The Dollmaker of Krakow

In the land of dolls, there is magic.In the land of humans, there is war.Everywhere there is pain.But together there is hope.

Karolina is a living doll whose king and queen have been overthrown. But when a strange wind spirits her away from the Land of the Dolls, she finds herself in Krakow, Poland, in the company of the Dollmaker, a man with an unusual power and a marked past.

The Dollmaker has learned to keep to himself, but Karolina's courageous and compassionate manner lead him to smile and to even befriend a violin-playing father and his daughter--that is, once the Dollmaker gets over the shock of realizing a doll is speaking to him.

But their newfound happiness is dashed when Nazi soldiers descend upon Poland. Karolina and the Dollmaker quickly realize that their Jewish friends are in grave danger, and they are determined to help save them, no matter what the risks.

Books that evoke strong emotions are among my favourites and The Dollmaker of Krakow certainly fits the bill. The book alternates between Poland in the 1940s and the Land of the Dolls where a similar yet different war is taking place.

Romero writes a beautiful tale of friendship between a doll and the dollmaker, as well as the relationship they have with Jozef and Rena, a father and daughter whose lives change drastically after Nazi soldiers descend upon Poland.

The book starts off slowly and may not offer anything new to those familiar with the history but I appreciated how age-appropriate it was without making light of events or providing descriptions that may be too harsh for kids to read.

What I loved most about this book was how genuine the relationships felt between the characters. Romero was able to capture heartfelt moments in the everyday, and gradually, as people’s treatment of Jews began changing in Poland. I also liked that the book shed light on the overlooked people of society who are among the kindest and bravest of souls, willing to help and protect mistreated people because it’s the right thing to do. It reminds us that we always have a choice and what we choose matters.

I loved the characters as well. Watching them grow and change as the story went on was both delightful and hard to swallow. Some became better, others worse, and it was frightening how well it mirrored society today.

The Dollmaker of Krakow is a treasure among middle-grade historical fantasy novels. It’s magical and full of heart from beginning to end and it’s a story I recommend to many.

You always have a choice. We can choose to participate in hateful acts, to look away from them, or to ease the pain we see in the world through bravery and kindness. Please be kind. Please be brave. Please don’t let it happen again.

— R.M. Romero