One Star Away

Book excerpt: 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. Imogene Salva is a first generation American-born Pole. She grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, and traveled yearly to Poland throughout her childhood. She studied in France and holds an MA in Linguistics. She has taught Spanish, Polish and French, K-12, in New York and Colorado. She presently lives in Westminster, CO with her husband Brian. As an adult Imogene realized that her mother's wartime story was shared by thousands but known only to a few. She is happy to have this opportunity to broaden the knowledge of this little known topic.