J. L. Witterick, a Chinese Canadian
whose only ties to Judaism are her close friends, has written
an inspirational novel, My Mother’s Secret, surrounding
the Holocaust. She felt connected to the Jewish plight because
her own people suffered under the Japanese atrocities. The
story, based on actual historical events, is about love, sacrifice,
and courage centered on the dark years of the Holocaust.
The book describes how Franciszka and her daughter Helena,
despite the threat of death, decide to hide and shelter nine
people in their small house. It is based on the 2009 documentary,
“The No. 4 Street of Our Lady” where the mother
and daughter actually saved half of the Jewish survivors of
Sokal, Poland whose original Jewish population was 6,000.
Four different perspectives are presented in this book: the
rescuers, Helena and her mother Franciszka; Bronek, the leader
of his family and his sister-in-law, hidden in the pigsty;
Mikolai, who with his parents are hidden in a makeshift cellar;
and Vilheim, a German soldier defector, hidden in the attic.
The secret to their survival is exemplified by the quote in
the book, “This is a world where to be insignificant,
necessary, or connected are the best ways to survive.”
The author wrote the story after viewing the documentary in
the basement of a Canadian synagogue, and knew this story
had to be told. She noted, “I thought about my own background
since my family immigrated to Canada from Taiwan with basically
nothing. I grew up with very little and for a while felt like
an outsider, not understanding or speaking the language. I
was able to relate to being an outcast. I was inspired and
overwhelmed by the incredible courage of this mother and daughter.”
She reduced those saved from the actual number of fifteen
to nine, explaining, “I wanted the reader to be able
to identify with everyone. I wanted the readers to really
feel for the characters so I had to reduce the number saved.
With that said, the experiences and the incidents of the characters
are true. The major events all happened. I am hoping that
to remember someone will likely allow them to live on forever.”
There are very powerful statements made in the book through
the character’s voices. For example, Helena notes, “Everyone
is sorry, but no one is sorry enough.” Witterick commented,
“People might feel for you, but are not willing to do
anything about it. Then there are those who take action, like
Franciszka and Helena, even with the cost being so high. They
risked their lives for people they hardly knew. They are the
ones who were going to help despite the consequences. I want
to believe that most people have some good in them.”
My Mother’s Secret is an uplifting novel about
the dark years of the Holocaust. It shows that hope and humanity
does exist and can overpower despair, fear, and horrific butchery.
The book is a must read for anyone that wants to understand
the historical context of anti-Semitism during WWII; yet,
will be comforted by human kindness and courage.
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