An intense, heartbreaking, but ultimately heart warming story of the children who were stolen from Poland for the Lebensborn project. I liked that the author left the modern parts of the story until the end, it made the story flow better.

They have been stolen from the street to become children of good German people. But what they have to endure is heartbreaking.
This is the story of two sisters and the woman who has helped them. You can read them as a stand alone but better to read The Orphan List first.
I couldn’t put this book down, it kept me entertained till the end.

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

World War II and Holocaust stories really just speak to me and I am not sure why. I am just so drawn to these stories. They are so heart breaking and important to know about and remember.

The Stolen Sisters by Ann Bennett is an emotional novel set during WWII. Martha and Joanna are sisters that are taken off the street and away from their mother and father with the intent of putting the girls in the Lebensborn program. The girls are later separated and neither knows what has happened to the other. They are desperate to find their way back to each other and back home.

I eagerly read this book after reading the first in the series. It is a hard-hitting read and I found myself hoping that she’d reunite with her family.
The more I read about WWII the more I realize how much evil went on and that we can never let this happen again.

I highly recommend this book.

This was a very interesting read. It starts in Poland during a time when Nazi's were selecting and taking children to be studied. We see Martha is taken and separated because she has the desired fair features of the Aryan race, while her sister Johanna has darker features and has tests ran to identify the factors that can be kept out of the bloodline to uphold the Nazi ideals.

This is by no means an easy read, but it is an important one.

Dealing with the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi to boost the numbers of a superior "pure, Aryan race", this novel graphically reveals a lesser known feature of the infamous Lebensborn program.

I certainly didn't know of the kidnap and assimilate program of the Nazis and reading about it in graphic detail horrified and shocked me to my core. This book ought to come with warnings for disturbing content.

The novel follows two sisters Martha and Joanna Kaminsky - one who made the cut and was indoctrinated into Nazism, and another who did not, and the horrors and trauma they both encounter, its effects on them, and their natural resilience.

They meet a compassionate nurse -child carer in Margarete Weiss who helps them in various ways. She also keeps notebooks in code relating to mothers and babies torn apart by the Lebensborn program and children torn away from their parents. After the war, these notebooks of hers come handy in reuniting families or at least helping them know what happened to their families.

You also find out what happened to Martha and Joanna. Did one or both die? Or did they survive? Were they ever reunited? How were their lives affected by all this? And what about Nurse Weiss - what happened to her?

Ann Bennett while detailing the treatment meted out to little children, is also sensitive in her portrayals of the horrors that they faced whether they made the cut or not. She mercifully doesn't detail the worst of it. You get a word picture of the conditions the children faced, but beneath is a strong, thin, silvery thread of hope, rather than flat out despair, gloom, doom and darkness which can be very depressing.

There are people in the worst possible conditions, who are kind to these children because they are children. It gives one hope that all humanity wasn't lost during this time.

The end was surprising and it left me uplifted and comforted. I think, had I been forewarned about the treatment of innocent children I'd encounter in the novel, I'd have been better prepared to deal with it. But nothing can prepare you to read about the faulty Nazi theories of childhood, put into action. It still makes my blood run cold.

According to the Nazi theory of childhood to raise strong, self sufficient adults, treating children harshly rather than "mollycoddling" them by offering love and comfort was necessary among other things. I'm glad they never got to rule the world.

I am glad I got to read this, though it is a tough read and emotionally disturbing, it is also thoughtful and thought provoking.

Read the novel to educate oneself on the horrors of the Nazi regime - how far into depravity we humans can fall, yet there is always a glimmer of hope and one comes away feeling that all is not yet lost.

I received an ARC copy, but the opinions are my own.

The Stolen Sisters is a compelling and deeply moving WWII novel that stands out for its fresh perspective on a well-explored period. Ann Bennett manages to offer a unique take on historical fiction, immersing readers in a story that feels both innovative and authentic—a rare accomplishment for this genre. From the first page, I found myself completely engrossed, drawn into the lives of the characters who are rendered with such depth that their emotions resonate long after the last page.

Though parts of the book are difficult to read due to the subject matter, this rawness only heightens its power. The author doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of war, which makes the story feel visceral and real. At the same time, the narrative is balanced by moments of humanity and resilience that make it uplifting as well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII fiction, or those simply looking for a story that will both challenge and move them.

This book starts off in Poland in 1944 and follows 2 sisters .Martha and Joanne..
I am an avid follower of historical fiction and this didn't disappoint..
Sobbing !!

The premise was an instant hook for me, an avid historical fiction reader.
The setting is a small Polish town, which has been occupied by the Nazis. With food always in short supply, two young sisters set out to buy whatever they can find for their family. Grabbed off the street by Nazi soldiers, they are driven away and put through “testing” by SS doctors. Martha, the oldest, fits the Nazi ideal of “Aryanism” with her blond hair and blue eyes, just the right shades. Johanna is slightly darker in features, and her blood test shows the result of possible Slavic blood. This is cause for the two girls to be separated, for German blood must be kept pure. Will they survive the war, and learn of each other’s fates?…
An unputdownable novel about the German Lebansborn program of WW2, which was enacted to help the Aryan race to continue in purity, by any means necessary.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

I received a copy of the book "The Stolen Sisters {the World War two Orphanage book 2} This story starts in Poland in 1944. World War 2 is raging across Europe . The Holocaust is gathering Jewish people and putting them in concentration camps. At the same time children are being kidnapped from their families to be tested to see if the qualify for being a "pure Aryan" Martha and Joanna are taken off the street to be held at a building and tested to be considered pure German. When Martha age 12 passes for pure German her younger sister Joanna does not. They are now separated by force Martha being forced to attend classes to teach German and becoming a pure German. After trying to escape Joanna is sent to Auschwitz. a third character named Margarete tries to help the girls. She has her own tragic life when her family is killed in a bombing.
the book takes turn on each of the three characters following what happens to them in 1944 and 45 ending the book in 2005 where we learn the "Whatever became of?" A good read. Had me wanted to know about each character.

Book 2 and just as good as the first book! Poland, 1944 When twelve-year-old Martha and her little sister Johanna are snatched while out shopping for food and pushed into an army truck with a swastika on the door, they are heartbroken. Terrified they will never see their mother again, the little girls cling to each other as the truck full of stolen children rumbles through the countryside.

But worse is yet to come. When they arrive at their strange new home, tears streaming down their cheeks, Martha is sent into a separate room. As she is measured, her blonde hair and blue eyes exclaimed over, she doesn’t realise she has seen her sister for the last time. Later, as she sobs alone in the chilly dormitory, her only crumb of comfort is the memory of a kind German nurse who took a photo of the two sisters, and promised Martha she will do what she can to find Johanna.
Berlin, 2005 In her cosy sitting room, seventy-year-old Martha freezes. The woman on her television talking about lost children is someone she could never forget. Margarete Weiss is the nurse who took the photo of her and Johanna, the photo with the secret message on the back…
Martha has never been able to find her younger sister and has buried herself in work so as not to be haunted by the ghosts of her past. But, seeing Margarete’s blue eyes again, a shoot of hope takes root in her heart. Margarete may not have been able to prevent the sisters being separated during the war. But might she be able to help Martha find out what happened to Johanna now! Cancel all plans while reading - I inhaled this amazing book over one weekend and resented everything that kept me away from it! The writing was top notch and the characters were very real.

The Stolen Sisters by Ann Bennett is a hauntingly beautiful story of resilience, hope, and the unbreakable bond between siblings, set against the tragic backdrop of WWII. When twelve-year-old Marta and her younger sister Joanna are torn from their family in Nazi-occupied Poland, their journey quickly becomes one of survival and heartbreaking separation.

Bennett weaves an intricate dual-timeline narrative, shifting from Marta’s harrowing childhood experiences to her life decades later, when a sudden glimpse of a familiar face on television rekindles the hope of finding her lost sister. The writing is both atmospheric and moving, capturing the intense emotional toll of war and the desperate search for closure after a lifetime of unanswered questions.

This novel captures the reader from the first page, balancing historical depth with an emotional pull that’s impossible to ignore. Bennett’s portrayal of courage in the face of unimaginable loss is both devastating and uplifting. Perfect for fans of The Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours, The Stolen Sisters is a deeply impactful story that will stay with you long after the final page.

This is book two about the Lebensborn program that the Nazis had instituted during WWII. This is a different aspect of the program, but it does feature the lovely Nurse Weiss from book one. The account of what the Nazis did is chilling and revolting. Seeing how they went about stealing someone else’s children, forcing them to Germanize and the total disregard for life is beyond belief. I’ve been to Auschwitz which helps with picturing what it looks like but still, Ms. Bennett is a writer who’s able to describe events so vividly that you feel part of the story. The disgusting smelling smoke, the hard bread, the terrible soup, the cold showers and the lack of warm clothing. Your feet are hurting as you read about marching through the snow for hours, not to mention the fear of being shot when lagging behind. Actual events and historical figures are woven into the story making it all the more authentic. The author paints such a realistic picture of what life was like for a stolen child in an SS family that it makes history come alive and shows you the bigger picture of what all was involved. All you want for the child is to be able to escape! But it is also a beautiful story of how people take care of each other when needed. The satisfying ending wraps up the loose ends of both books. Excellent research and a list of sources in the back! I’d highly recommend this for anyone wanting to learn more about this part of history.

There’s a tiny error in chapter 31 which I expect will be taken out by the publication date. It says that the camp was evacuated in January 1944, which should be 1945.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review, but was very happy to do so!

I was so looking forward to this 2nd book in the war orphanages series, and boy it didn’t disappoint. Even if it did have me in tears at such cruelty.
It’s unimaginable, having young children snatched off the streets, away from their families and all that is familiar to them. Then worse was to follow, much worse!
Joanna and Martha Kaminsky suffered being snatched, thrown into a truck with other children and taken. Then put through rigorous testing then sent on their way, it’s only the kindness of one nurse (Margarete Weiss) who eases the way. When the girls are separated they are heartbroken, each taking a different path, although there is no personal choice involved. I know this story will stay with me, it’s not easy to forget.

I felt so angry reading this book for the childhoods & family lives that have been stolen from them, and the lasting damages caused.
My favourite character was Margarete. Least favourite, way too many to mention although Schiller comes close.

The Stolen Sisters was magnificent. The story grabbed me with an "I didn't know that happened moment" and the story didn't set me free until tears flowed with happiness.

The dual timeline, which included more than one character's timeline, was pure brilliance. It brought to life the story of Margarete, from The Orphan List, and Martha, a victim of the the Reich's goal of purity.
Margarete worked as a nurse for the Lebensborn program. Her action of creating lists of those affected by the program would lead to numerous families being reunited after her story is aired in 2005. It grabbed the attention of many, including Martha, one of the victims.

The story was a very emotional read. The writers words brought the story to life. I followed Margarete's challenges and risks as she worked for the Reich. It isn't as if she had a choice. She lived in fear. I felt her fear. At times she was the only friendly face the children saw.

Martha and her sister, Joanna, were snatched off the street and taken to be Germanized. The reader witnesses the beginnings of their journey of horrors. They are soon separated, not knowing what happened to each other. I witnessed the horrors, the tragedies, the desperation experienced by the children.

The Stolen Sisters gave me so much insight to some of the horrors experienced during World War Two. The Stolen Sisters gave me the desire to search for more information, to learn and remember. This story ends with a little more brightness but not everyone was so fortunate. I shed so many tears while reading The Stolen Sisters. Thankfully, the last were in happiness.

This haunting and emotional book followd Martha and her younger sister Johanna, two young girls separated from their mother and forced into a terrifying new life under Nazi rule.

When the sisters are separated, Martha is left with only hope from a compassionate nurse who takes a photo of them and promises to help.

Decades later, in Berlin, 2005, Martha, now seventy, is taken aback when she sees that same nurse on television, rekindling a spark of hope she had long forgotten.

The story blends past and present, showing Martha's anguish and resilience as she holds onto the memory of her lost sister.

This novel is a moving story about family bonds, wartime scars, and the hope for reunion against all the odds.

Pact with emotion and heart-wrenching moments, i couldnt put it down and read in day.

The Stolen Sisters
By: Ann Bennett
Pub day: November 29, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture

Set in Poland, in 1944 Martha and her littles sister Johanna are taken in an army truck while out for the day. They soon realize that are being taken from their town and may never see their parents again. The children are taken to a new area and sadly tested on to see how “aryan” they are. One sisters meets the needs of Hitler’s pure race, and the other does not, so they are separated. Martha meets a kind German nurse who sympathizes with her and vows to do everything she can to help her.

Berlin, 2005 Martha is now seventy years old and she sees a woman on TV whom she recognizes. It turns out to be the kind German nurse, Margarete Weiss. Will she be reunited with her sister and family? What happened to them?

An emotional novel. We all know what happened during those horrific years. This is 2nd in a series, and I will be looking for the 1st one. This novel transport you into those times and my heart was breaking and hoping against all odds she would see her family members again.
Thank you Bookouture for this heartwarming novel

Omg what an emotional rollercoaster of a read! Such bravery, heartbreak and tears. I loved the first
Book and was desperate to read this one. The fact that these things happened during the war is just absolutely heartbreaking. The courage that people had is just amazing. This book is definitely a hard hitting book with lots of tears but some in a good way!

This story was heartbreaking. If I picture ww2 this is exactly how I believe it was. It’s full of fear and anxiety, love, hate, tears and dreams. Beautifully written it very quickly sucked me in and I couldn’t stop reading until I had finished. This book will put you through an emotional wringer but it’s so worth the read. I highly recommend this book, it was excellent.

This book is fiction but I’m sure it reflects the stories of families and their heartbreak thru the actions of the Nazis. Bring the tissues, this isn’t an easy book to read. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.