One Star Away

Product Description

When Soviet soldiers force their way into the Nowicki home at 3:00am, Ziuta has no idea why her family is being arrested, where they are going or when they will return. From the safety of home in Poland to the slave labor camps of Soviet Russia, Ziuta’s family suffers starvation, arctic temperatures, and separation. At their most desperate hour, only a miracle would keep each family member alive. Could a kind-hearted Maharaja from faraway India be the one to rescue Ziuta and hundreds of other distressed Polish children? Imogene Salva reconstructs her mother’s wartime experiences to expose us to a part of World War II history not familiar to most Westerners. This thought-provoking true-life story is sure to inspire you, while reminding us that human compassion can be found in the most remote corners of the world.

Review

“As all great true stories, One Star Away is beautifully written and the readers will never be able to put it down before reaching the last page. And maybe they will never be the same…” – Michał Lasoń, Former Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of India in Mumbai, India
 
“Readers of World War II history and biographies well know just how much literature competes in this category. But the reason why One Star Away differs from many others lies in Imogene Salva’s ability to translate her family’s stories of fleeing wartime Poland into a compelling story that juxtaposes family adversity and struggles to survive with the inherent kindnesses of others who allow them to do so. It’s a tale of hope, kindness, and the ultimate effects of risk-taking and moral and ethical convictions, all blended into a heartfelt spiritual and social journey that strays far from any anticipated World War II tale of survival. One Star Away doesn’t just deserve a spot in any World War II history or memoir collection. It demands it, providing prospective and a backdrop largely unexplored elsewhere. It fills in many gaps while providing a fine, engrossing read that captivates on many levels and even entertains while delivering its heartfelt messages.” – Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
 
 “By tracing her mother’s perilous wartime progress from Poland to Russia to Central Asia and eventually to refuge in India, Imogene Salva’s narrative aims to make us think again and to turn our thoughts to the triumphs of the human spirit.” – Norman Davies, author of Europe: A History and Heart of Europe: The Past in Poland’s Present  “Imogene Salva’s compelling narrative of her mother’s journey is to share with the world the power of the compassionate heart, such as that of Jam Saheb, which enabled the healing of thousands of young innocent children. This book will tug your heart, leaving it with a warm glow of love.” – Anu Radha, documentary filmmaker: A Little Poland in India
 
 
“The Odyssey of Josephine Nowicka, from Soviet Gulags, through Turkmenistan and Iran to the shelter arranged by the Polish Government in Exile and offered by the ‘Good Maharaja’ Jam Saheb Digvijay Sinhji in Gujarat, India is a story of the will of life, against all odds, a story of humanity that overcomes the totalitarian persecutions. I recommend this book to everyone. During these challenging times we need such positive stories.” -Adam Burakowski, Polish Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in New Delhi
 
“One Star Away by Imogene Salva is a fascinating and poignantly written story of a young Polish girl who was thrust by historical circumstances into a world of challenges that few of any age can imagine.” – Gilbert C. Rappaport, Professor of Slavic Studies Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin
 
“Imogene Salva honors her mother and her ancestors by a heart-rending yet uplifting account of their trials in which she shows she inherited her mother’s perceptiveness and creativity.” – Elena Maria Vidal, author of the Paradise Tree and Madame Royale
 
“For decades, young generations of Poles brought up in post-war “People’s Polan