The Zookeeper's Wife is an historical non-fiction novel during the Holocaust. It's about how two zookeepers, Jon and Antonina Zabinski, risk their lives to save hundreds of Jews. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, although I had some trouble reading some parts of the book due to vocabulary and sentence structure. I had to read over some things multiple times for it to sink in...but that could have been because of my attention span, or lack thereof. While starting to read this book, it was obvious to me that the work's purpose would be didactic and philosophical. The book is teaching the lesson of what it means to be a good person. That we must rise up in the presence of evil. The title is a little mysterious because while the story definitely takes place in a zoo and revolves mostly around the "zookeeper's wife," it doesn't necessarily tell what the story is actually about. However, the slogan on the cover of the book that says "a war story" is quite obvious on the nature of the story. The Zookeeper's Wife has inspired me to believe that the human race doesn't have to be violent. Even throughout the bloodiest time in our history, there are moments of hope and peace. I do believe that it is possible for humans to overcome their natural violent tendencies and to provide love and care for others. There are always the battles between good and evil but somehow throughout these battles, good triumphs more often than not. This book is a story about the good overcoming the bad in its own special way. I think that after thinking about the underlying message of the book (which is pretty obvious), my appreciation for the story increased. To think about having to wake up everyday with the fear of being caught by the Nazis, and yet the Zabinski's still helped all the refugee Jews. They wanted to be that light in the darkness to save all the oppressed. I would absolutely encourage people to read this book. It is very matter of fact with how violent the times were. It doesn't sugarcoat anything, while it isn't overly dramatic. Ackerman also used diaries from some of the characters to give them more depth. It makes it more realistic.
Of all the literary techniques used, I believe that the point of view of the story was what was most enriching. Ackerman used many personal journals and did extensive research to write this story. She often went on tangents in the book that were little side-stories of different characters. However, she used these tangents to give some sort of back story to the main story. These backstories were made to make the reader understand the main story better. Also, a major literary technique I think would be irony. The Nazis had bombed the zoo, stole only the exotic animals to ship back to Germany and then killed what was left; then, the Zabinskis fought back by hiding Jews in the empty animal cages. The entire theme of the story is to find the love and compassion in people when faced with such horrors. These two zookeepers give these refugee Jews a place to hide away from the Nazis, and they do so living in fear that they could be caught and killed. The book is about staying strong for those around you. When Jan Zabinski was given honor by the Israeli government, he replied with "I don't understand all the fuss. If any creature is in danger, you save it, human or animal." Each character has a strong contribution to the story. Jan Zabinski was strong and hardworking, a clear characteristic from being a zookeeper. He joined the Resistance to fight back and did all he could to help the Jews. Antonina was a compassionate and empathic character and that helped with her contribution to tending to the "guests" of the zoo. I absolutely agree with the themes and morals expressed throughout this story. Antonina is a magnificent character whose goal during World War II was to attend to the Jews that were hiding in their zoo. I do believe that when someone is need of your help, you should at least try to lend a hand. Humans by nature are violent and insecure about their surroundings..but we can fight back these instincts to become loving, and compassionate people. Fight unspeakable acts of horror with unspeakable acts of kindness. Would it ever occur to the common mind to use a zoo as a hiding place for refugees? More than likely it wouldn't--but the act of genocide is just as uncommon a thought. This book has given me more of an appreciation for World War II now that I have read a story from those who have suffered from it. I also have respect for the Zabinskis and what they had accomplished in their zoo.