|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Beautiful writing and wonderful characters are fabulous attributes of this story that blends a magical fantasy with the very real horrors that took place in Poland under the Nazis in WWII. Recommended - but only for those middle -grade readers that can cope with darkness and are very clear on the boundaries between fact and fiction.
|rating=4
|buy=Maybe
|aznus=1406375632
|cover=1406375632
|video=
}}
Slight content warning aside, I loved this story. It's genuinely beautiful to read, the writing is of such high quality. The characters are incredibly well imagined and rise from the pages as fully-formed, interesting people dealing with seismic events and problems. Both worlds - that of reality and that of fantasy - are deep, rich and vivid. As noted, parts of ''The Dollmaker of Krakow'' are hard to read, even hurt to read, but the pay-off is worth it.
One for middle -grade readers of open hearts, clear minds and a love of beautiful writing.
[[Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit]] is another wonderfully lyrical story set in Poland during WWII. [[The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric]] is a wonderful alternate world historical fantasy, pitting myth and legend against science. Teens will enjoy [[Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore]].
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