Her Story: The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Book Discussion Group

This group explores stories of strong women, such as Antonina Zabinski, who, alongside her zookeeper husband, saved hundreds of Jews in Warsaw during WWII. Questions? E-mail dellerbrook@tscpl.org

Her Story: Exploring the Lives of Strong Women
Women have always shown strength in shaping their lives and the world around them. In this book discussion group we read and talk about fiction and nonfiction that highlights the courage, resilience and experiences of women past and present.

This month's book is The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman.
The true story of how the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw--and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants--otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes--and keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her.

Email dellerbrook@tscpl.org if you need help getting a copy of the book or have any other questions.

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