Summary

Diane Ackerman’s The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story is the true story of Antonina Zabinski and her husband Jan, who operated the Warsaw Zoo in Poland at the time of the German invasion in World War II. The Zabinski’s use their wits and determination along with their connections to the Resistance to hide refugees from the Nazis.

Chapter 1: Antonina awoke to the sounds of the animals. Jan, who reminded Antonina of her father, woke earlier than she did. Antonina’s parents were both shot for being members of the intelligentsia during the Russian Revolution when she was nine. Antonina’s grandmother sent her away to study piano and attend school. She graduated at the age of 15. She then took classes in foreign languages and art. She met Jan while working at Warsaw’s College of Agriculture. Both loved art and...