The zookeeper's wife

By Diane Ackerman

Subjects: Zoo keepers, Ethnic relations, nyt:paperback-nonfiction=2008-09-28, Case studies, Righteous gentiles in the holocaust, Reading Level-Grade 12, Large type books, New York Times bestseller, World war, 1939-1945, poland, Reading Level-Grade 9, Holocaust, HISTORY, World War II, World War, 1939-1945, Holocaust, 1933-1945, Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust, Eastern, Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), New York Times reviewed, Rescue, Holocaust, jewish (1939-1945), Reading Level-Grade 11, Ethnic & race relations, World war, 1939-1945, jews, Military, Jews, poland, Reading Level-Grade 10, Jews, Warsaw (poland), history

Description: The time is 1939 and the place is Poland, homeland of Antonina Zabinski and her husband, Dr. Jan Zabinski. The Warsaw Zoo flourishes under Jan's stewardship and Antonina's care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are forced to report to the Reich's newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck. The Zabinskis covertly begin working with the Resistance and put into action plans to save the lives of hundreds from what has become the Warsaw Ghetto.