart and still relentlessly helped those around them survive. This unputdownable book is one that needs to be read with a box of Kleenex by your side. Schabowski is a phenomenal author that draws the reader in to the story and never lets you go. This wonderful book inspired by true events is one that I highly recommend.
October 30, 2024
2.5 stars
A young woman enacts brutal revenge upon members of the Nazi Party, after they destroy everyone she loves.
The main female protagonist has been an outcast in her village her entire life. She is extremely intelligent, but lacks the social skills needed to be accepted by others. Her lack of emotion and reluctance to be physically touched would most likely lead to a diagnosis of autism in modern times. During the evil regime of the Nazis in WW2, those traits are exactly what she needs to take down as many of the monsters as she possibly can…
Because the main character was portrayed as a person with emotional detachment issues, I never developed much of an “investment” in the story myself. Scenes of a young girl being able to kill, with no remorse, (even if they were Nazis), were disturbing.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.”
A young woman enacts brutal revenge upon members of the Nazi Party, after they destroy everyone she loves.
The main female protagonist has been an outcast in her village her entire life. She is extremely intelligent, but lacks the social skills needed to be accepted by others. Her lack of emotion and reluctance to be physically touched would most likely lead to a diagnosis of autism in modern times. During the evil regime of the Nazis in WW2, those traits are exactly what she needs to take down as many of the monsters as she possibly can…
Because the main character was portrayed as a person with emotional detachment issues, I never developed much of an “investment” in the story myself. Scenes of a young girl being able to kill, with no remorse, (even if they were Nazis), were disturbing.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.”
October 5, 2024
I know the time authors put into writing, so I regret when I don't give a positive review, but I must be honest. I liked the cover of the book, and the idea of the story was a good 9ne. The author was good about describing the environment. Where things went down was the dialogue and characters' reactions to events. Many times, the author over explained the reasons rather than letting the reader put it together. Parts were not believable (like a 50+ year old man having such immature thoughts and behaviors). Some things written were redundant (repeated again in the next paragraph) and dramatic in an immature way. There may be some audiences that may like the story, but it's not me. I would not recommend this book to friends.
October 25, 2024
Ania is a young Polish girl, living with her father and sister during WWII. She is described as mad and also as a genius. Although not specifically labelled, what the author describes, is an autistic girl, struggling with social relationships with those around her.
She develops a close friendship with Benjamin, a disfigured Jewish man. When her sister and father are killed, they go into hiding.
The story started really well and I enjoyed reading about how those with disabilities would have fared during the war. However, in the middle, I felt the story lacked direction and wandered aimlessly. I wondered if the story was based on a true story which the author was following faithfully, in which case I could have forgiven the lack of pace, after all, no one’s life is exciting all the time, but it doesn’t appear to be the case.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She develops a close friendship with Benjamin, a disfigured Jewish man. When her sister and father are killed, they go into hiding.
The story started really well and I enjoyed reading about how those with disabilities would have fared during the war. However, in the middle, I felt the story lacked direction and wandered aimlessly. I wondered if the story was based on a true story which the author was following faithfully, in which case I could have forgiven the lack of pace, after all, no one’s life is exciting all the time, but it doesn’t appear to be the case.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
A true story account of family history in this one. I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this book. I thought it would be like every other War book of the early 40's and thankfully it was not.
Ania, our protagonist is a young girl when the book begins... We follow along as she waves her ear through the world with fellow outcasts. Seeking revenge on those who killed her family and those harming, stealing and killing even still.
This was a unique and refreshing take, on a bit of atrocious history.
Ania, our protagonist is a young girl when the book begins... We follow along as she waves her ear through the world with fellow outcasts. Seeking revenge on those who killed her family and those harming, stealing and killing even still.
This was a unique and refreshing take, on a bit of atrocious history.
November 9, 2024
This is a different kind of book about WWII.
Ania is a bit different, incredibly smart but indifferent to emotions.
Much of the story centers around her work as a partisan fighter in Poland.
It’s unique because I haven’t ran across a character like Ania.
The boom definitely lends itself to a different aspect of WWII historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance read.
Ania is a bit different, incredibly smart but indifferent to emotions.
Much of the story centers around her work as a partisan fighter in Poland.
It’s unique because I haven’t ran across a character like Ania.
The boom definitely lends itself to a different aspect of WWII historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance read.
November 4, 2024
The story is set during WWII following the lives of a group of misfits who band together for survival and revenge against the Nazis. It is a heartbreaking story so have the tissues handy. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
April 2, 2025
Interesting book about this group of misfits, but a bit repetitive in places. Not a happy book as you follow her adventures of revenge upon the Nazis who murdered her family.
February 13, 2025
I became quite attached to the characters and invested in the story created around the facts.
Great narrator.
Great narrator.
November 7, 2024
This review is being posted as part of the The Girl With The Red Ribbon blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon is the latest novel from historical fiction author Carly Schabowski. This is an incredibly powerful story exploring themes of courage, found family, resilience and survival.
This was my first time reading anything from Carly Schabowski but she is a truly marvellous storyteller and incredibly talented wordsmith. Symbolism is used throughout the book in a really powerful way and I particularly liked the focus on wind being something which brings life but also takes it away.
This is an incredibly emotional read. We get a brief sense of what is to come, particularly for Ania, through the early chapter sharing Benjamin’s perspective in 1969, but the rest of the story takes the reader on an emotional and at times tear-jerking journey. Carly Schabowski’s compelling writing style had me hooked from cover to cover and I was completely captivated by the story.
Our story is told through a dual-POV narrative which worked really well and allowed us to see things from not only Ania’s perspective but also Benjamin’s. His POV is structured around his much older self looking back on his wartime experiences so we have occasional chapters set in 1969 as well as the main 1939-1943 timeline and this was really powerful.
Ania was a brilliant and really complex protagonist. Very early on in the book it became clear to me that Ania was autistic – albeit it is not identified as such in the book and she is merely labelled as ‘different’. The chapters focusing on Ania’s perspective were very cleverly crafted to feel authentic to the typical autistic experience of the world, evidenced by how quickly I – as an autistic woman myself – identified that Ania would today be considered autistic and began to immediately resonate with her experiences. Ania goes on a brilliant journey throughout the book, finding a real purpose in her resistance work and seeking revenge against the Nazis for all they’ve done to her and her family. Her emotional detachment to her experiences doesn’t always make for an easy read but it is definitely an impactful one.
There’s a beautiful found family element to the story, with this gang of people who were outcasted by society for different reasons finding a home with each other. Similarly to Ania, all of these four characters were complex, multi-dimensional and really well written. It was brilliant following them trying to survive in war-torn Poland and gradually starting to complete resistance activities against their Nazi occupiers. I loved the way that Wanda, Gosia and Aleksi, and particularly Benjamin, treated Ania and didn’t see her as less than because of her neurodivergence. This was a refreshing read particularly after the way the earlier chapters focused on Ania being seen as less-than and challenging by her family, who simply saw her differences as something which needed to be fixed.
Overall, The Girl With The Red Ribbon is a beautifully written and powerful piece of historical fiction which is a must-read for fans of the genre, particularly those who are neurodivergent or ‘different’ in some way themselves.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk
*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in no way influenced by the gifting opportunity. Thank you to Carly Schabowski, Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon is the latest novel from historical fiction author Carly Schabowski. This is an incredibly powerful story exploring themes of courage, found family, resilience and survival.
This was my first time reading anything from Carly Schabowski but she is a truly marvellous storyteller and incredibly talented wordsmith. Symbolism is used throughout the book in a really powerful way and I particularly liked the focus on wind being something which brings life but also takes it away.
This is an incredibly emotional read. We get a brief sense of what is to come, particularly for Ania, through the early chapter sharing Benjamin’s perspective in 1969, but the rest of the story takes the reader on an emotional and at times tear-jerking journey. Carly Schabowski’s compelling writing style had me hooked from cover to cover and I was completely captivated by the story.
Our story is told through a dual-POV narrative which worked really well and allowed us to see things from not only Ania’s perspective but also Benjamin’s. His POV is structured around his much older self looking back on his wartime experiences so we have occasional chapters set in 1969 as well as the main 1939-1943 timeline and this was really powerful.
Ania was a brilliant and really complex protagonist. Very early on in the book it became clear to me that Ania was autistic – albeit it is not identified as such in the book and she is merely labelled as ‘different’. The chapters focusing on Ania’s perspective were very cleverly crafted to feel authentic to the typical autistic experience of the world, evidenced by how quickly I – as an autistic woman myself – identified that Ania would today be considered autistic and began to immediately resonate with her experiences. Ania goes on a brilliant journey throughout the book, finding a real purpose in her resistance work and seeking revenge against the Nazis for all they’ve done to her and her family. Her emotional detachment to her experiences doesn’t always make for an easy read but it is definitely an impactful one.
There’s a beautiful found family element to the story, with this gang of people who were outcasted by society for different reasons finding a home with each other. Similarly to Ania, all of these four characters were complex, multi-dimensional and really well written. It was brilliant following them trying to survive in war-torn Poland and gradually starting to complete resistance activities against their Nazi occupiers. I loved the way that Wanda, Gosia and Aleksi, and particularly Benjamin, treated Ania and didn’t see her as less than because of her neurodivergence. This was a refreshing read particularly after the way the earlier chapters focused on Ania being seen as less-than and challenging by her family, who simply saw her differences as something which needed to be fixed.
Overall, The Girl With The Red Ribbon is a beautifully written and powerful piece of historical fiction which is a must-read for fans of the genre, particularly those who are neurodivergent or ‘different’ in some way themselves.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk
*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in no way influenced by the gifting opportunity. Thank you to Carly Schabowski, Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley.
October 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Girl with the Red Ribbon by Carly Schabowski in exchange for my honest review.
This beautifully crafted historical novel takes us into the heart of war-torn Poland, following Ania, a young girl who views the world through a lens of logic and precision. Seemingly on the autism spectrum, Ania struggles with emotional connections and social cues, marking her as "different" in a time when differences are rarely tolerated. After a harrowing escape from her family farm, she joins forces with Benjamin, a Jewish man fleeing persecution, and a motley crew of others displaced by war. Together, they embark on a journey of survival, resistance, and purpose.
Schabowski’s characters feel incredibly real. Each one faces their own struggles, from personal grief to the challenge of staying human in the face of dehumanizing times. Ania’s character arc is especially moving, as she learns to confront her fears, adapt to the harsh realities around her, and ultimately grow beyond her initial self-focus. The addition of dual timelines and perspectives adds to the richness of the story, painting a vivid picture of resilience and survival.
Schabowski’s meticulous research shines through, grounding the story in historical authenticity. The author’s dedication to portraying the psychological impact of war, especially on someone as unique as Ania, adds a haunting depth. The Girl with the Red Ribbon is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful exploration of the human spirit, and I highly recommend it to fans of WWII fiction and those who appreciate character-driven stories with rich emotional complexity.
This beautifully crafted historical novel takes us into the heart of war-torn Poland, following Ania, a young girl who views the world through a lens of logic and precision. Seemingly on the autism spectrum, Ania struggles with emotional connections and social cues, marking her as "different" in a time when differences are rarely tolerated. After a harrowing escape from her family farm, she joins forces with Benjamin, a Jewish man fleeing persecution, and a motley crew of others displaced by war. Together, they embark on a journey of survival, resistance, and purpose.
Schabowski’s characters feel incredibly real. Each one faces their own struggles, from personal grief to the challenge of staying human in the face of dehumanizing times. Ania’s character arc is especially moving, as she learns to confront her fears, adapt to the harsh realities around her, and ultimately grow beyond her initial self-focus. The addition of dual timelines and perspectives adds to the richness of the story, painting a vivid picture of resilience and survival.
Schabowski’s meticulous research shines through, grounding the story in historical authenticity. The author’s dedication to portraying the psychological impact of war, especially on someone as unique as Ania, adds a haunting depth. The Girl with the Red Ribbon is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful exploration of the human spirit, and I highly recommend it to fans of WWII fiction and those who appreciate character-driven stories with rich emotional complexity.
October 24, 2024
This has been one of the most refreshing historical fiction reads I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. I received an ARC of this and am so excited for the rest of the world to read this, too.
The story is raw and heartbreaking, yet full of perseverance, love and strength. The characters though? They’re next level.
In my personal experience and opinion, you rarely ever get a book set in this era with people who experience mental illness all in such different ways. The way the author handles each character, down to the way she chooses to write the broken English of Aleksi and the tiny ticks of Anita, these are some of the best written characters that will stay with me for quite some time.
The story itself had me gripped from the very beginning. By the end, all the small nuances that came and circled back were written with such a poetic power, that it truly moved me.
This is a book I will absolutely recommend to my fellow WWII HF reader friends and anyone that enjoys impeccable character development.
“Stale bread,” I eventually said once the laughter had died down. Then in English, “eating stale bread and everyone’s dead. It rhymes, no?”
“Do you know how to use a gun?” He asked, smiling. “Can’t be that hard. You learned how to.”
The story is raw and heartbreaking, yet full of perseverance, love and strength. The characters though? They’re next level.
In my personal experience and opinion, you rarely ever get a book set in this era with people who experience mental illness all in such different ways. The way the author handles each character, down to the way she chooses to write the broken English of Aleksi and the tiny ticks of Anita, these are some of the best written characters that will stay with me for quite some time.
The story itself had me gripped from the very beginning. By the end, all the small nuances that came and circled back were written with such a poetic power, that it truly moved me.
This is a book I will absolutely recommend to my fellow WWII HF reader friends and anyone that enjoys impeccable character development.
“Stale bread,” I eventually said once the laughter had died down. Then in English, “eating stale bread and everyone’s dead. It rhymes, no?”
“Do you know how to use a gun?” He asked, smiling. “Can’t be that hard. You learned how to.”
October 28, 2024
This story is a WW2 historical fiction based in Poland. Ania the main character was born without the ability to understand emotion. Her mother died giving birth to her and they tired a red ribbons to her bed to keep the evil away. Ania took these ribbons and wears them. With the invasion of the Germans, they hid a Jew named Benjamin in their barn. Her father Anna sister are killed and Ania and Benj set off into the woods of Poland to find their friend for help. They end up with an old woman named Gosia and at her uncle’s house, they find Alesksi, a Russian POW, and Wanda a Gypsy. Ania, even though she looks like a child at 19 becomes the leader of this mismatched group of outcasts. I wasn’t a fan of this book. I really couldn’t wait for it to end. I felt like there was a lot of repetition. Thank you for NetGalley and Bollywood books for the Advanced copy. This is my honest review.
November 6, 2024
There is nothing better than historical fiction that's based on a true story. When that true story is one that is based on the authors own family history. THAT is the cherry on the top.
Carly Schabowski has written enough historical fiction for me to know the quality of her novels. This book was a no-brainer for me.
Her World War 2 stories always have me armchair travelling back in time. The Girl With The Red Ribbon is set in Poland ,1939. It tells the tale of Ania, who has just escaped the family home before the Nazis arrive. While hiding, she hears her sister's screams. Ania plays with the red ribbon she wears around her wrist and plots her revenge.
The characters are always multi dimensional in this author's books. It's a rare moment when I'm not getting my heart squeezed. Her characters come alive and feel so real constantly. Ania is a woman who shows so much bravery and courage throughout. She is labelled as mad because she has, what we now, as ASD. She becomes part of a group of 'outsiders'. All members have differences in one way or another, so they haven't been accepted by the society of the time.
I felt for everyone as the story developed and couldn't help but be in awe of them all. Surviving together in the woods of Poland whole all around them, people were being murdered or taken away by the Nazi regime. It's such a touching story for me. It didn't take too much of a stretch to put my ASD son, who is also transgender in the type of situation this group found them themselves in!
To me, historical fiction is written to entertain, but I also feel I have been educated too. This is one of those stories. Tackling the marginalised in 1939 is not a run of the mill book. Not for me anyway! A highly recommended read, I am looking forward to her next book now. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.
Carly Schabowski has written enough historical fiction for me to know the quality of her novels. This book was a no-brainer for me.
Her World War 2 stories always have me armchair travelling back in time. The Girl With The Red Ribbon is set in Poland ,1939. It tells the tale of Ania, who has just escaped the family home before the Nazis arrive. While hiding, she hears her sister's screams. Ania plays with the red ribbon she wears around her wrist and plots her revenge.
The characters are always multi dimensional in this author's books. It's a rare moment when I'm not getting my heart squeezed. Her characters come alive and feel so real constantly. Ania is a woman who shows so much bravery and courage throughout. She is labelled as mad because she has, what we now, as ASD. She becomes part of a group of 'outsiders'. All members have differences in one way or another, so they haven't been accepted by the society of the time.
I felt for everyone as the story developed and couldn't help but be in awe of them all. Surviving together in the woods of Poland whole all around them, people were being murdered or taken away by the Nazi regime. It's such a touching story for me. It didn't take too much of a stretch to put my ASD son, who is also transgender in the type of situation this group found them themselves in!
To me, historical fiction is written to entertain, but I also feel I have been educated too. This is one of those stories. Tackling the marginalised in 1939 is not a run of the mill book. Not for me anyway! A highly recommended read, I am looking forward to her next book now. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.
November 15, 2024
Ania’s mother dies in her childbirth: she thinks she killed her mother and carries that around for years. She takes a red ribbons from her mother and ties them on her arms for protection. Ania’s home is a Polish village is attacked by Germans her father and sister Brasia are killed. She escapes with a Benjamin a mentally challenged Jewishfarm worker . She is very short, has clipped her hair to avoid recognition is taken for a boy or a girl child. She is autistic and tells the story from her unique perspective. She feels very few emotions except rage, has few social skills and is also intellectually precocious, has an enormous store of facts and sense of direction, but is considered mad, Szalony. She and Benji don’t know where to go except away from the village, hopefully to join up with partisan leader Bartok. They pick up with Gosia and old lady in hateful mourning for her husband who left her. It’s a picaresque story of wandering, surreptitiously raiding villages for food clothing and weapons. Ania takes leadership and happily murders German soldiers for what they are doing to her family and countrymen. She finds hemlock, a deadly poison that drives victims foaming at the mouth mad, seizures and death. Just the thing to kill those Germans, linking the madness of hemlock with what others call her. She likes seeing Germans who would rape her die from hemlock. After a series of adventures she gives a red ribbon away…. Jump to Benjamin’s voice 20+ years on, who explains what happens. Then an Epilogue which adds absolutely nothing. The autistic voice is very convincing at first but it seems to fade as Ania goes through her adventures. The storyline a favorite of Schabowski’s: the theme of the German invasion of Poland, and is told with variations and passion in many of her novels. There is an element of fact in this story, prompted Schabowski to write it..
October 23, 2024
I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Girl with the Red Ribbon by Carly Schabowski is a story about a girl (seemingly on the Autism spectrum) named Ania who fled from the Germans and traitorous Poles in Poland. Despite her family not being Jewish, they did not look Germany enough to be able to remain on their farm. After a brush with danger at home, she runs off with a Jew named Benjamin who had been hiding in their barn in search of safety amongst the resistance that a family friend belongs to.
In their travels, they find an old woman with a similar affliction to Ania, a Russian, and a beautiful woman with the ability to see the future. Between this ragtag group of people, they try to help those being taken to the nearest concentration camp. Despite the noble task, each incident strips away some of Ania's humanity which causes her to be reckless, believing herself to be in invincible. Due to her carelessness, a carefully laid plan goes away and things go downhill from there.
Overall, the story was solid. I do wish that I knew what Isaac had said to Marek (Ania's Tata) that made him change his tune towards Ania's differences. I do like that eventually Ania reflected on and learned how to see things from other points of views and to some degree, outgrew some of her selfishness by taking charge because she knew the land around them.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
The Girl with the Red Ribbon by Carly Schabowski is a story about a girl (seemingly on the Autism spectrum) named Ania who fled from the Germans and traitorous Poles in Poland. Despite her family not being Jewish, they did not look Germany enough to be able to remain on their farm. After a brush with danger at home, she runs off with a Jew named Benjamin who had been hiding in their barn in search of safety amongst the resistance that a family friend belongs to.
In their travels, they find an old woman with a similar affliction to Ania, a Russian, and a beautiful woman with the ability to see the future. Between this ragtag group of people, they try to help those being taken to the nearest concentration camp. Despite the noble task, each incident strips away some of Ania's humanity which causes her to be reckless, believing herself to be in invincible. Due to her carelessness, a carefully laid plan goes away and things go downhill from there.
Overall, the story was solid. I do wish that I knew what Isaac had said to Marek (Ania's Tata) that made him change his tune towards Ania's differences. I do like that eventually Ania reflected on and learned how to see things from other points of views and to some degree, outgrew some of her selfishness by taking charge because she knew the land around them.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
October 29, 2024
I was drawn to The Girl With The Red Ribbon by the evocative cover and the strong blurb which ticked a number of boxes for me: historical-fiction inspired by true events, and set partly during WWII. It definitely sounded like a story I'd enjoy.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon is a dual-timeline story set in 1940's Poland during WWII and latterly in 1969. It is told mainly in the first person from the perspective of Ania Sobolewska, a strange young woman, who is small for age and seems devoid of emotion. She tells us about her life and motivation, not only to survive the war but to avenge the deaths of her father and sister. Along the way she picks up four other damaged individuals who are also just trying to survive.
The main characters have flaws which set them apart from most people and they rely on their own wits to survive and look out for each other. Despite feeling the pace was a little slow at times, I could not put the book down for fear of missing an important piece of information. I was interested by the Polish custom of photographing the dead and learning about Polish farmers being driven off their land. But it was the bonds which kept the five damaged characters together which really held my interest in this compelling but heart-breaking story.
I would highly recommend The Girl With The Red Ribbon to readers, who like me, enjoy fact-based historical fiction and stories set during WWII.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon is a dual-timeline story set in 1940's Poland during WWII and latterly in 1969. It is told mainly in the first person from the perspective of Ania Sobolewska, a strange young woman, who is small for age and seems devoid of emotion. She tells us about her life and motivation, not only to survive the war but to avenge the deaths of her father and sister. Along the way she picks up four other damaged individuals who are also just trying to survive.
The main characters have flaws which set them apart from most people and they rely on their own wits to survive and look out for each other. Despite feeling the pace was a little slow at times, I could not put the book down for fear of missing an important piece of information. I was interested by the Polish custom of photographing the dead and learning about Polish farmers being driven off their land. But it was the bonds which kept the five damaged characters together which really held my interest in this compelling but heart-breaking story.
I would highly recommend The Girl With The Red Ribbon to readers, who like me, enjoy fact-based historical fiction and stories set during WWII.
October 9, 2024
The Girl With The Red Ribbon by Carly Schabowski is a compelling historical novel that intrigued me from the start. It drew me in, entertained me, and left me wondering – what was real? And what was imagined?
The novel is set over two time periods – 1969 and looking backwards to the 1940’s in war-torn Poland. Two voices tell the story – an old man and a young girl. Both have been marginalised by society. They band together with others whom they acquire along life’s wartime journey.
We see the child-like faith of characters, as they believe that the wearing of red ribbons will keep them safe.
Nazi-occupied Poland was a horrific place to be. Cruelty and evil were all around. Cunning and knowledge were needed to survive.
Partisans and resistance fighters occupied dense forest, often taking the Nazis by surprise.
Folklore and legend grew up surrounding the events of World War II, even the reader is not sure if it really happened.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. Rejected by society, even as children, the reader has much sympathy for the characters.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon was a unique read and one that engrossed and intrigued me.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The novel is set over two time periods – 1969 and looking backwards to the 1940’s in war-torn Poland. Two voices tell the story – an old man and a young girl. Both have been marginalised by society. They band together with others whom they acquire along life’s wartime journey.
We see the child-like faith of characters, as they believe that the wearing of red ribbons will keep them safe.
Nazi-occupied Poland was a horrific place to be. Cruelty and evil were all around. Cunning and knowledge were needed to survive.
Partisans and resistance fighters occupied dense forest, often taking the Nazis by surprise.
Folklore and legend grew up surrounding the events of World War II, even the reader is not sure if it really happened.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. Rejected by society, even as children, the reader has much sympathy for the characters.
The Girl With The Red Ribbon was a unique read and one that engrossed and intrigued me.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2024
I first became interested in reading Carly Schabowski's books when I saw the amazing cover for The Ringmaster's Daughter. In due course, I bought that book, and a couple of her other books, but I haven't yet read them. I therefore jumped at the chance to read her first book with her new publisher, Boldwood Books.
The main character of this book is Ania. These days she would definitely be considered as autistic, but in her own time, she was considered szalony - crazy. Whilst she has a prodigious memory and thirst for knowledge, she is not good at reading the emotions of other people, including her father and sister. Ania also believes that her father and sister blame her for the death of her mother in chidlbirth.
Ania is ostracised from her fellow villagers. Her only friend is an elderly Jewish man named Isaac who feeds her thirst for learning by teaching her new languages, sharing books with her and teaching her about the world. He also tries to help her understand how she can understand other peoples emotions, which is much more difficult for her. However this is 1939 and Poland is not a safe place for any Jewish people, and so when Isaac disappears, Ania is once again left on her own.
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2024...
January 5, 2025
In this unique and emotional new World War II historical fiction novel, Carly Schabowski draws on a true story from her family history to bring war-torn Poland and the fears and horrors of the Nazi invasion to life. Following Ania after the deaths of her family force her on the run, she must use her wits to survive and support a group of misfit refugees rejected by the Polish resistance. As they join forces, Ania and her new friends will complete their revenge plans against the Nazi occupiers and take control of their lives in the face of hostile occupation. Ania is a fascinating and complex protagonist unlike other World War II historical fiction protagonists in books I’ve read, and her agency and strength are very inspiring to readers. With its found family group of main characters enhancing Ania’s narrative, readers will really appreciate Schabowski’s emphasis on character development and on character relationships. The setting of war-torn Poland during the Nazi invasion further enhances the emotional core of Ania’s motivation, though readers should be advised that sensitive topics pertaining to war and different kinds of violence do appear in this novel (though not in graphic detail) and should be prepared for that in this gripping and emotional new World War II novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
November 4, 2024
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
I chose to read this as I remembered enjoying another book by this author previously, and I had quite high expectations.
From the start, I was captivated by this powerful and emotional WWII novel. The author wrote in a way that made me feel connected to Ania and Benjamin, before I knew much about them. I wanted to know their story, to understand the significance of the red ribbon.
Before long, I found myself hanging onto every word, and it felt almost as though I had become part of the story myself, as an onlooker or observer. I connected deeply, not just with Ania and Benjamin, but with the other characters too, and this heart-rending story left me close to tears.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
I chose to read this as I remembered enjoying another book by this author previously, and I had quite high expectations.
From the start, I was captivated by this powerful and emotional WWII novel. The author wrote in a way that made me feel connected to Ania and Benjamin, before I knew much about them. I wanted to know their story, to understand the significance of the red ribbon.
Before long, I found myself hanging onto every word, and it felt almost as though I had become part of the story myself, as an onlooker or observer. I connected deeply, not just with Ania and Benjamin, but with the other characters too, and this heart-rending story left me close to tears.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
June 2, 2025
The Girl with the Red Ribbon by Carly Schabowski (Audiobook read on Hoopla app)
1939 Poland. 19 year old genius Anya is hiding out with her family’s secret Jewish boarder when the Nazis come to her house and kill her father and sister. As she hears the screams of her dying sister, Anya looks at the red ribbon she wears on her wrist and vows revenge on the Nazi oppressors.
Anya is used to being treated differently even before the war because many people picked on her because she was so intelligent. So it’s no real surprise to her when even the Resistance rejects her to be apart of them. She soon finds a group of misfits to lead in her goal of revenge. Yet at the same time they also become her family.
This is not a feel good book where everyone finds peace in the end but I guess, at least for me, there is comfort in the fact that at least for a little bit these misfits find full acceptance in each other .
1939 Poland. 19 year old genius Anya is hiding out with her family’s secret Jewish boarder when the Nazis come to her house and kill her father and sister. As she hears the screams of her dying sister, Anya looks at the red ribbon she wears on her wrist and vows revenge on the Nazi oppressors.
Anya is used to being treated differently even before the war because many people picked on her because she was so intelligent. So it’s no real surprise to her when even the Resistance rejects her to be apart of them. She soon finds a group of misfits to lead in her goal of revenge. Yet at the same time they also become her family.
This is not a feel good book where everyone finds peace in the end but I guess, at least for me, there is comfort in the fact that at least for a little bit these misfits find full acceptance in each other .
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